K
kirk
Hello and good evening - my first post and a question for those in the know.
I'm a 40 year old maintenance tech ( mech' biased) for a large motor manufacturing comapany in the north east.
I've recently had a 4kw pv system installed (16 REC panels and a Kostal pico 3.6 inverter - wired into my DB)
system working great - generated 270kw so far in three weeks.
Soon after installation I clamped my British Gas home energy meter around the incoming live conductor from my inverter to see what sort of power was being produced to help use household appliances according to output.
I found to my alarm that overnight the inverter was pulling around 70w. I checked the inverter to confirm it was in stanby which it was.
I contacted the installer who said it was impossible. after a few days the installer electrician came out to investigate. he tested system and concluded the inverter was in fact pulling 70w - 270miliamps.
the installation company have apparently been in touch with Kostal tech department who have been unable to replicate this fault.
the install company have swapped the inverter and the same fault was evident - 70w.
The electrician told me whilst refitting the old inverter that sometimes inverters will "bounce power back and forth without actually using it"
this sounds like a load of tosh to me and would like some expert advice before i part with my money.
I thought it might be noise fooling my energy meter and have since fitted ferrite cores in the hope of suppressing it - but to no avail.
Any help advice greatly appreciated - my installer and his electrician are visiting tomorrow to collect final payment and convince me that all is well with my inverter.
sorry for the long winded first post - but realy need some advice before paying in full for system
I'm a 40 year old maintenance tech ( mech' biased) for a large motor manufacturing comapany in the north east.
I've recently had a 4kw pv system installed (16 REC panels and a Kostal pico 3.6 inverter - wired into my DB)
system working great - generated 270kw so far in three weeks.
Soon after installation I clamped my British Gas home energy meter around the incoming live conductor from my inverter to see what sort of power was being produced to help use household appliances according to output.
I found to my alarm that overnight the inverter was pulling around 70w. I checked the inverter to confirm it was in stanby which it was.
I contacted the installer who said it was impossible. after a few days the installer electrician came out to investigate. he tested system and concluded the inverter was in fact pulling 70w - 270miliamps.
the installation company have apparently been in touch with Kostal tech department who have been unable to replicate this fault.
the install company have swapped the inverter and the same fault was evident - 70w.
The electrician told me whilst refitting the old inverter that sometimes inverters will "bounce power back and forth without actually using it"
this sounds like a load of tosh to me and would like some expert advice before i part with my money.
I thought it might be noise fooling my energy meter and have since fitted ferrite cores in the hope of suppressing it - but to no avail.
Any help advice greatly appreciated - my installer and his electrician are visiting tomorrow to collect final payment and convince me that all is well with my inverter.
sorry for the long winded first post - but realy need some advice before paying in full for system