How to install a 5kW Solar Solax Hybrid Inverter & Battery Storage System

Installing 5kW ‪@SolaxPowerGlobal‬ Hybrid Inverter, 5.8kW Triple X battery storage and DC SPDs.
I explain everything from stripping DC cable to the value and importance of DC isolators.
I will be sharing the roof works separately which include 415W Trina mono all back panels and perhaps a special guest!
We have a deep dive on DC isolators, potential live working and how we are approaching this as installers.
This system will payback the home owner in 6 years! Never a better time to get a solar system and battery in your home/business!
We wont be perfect but are enjoying the journey and sharing it hoping it helps others.
Everything you see we bought and is not promotion.
#apprentice 121

[@simonmoorcroft4067]

One of the best solar install explainer videos. Great work!

[@sergiofernandez3725]

Nice video Mark. Looks like a really interesting project.

[@timallen6025]

Great job, detail is everything , thanks

[@user-by2xj2wf2n]

I work for Solax Power. Your video is very useful

[@electrician247]

Glad to help. I have a few others on the channel and coming in the future.

[@ianandrew7010]

I got a Solax X1-Fit and 1 5kw master and 2 5kw Slave Batteries superb,I initially just had the 5kw master like in your setup but it's not Man enough in Winter probably great for Summer use though 👍 Combined with the Eddi you fitted me,I'm super happy with my current Solar Array/Battery Generation 👌

[@electrician247]

Awesome Ian! Thanks for the feedback and for watching!

[@grahamdaniel6035]

Nice vid, just doing an installation with the 3x hybrid solax 10kwh with 11.6kwh batteries. I did get slightly confused with the wiring of the chint / ct limiting meter 😊

[@timpegg8591]

Very well explained pal👍

[@electrician247]

Cheers Tim

[@ForTheBirbs]

Hi Mark, thanks for another interesting video. YT has buried a few channels and I'm playing catch-up. Cheers

[@ianmiller3182]

Great stuff. Perhaps you could consider 2 into 1 bootlace ferrules for your dc cables into the dc isolator although not your favoured choice. It could then be considered as one cable.

[@electrician247]

We tried this but the insulation on these been the thickness it is prevents them fitting in. I did think that would be a nice solution but doesn't work sadly.

[@user-tf8zx4ge1e]

Hi - do the DC SPDs have the earth taken back to the Consumer unit Earth terminal? If so is this the case on all earthing types? Thanks

[@muso31]

Nice! Where is the load CU from the inverter? If it's the CU shown, is the AC in for this CU fed from tails from the AC out of the inverter? In which case it's powering it's own RCBO?

[@hjb.liverpoolfc]

Hi, Im just about to install this exact system. Im also new to solar. The DNO will be coming to witness the commissioning. One of the questions on the G99 A3-1 asks to show the checking of the " Interface protection settings" . Did you have to do this? If so was it simple to do? Is all this in the manual? Cheers Will

[@jcf828]

Hi Mark, great installation and video upload. Can you please explain the spds on the dc strings. I done my solar course last year and there was no spds on the test rig, more going through my book do I see anything. Cheers

[@electrician247]

It's in the regs about SPDs but still a grey ish area. Some inverters have the built in but tend to be T3 AC spds. Its for things such as atmospheric energy (not so much lightening). Bird damage, impact etc causing well a surge. Need to be close to inverter to protect it. These were about £65 each

[@HAelec1]

Is this your first PV install? How did you find getting your MCS accreditation or is this install going to be used to gain accreditation. Good content as usual 👍🏻

[@UKJustin]

I understand that the battery connection has changed in the new inverters from May 2023 which require you to get a H4 crimper, is there any video on how to make up them cables. I just want to unplug a 5kW inverter and put in a 7.5kW in its place.

[@electricalservicesmaroc]

❤❤😊😊

[@jimsherry22]

Hi Mark could you tell me the typical cost of the installation of a 5kw battery to a new build 5 solar panel system? Im in Glasgow.

