S
sja
Esteemed forum Members,
I had a 4kW Solar PV system installed in Dec ‘13 and since Feb and on an increasing basis with improving sunshine, I’ve seen my SolarEdge SE3500 invertor trip out showing Error Code 33, AC Over Voltage. I don’t know how accurate the device is but I can see on the Inverter faceplate LCD and on the SE Monitoring Portal that my local grid voltage is quite high (nearly always above 245v often in range 250-253v – sometimes spiking over). I can’t see many other solar installation near me but there is a DNO transformer down the other end of my street.
I see these trips multiple times a day – it looks like it might be occurring at 251v, 252v or 253v – and sometime my inverter is held hard-down for periods of up to 45 mins. I’m a bit worried that it is going to damage something in my new installation and of course it is impacting my production (and investment!) I can see there are similar posts on this forum but in trying to figure out how I will get to a resolution I’m trying to get a deeper understanding of the following points :
I will approach my DNO next week, UK Power Networks – is it likely that they can ‘fix’ my local supply so it is more in line with the UK harmonised standard of 230v? (Is it technically feasible that they could ‘fix’ issue possibly by ‘tapping’ the local sub-station transformer or doing something else?) If they are agreeable, how long might this fix take to implement?
Alternatively I see some references to G.83 or G.83/1 / G.83/2; what are these exactly? I’ve seen that BS 7671 Appendix 2 section 14. : The UK supply 230 V +10% - 6% ; translates as 216.2v to 253v. But I’ve also seen people refer to an upper voltage limit of 264v, often in relation to G.83/? Is it reasonable for me to ask UK Power Networks to allow me to have my installer re-configure my Inverter to trip at 264v? Either on a temporary basis while the DNO rectify the supply – or permanently if for any reason they are un-willing to do so? Do our UK standards allow them to grant that permission and any views on the likely outcome of my ask?
My installer has suggested that fitting a ‘Voltage Optimiser’ on my supply would give a good and probably the quickest resolution. While I remain open minded about this as a solution, at the moment I’m not convinced it is the correct resolution. Any views? I can see it will present my Inverter with a lower AC voltage, but what happens in the other direction when I am exporting? Will I be driving grid voltage >253v? Will the device actually allow export? Are these devices efficient and safe?
Thanks in advance.
I had a 4kW Solar PV system installed in Dec ‘13 and since Feb and on an increasing basis with improving sunshine, I’ve seen my SolarEdge SE3500 invertor trip out showing Error Code 33, AC Over Voltage. I don’t know how accurate the device is but I can see on the Inverter faceplate LCD and on the SE Monitoring Portal that my local grid voltage is quite high (nearly always above 245v often in range 250-253v – sometimes spiking over). I can’t see many other solar installation near me but there is a DNO transformer down the other end of my street.
I see these trips multiple times a day – it looks like it might be occurring at 251v, 252v or 253v – and sometime my inverter is held hard-down for periods of up to 45 mins. I’m a bit worried that it is going to damage something in my new installation and of course it is impacting my production (and investment!) I can see there are similar posts on this forum but in trying to figure out how I will get to a resolution I’m trying to get a deeper understanding of the following points :
I will approach my DNO next week, UK Power Networks – is it likely that they can ‘fix’ my local supply so it is more in line with the UK harmonised standard of 230v? (Is it technically feasible that they could ‘fix’ issue possibly by ‘tapping’ the local sub-station transformer or doing something else?) If they are agreeable, how long might this fix take to implement?
Alternatively I see some references to G.83 or G.83/1 / G.83/2; what are these exactly? I’ve seen that BS 7671 Appendix 2 section 14. : The UK supply 230 V +10% - 6% ; translates as 216.2v to 253v. But I’ve also seen people refer to an upper voltage limit of 264v, often in relation to G.83/? Is it reasonable for me to ask UK Power Networks to allow me to have my installer re-configure my Inverter to trip at 264v? Either on a temporary basis while the DNO rectify the supply – or permanently if for any reason they are un-willing to do so? Do our UK standards allow them to grant that permission and any views on the likely outcome of my ask?
My installer has suggested that fitting a ‘Voltage Optimiser’ on my supply would give a good and probably the quickest resolution. While I remain open minded about this as a solution, at the moment I’m not convinced it is the correct resolution. Any views? I can see it will present my Inverter with a lower AC voltage, but what happens in the other direction when I am exporting? Will I be driving grid voltage >253v? Will the device actually allow export? Are these devices efficient and safe?
Thanks in advance.
