Solar Storage Battery

6th Feb 2025

6th Feb 2025

We changed from Flexible Octopus to Octopus Go early January and started using off peak forced charging on the 8th Jan.

Our daytime rate is 25.57p/kWh (1.4p per unit dearer than  24.15p/kWh on flexible), but nearly all our consumption is now covered by the battery with a tiny bit of help from the Solar panels.  The off peak charge costs 8.5 p per unit, so if we add on inverter losses, you could say it costs us 10p per unit.

This is a graph for yesterday (rubbish sunshine!) so we ended up using power from the grid again after about 7pm, unfortunately:

10th Jan 2025

signed up for Octo Go

Battery LEDs

Invertor Menu

24th Nov 2024

Gave up to Solax (0ld blog post)

Fox Inverter

Fox Battery

Fox BMS

Cerbo GX – victron

24th Nov 2024

nfinity Innovations Ltd,

Shed 7, Bocking Farm,

Cross Roads,

 Keighley

BD22 9BG

info@infinityinnovations.co.uk

13th Nov 2024

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135220402156?itmmeta=01JCMQ0HE5S3FPHGD6V70YJXEH&hash=item1f7bc397ec:g:gAgAAOSwE21m0d2O

Luxpower

This from yesterday was not very conclusive, I shall try again and next time take a normal photo of the boards from the same angle. Also I shall take the infra red thermometer to read the temp of the chips. The problem is, there are two layers of circuit board and its hard to get a clear picture of the back one whilst it is running. I shall also try and position the cross hairs of you camera on a warm chip to see what that comes up with. I think I am going to have to get a fresh unit in the end, but at least I’m not wasting solar power this week!

  • 0sec Grid switched on
  • 13 sec Click fron Panel input relay
  • 25sec off/on/off again
  • 46 sec Solar circuits fans start on top of inverter
  • 1minute repeated clicks from central relay
  • 1.22 RH fan on
  • 1min 26sec heavy click from battery relay
  • 1.30 green led on battery comes on
  • 1min60 Another heavy battery relay click
  • 2.14 battery led goes red
  • 2.20 silence + no battery led

9th Nov 2024

Having failed to get this invertor talking to my Darfon BMS https://camelot-forum.co.uk/phpBB3/view … 480#p49480, I had 3,480 kWp solar fitted on a big shed (435W each x 8) last week and connected them in two strings 1 West and 1 East facing for comparison before potentially increasing the number of panels on the most effective side.

I have not yet got the remote monitoring sorted, but have got a LAN cable from my router connected to it in readiness. Not impressed with the SolaxCloud so far though.

The inverter display panel shows the voltages from the panels soon after booting up, but after a while the display freezes and is not responsive to button presses. I wonder if the thing is economically repairable or is it time to think about a replacement? Or is it just “finger trouble” on my part?

It seems to be fairly consistent, When the DC, the panels and lastly the mains are all connected, there are a few relay clicks from within, then the display buttons work and the setting can be changed after entering the Pass key and solar powers are shown on screen for half an hour or so, then it freezes up, often with the screen below:

1st Nov 2024

SK_SU3700E inverter and Darfon battery

Instructions pdf

New solax 3.7

cityplumbing as Midsummer have sold out

1st Nov 2024

3480W solars fitted big shed (435W each x 8)

Useful page

12th Sept 2024

SK-SU-3700 U37EC6090GB076 Invertor serial

https://www.inbalance-energy.co.uk/Inverter-Faults/solax-power-inverter-faults-repairs.html

Manual page37 – menu structure

Manual page43 – work mode

Manual page44 – battery awaken y/n

7th Sept 2024

7th Sept 2024

Now looking into getting the invertor online and then buying a new battery,

Solax app download

I asked the question of the BMS repairer: “I wonder why this growatt battery says 57.4volts, yet the Solax inverter manual says it should stop charging at 53.5 and start again at a minimum 47v ? ” David

He replied:
So, this is one of the reasons that these batteries are not compatible with other brands of inverter.Thery work at a slightly higher voltage than other brand batteries.The only way you will get this system working is to add a Growatt SP2000 to charge the battery or replace the battery with one that is compatible with your Solax inverter.Kind regardsChris

31st Aug 2024

BMS first try: https://vimeo.com/1004760076

no voltage on the BMS output. The battery is showing 55.3 volts before the BMS

3 Aug 2024

Growatt Darfon GBLI5001 or GBLI2701 BMS boards

All of the packs should be within 0.2 volts of each other but ideally the closer the better. The BMS locks out if any of the packs is more than 0.2 volts higher or lower than the rest.

