Energy Monitoring

[Orty]

Prior to our new Solar installation last week, I installed an Efergy E2 monitor which has worked satisfactory for a couple of weeks.
Perhaps telling me the obvious of which appliances use what amount of energy.
For the first couple of days after the PV installation we had poor results due to poor weather conditions but yesterday for a couple of hours, we were flying, generating up to 3.2KV.
What I did notice was the E2 monitor was still displaying a consumption of over 1kwh when the PV panels were generating at their maximum!.
I then realised that the E2 monitor was probably measuring the current flowing back into the grid.
Is there a way to measure only consumption rather than energy going back into the grid?
The monitor is connected to the positive cable to the meter.
Incidentally, we have an old type meter and it was great to see it going backwards at the time the panels were putting out a high output!

4KV system with SunnyBoy 4000TL

Cheers

Orty

 

[wstevew]

If you have a Henley block then connect to the live going to the consumer unit.


BTW. Its a 4kWp system (4kv is something completely scary)

 

[Orty]

It's a clamp on sensor clamped on the feed to the consumer unit.
Shurley this will read current going in both directions as I am experiencing.
Sorry, my mistake about the 4000 volt system!

Orty

 

[GaryM]

The only way to see both supply from the grid and generation from the panels would be two methods of measurement, two clamps for example.
To do this you would need to have your inverter supplied from a separate consumer unit than you general household circuits, both fed from henley blocks. That way you could clamp around the line supplies to both the house CU and PV CU.

 

[Orty]

The only way to see both supply from the grid and generation from the panels would be two methods of measurement, two clamps for example.
To do this you would need to have your inverter supplied from a separate consumer unit than you general household circuits, both fed from henley blocks. That way you could clamp around the line supplies to both the house CU and PV CU.

The only info I need is the supply from the grid. The SunnyBoy gives me the other info.

 

[GaryM]

Is your inverter supplied from the same consumer unit as your general circuits or via a separate 1 way consumer unit?

 

[Orty]

Here is a diagram of the set up.
It's a lot easier than explaining thingsView attachment img113.pdf

 

[wstevew]

From your drawing I think your energy monitor is unsuitable (during pv production) it is likely to show an abosloute net use. By that I mean if you are using 2kw and producing 1kw it will read 1kw. If you are producing 2kw and using 1kw it will read 1kw

To do what you want the pv system needs its own CU and to be linked with a Henley block just after the import meter.

I have 2 energy monitors, one on the live from the PV Consumer unit. The other on the live to the main Consumer unit.


This gives me consumption and generation.

I find the energy meter on the PV always under reads by about 10% compared to the sunny beam. Probably because energy monitors don't measure voltage and assume 240v and the inverter will be producing a higher voltage than supplied from the grid.

 

[Orty]

I forgot to show on the diagram a Henly block between CU3 and the SunnyBoy.
I agree with you that my energy monitor is now probably unsuitable, now that I have a PV installation.
I am happy with the info the SunnyBoy gives me, it's just a pity I can't monitor my live usage from the grid. Other than my meter reading.

 

[Orty]

There is also a CU in circuit with the SunnyBoy as well form CU3

 

[wstevew]

You can get a current cost envir with optismart.


Instead of using a current clamp it uses a sensor you place over the led on the import meter (if you have a led) it counts the pulses. You will need to check your meter is listed as compatible on their web site.

 

[Orty]

You can get a current cost envir with optismart.


Instead of using a current clamp it uses a sensor you place over the led on the import meter (if you have a led) it counts the pulses. You will need to check your meter is listed as compatible on their web site.

Still with old style meter (fortunatly) As it goes backwards