Hi Everyone
I'm a residential user from Cape Town, and would like to lower my footprint to consume under 600 units per month for the lower electricity tariff.
I'd like to do the installation myself with my electrician, so that I can maintain it myself going forward.
I'm eyeing the SMA Sunny Boy 5K inverter to convert from DC to AC. (
http://www.sma.de/en/products/solarinverters/sunny-boy-3000tl-3600tl-4000tl-5000tl-with-reactive-power-control.html)
I've calculated that I would need 3000w array of PV panels, and seeing as I already have 4 x Solarworld 150W panels (
http://www.solarworld.de/fileadmin/downloads_new/produkt/sunmodule/datenblaetter_offgrid/poly/R6A_poly_150_en.pdf) on the roof connected, I thought I would just add an additional 16 panels.
I've got a sub DB in my garage, where I currently have a 1500watt inverter installed with 4 x 200AH VRLA batteries. (See attached picture for a crude idea of what I've got)
The idea is that during the day I will run completely off the solar power and therefore not need electricity from the grid.
My current 1500w inverter will still only power the Dedicated/UPS circuits which are basically lights and select plugs.
So I've got two questions:
1. When generating more power with the PV system than what you're consuming, how does one disconnect the mains from the utility? (So that you don't push back into the grid. Or is there a good reason for wanting to push back into the grid? i.e. credit)
2. How is the grid tie inverter physically wired into your DB board? (I'm thinking along the lines of where I should place it and cable runs)