Also, if your SP settings are incorrect this can over time damage the battery.
Some installers change the settings to maximise the yield from the battery but this discharges the battery too low.
The settings should also allow the battery to be recharged to a minimum of 10% as soon as the PV is next active after a complete discharge regardless of home load

27 July 2024

charging bad cell pack at 4.2v constant voltage

pack.jpg

We have partially stripped down the old Solax battery and I am starting to get a feel for the job ahead. Last night we took the one flat cell pack out and started charging it via its neighbour using a 12v lamp at 5pm.

I think this looks a similar battery: https://diysolarforum.com/threads/darfon-gro-watt-gbli-5001-battery-pack-worth-a-punt.24226/

a mention of mucky terminals being a problem later on in the thread

7pm – the two cells I am equalizing are still not settled (lamp dimly glowing) funny how it takes so long

9pm – 3.8v & 2.6v  the  lamp is out now, but i’ve disconnected them, don’t know if taking the good one down too low will damage it?

Boston Power Swing 5300 cells

from this thread (the forum that I use)

a review on a different forumhttps://secondlifestorage.com/index.php?threads/boston-power-swing-5300-li-ion-cell-test.5188/

7 am next day – those two packs are now 3.9v & 1.8v, so I am beginning to suspect the BMS is faulty.

SK-SU3700 U37EC6090GB076 Invertor serial

Solax Manual

Connection Step:

  1. Insert the RJ45 terminal on the current sensor into the CT port on the inverter.
  2. Place the current sensor around the phase wire L which the inverter is
    connected.
  3. Place the current sensor around the phase wire L to measure the current
    going to or coming from the grid.
  4. Make sure the current sensor is installed in the right direction: The arrow
    on the current sensor must point to the public grid.

South Africa

Kelso to Port Shepstone Railway

United church Florida (Dante Anderson)

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Florida+Lake+Swimming+Pool/@-26.1803144,27.9085001,3a,75y/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipO2kZ-JMA0dYy5w5CvYh5_qmWVrt8JWuzsEwGEi!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipO2kZ-JMA0dYy5w5CvYh5_qmWVrt8JWuzsEwGEi%3Dw203-h270-k-no!7i1920!8i2560!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x1e95a05ca54fff57:0x9a43af852c9efd2b!2sFlorida+Lake,+Roodepoort,+1709,+South+Africa!3b1!8m2!3d-26.1739223!4d27.897071!16s%2Fg%2F1tp5nz_l!3m5!1s0x1e95a063c60752a9:0xcb3864c05de25a63!8m2!3d-26.1803144!4d27.9085001!16s%2Fg%2F11g026vd3b

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=413544132337347&set=pb.100067632996932.-2207520000.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=413543725670721&set=ms.c.eJw1y9ENwDAIA9GNKoMNxPsvVqVJP59Op2DRMQZU8KNgKRvVg0Uek9wd~%3Bl3cfYTryc8Z12aSw55jxbF~_sw3Qvn~_ptteKFxbrHMg~-.bps.a.413539159004511

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=413545459003881&set=ms.c.eJw1y9ENwDAIA9GNKoMNxPsvVqVJP59Op2DRMQZU8KNgKRvVg0Uek9wd~%3Bl3cfYTryc8Z12aSw55jxbF~_sw3Qvn~_ptteKFxbrHMg~-.bps.a.413539159004511

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=413544132337347&set=ms.c.eJw1y9ENwDAIA9GNKoMNxPsvVqVJP59Op2DRMQZU8KNgKRvVg0Uek9wd~%3Bl3cfYTryc8Z12aSw55jxbF~_sw3Qvn~_ptteKFxbrHMg~-.bps.a.413539159004511

Webcams

https://rtsp.me/embed/NKGEAK6E

3rd Dec 2024

https://www.ipcamlive.com/newcamera#howtovideodiv

Exmouth NCI

2023

Exe Sailing Club: http://www.viewcam.co.uk/clients/esc/hd/

Blackpool: https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/united-kingdom.html

Morecambe: https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/united-kingdom.html

Madeira: https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/united-kingdom.html

More Morecambe: https://morecambebid.com/more-cam/

IP cam streaming service: https://www.ipcamlive.com/hikvision

morecambe bay https://www.windy.com/-Webcams/United-Kingdom/England/Lancaster/Morecambe-Bay/webcams/1567021473?54.072,-16.040,5

IR floods

PIR floods usually help but are not essential and dependent upon the position in relation to the camera can cause reflection and in some cases a 1 or 2 second distortion of the image as the camera switches from Night to day mode. I’d install the cctv and cameras first and see how it works both day and night before adding any additional lighting.

Energy – Camelot Forum & Solax

Camelot forum\

NoraBatty Aberdeen

MPAN Number

S 1 801 511 16 1002 1964 537

1st May 2024

Solax INV s/n U37EC6090GB076 14881AAC

solax sk-su3700e manual

Darfon Battery S/N EKEIA020050G22SJ002Y

25th Feb 2024

Victron video

Sunsync ebay 10kWh

24th Jan 2024

Victron

spoke to shell and Octopus, no date yet

Tommy at electric store rang “give energy newgen3

GivEnergy Invertor

MCS Acceditation

https://vrm.victronenergy.com/installation/62545/dashboard

Solax at Edmunson Electrical

Lux power with Senergy

Octopus and MCS cert: https://youtu.be/FSZhGxESm_Y

Myenergi

generator earthing

IET Forum

11 Jan 2024

emailed Oct to say we hadn’t asked to leave

Hi David,

Thank you for reaching out to us. I understand your disappointment regarding the confusion with your switch. I apologise for any inconvenience caused.

I want to assure you that we value you as a customer and we want to resolve this issue for you. I have taken note of your dissatisfaction and closed it as feedback log. Please be advised that messages you received were automated because of account attempting to switch without success.

The previous statement that you will be updated when migration happens is correct. After you switch I have left note on complaint that we would need to book engineer to visit you and install smart meters.

In the meantime, if you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

Kind regards,

Sanjin

Octopus Energy Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 09263424. Registered office: UK House, 5th Floor, 164-182 Oxford Street, London, United Kingdom, W1D 1NN

On Fri, 19 Jan 2024 at 06:19, d.vidbooth@gmail.com wrote:

Good morning,

I am very disappointed that my application to switch over our supply has
gone wrong. You Said –

“We’ve been notified by another supplier that you’ll be switching to them
from 18th January 2024. We’re sad to hear you’re leaving us, but of course
the choice is yours.”

How did I choose to leave you?

But you never got on with the transfer, saying that the migration from
Shell Energy was going to be automatic and completed in late December.

Where do we go from here? All I wanted was a smart meter that worked
properly and a flexible tariff.

Please clarify the situation with me.

sincerely, David Booth

11 Jan 2024

LuxPower Invertor

Octopus Schemes

17 Dec 2023

Smart meter instructions

Octopus

Gas calCalculator

9 Nov 2023

Sonoff power meter: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09XB3RZB9?th=1

Sonoff 4 channel:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353180697331?hash=item523b35c2f3:g:7wkAAOSwyaNfQNJG&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4HGpp5ND7kUfsD6diaa%2FpMdTkHXRgM48s35RRGumYCykCAfGGvfHYmyB6lZPIf4e7lH8HgnPnl7HTlIWVYbsfvoeLR9ABcm4qAXCNSnnuAjymRN3vkwBcPpbsT7Y2%2BoOg2v7QkhkEP8OqdYX0H8yaRRFO24dJwus4DBxw0mhT8a%2BPbi3lbvPg%2FmPbs82pgonEfoPLWOuiJA8CVTlFHRT9tVHW%2BkuGQZq3Njew3f8zkoBJD6QgsfqQzX9iL2vfkX90QX3nZIjeujoLhU227Kte0BtLrTgDlYL2KMAYg5aNnSL%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7yD6pbsYg

Screwfix smart plug:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/tcp-wissinwuk-13a-smart-plug-white/231hk

Zappi: myenergi/Zappi

https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/topic/118599-solar-panels-and-smart-meters/#comment-2947141

Octopus Site: https://octopus.energy/friend-referral/

Elec standing 49.77 day. 29.94 per unit

Gas standing 27.47 day. 7.51 per unit

Shell:

Elec standing 48.96 day. 31.16 per unit

Gas standing 27.72 day. 9.825p per unit

The system I had put in was 5.8 kw Solar panels Givenergy Hybrid 5.0 (gen 2) hybrid inverter (for AC and MPPT solar) with a Givenergy battery of 10.4kWh made up of two of their 5.2kWh units all in my loft.   Then a Myenergi (Zappi) EV car charger and Myeddi hot water excess solar diverter. BTW because I was having more than 4kw installed I had to get permission from the Grid DNO (SP Energy for us) via a G99 form (the installer did the submission) and took 6 months to get an affirmative response.

Pob lwc.

Renewable energy products making eco energy easy | myenergi

Multi Award Winning Renewable Installers | Hafod Renewables  (based in Llanelwy/St Asaph)

Solar Panel Installers – UK – Preston – NorthWest (in2gr8tedsolutions.co.uk) Edited by churchward

Google Sheets Chart editing:

Click icon on right of “Data range” and alter row numbers