[@benbarnett1571]

I'm installing the same 5kw hybrid inverter at home, I'm not MCS registered, so I have another company coming to do the actual install and commissioning , but I'm prepping the board and cabling and mounting the battery and inverter for them. The manual states the 5.0D needs a 50A breaker. I saw you only used a 32A RCBO, do you think that could pose a problem? I assume it's to cover the current flow for the battery charge from grid.

[@electrician247]

Hi Ben, the manual is confusing on that aspect. I spoke to solax technical as in other places it mentioned a 40A circuit... You might have spotted the cable change on the inverter towards the end of the video when we swaped to a 40A varient 🤭. Covered in the next video which is already out. I've got another video on the 7.5kW hybrid ready to release. In short it's a 40A circuit you will need lol. The 50A figure is maximum operation in EPS mode but of course EPS and normal cannot exist at the same time.

[@tomport330]

Hi Mark, I'm going to be installing a similar system in a couple weeks. will be my first solar battery storage system install. the client has asked if he is able to choose when he wants the grid to charge the batteries if they are not fully charged from the solar panels. Do theses inverters have this function and can you choose when they charge from the grid? Thanks

[@electrician247]

Hi Tom, yes you can via the solax cloud app

[@elminster8149]

Do you have to use the app or can you monitor from a web browser like Chrome on a laptop?

[@electrician247]

Can use a Web browser if you want.

[@yngndrw.]

A very neat install. You raise a good point about having isolation at the consumer unit. We have solar PV (Installed a few years ago for the previous home owner) which is located on a barn and there's no isolator (Or labelling!) anywhere near the consumer unit which is in the main house. I suppose the G98 compliant islanding prevention helps in this regard but it doesn't replace a handy local isolator ofcourse. Ours does have DC isolators but does not have DC SPDs - Are these required these days or just best practice? Are you allowed (Or is it advisable, even if allowed) to run the DC string cable within the same containment as the AC wiring, especially in situations where you have 1000V strings? For stripping the DC cable, have you tried a CAT5/6 stripper? The kind which just clip on and spin around. I've never tried it but I'd think it would do a good job.

[@electrician247]

Hi! Yes I tried the data stripper worked well. The 1000V is a factor if you have long strings. These will only ever carry sub 300V as split the array in 2 parts. I discuss this in part 2 which includes the roof work. I did compartmentalise the trunking a little to help avoid any issues. Alongside the true double insulation I think we are good! On longer strings with higher voltages I would think harder on it tbh.

[@yngndrw.]

@@electrician247 Ah I see, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of solar installations have been put in without half of the consideration you've put in - It's great to see the process of an experienced electrician moving over to solar as some of the solar installers seem to just go straight into it without any other experience to draw from. (Or at least, that's how it appears from some of the installs I've seen.) I'm looking forward to part 2!

[@gino2465]

Mark may I ask what the inverter manufacturer recommendations were for RCD protection. I ask as Solis recommended the use of a 100ma RCD.

[@electrician247]

Hi Gino, no rcd required on these unless cable type/route dictates otherwise.

[@BakedTuber]

Is the RCBO bi directional? If so how do you check? Also did you need x2 SPD's for the PV? I'm not an expert by any means just curious! Cheers

[@electrician247]

The rest of the series answers these questions mate. One SPD for each string and yes bi directional is critical. We ditched the rcbo here as wasn't needed. Proteus do bidirectional

[@101markharris]

Can anyone confirm this inverter does work with lead acid battery's please ?

[@neildickinson7117]

Hi Mark. I'm due to fit the same system in a couple of days. Looking in the manual it says a 50amp mcb and 10mm2 cable for the AC side. Did you use the same? So a 3 core 10mm2 flex entering the Inverter? Also did you use a foiled screened Cat 6 cable to avoid crosstalk. Also i can see on your video that you have the cat 6 cables in the same mini trunking as your mains. Does this not concern you? Any advice would be a great help. Many Thanks Neil.

[@electrician247]

No issue with the cables in same trunking so long as all rated to the maximum voltage present. Which they are here. Yes screened CAT 6 but it's only for the CT monitoring so not really needed imho. Cable size and OCPD is up to you. It depends on your generation array/battery capacity as to how much it will ever output at once. The figures in the manual are based on generation alongside battery charging etc so of your system is big enough size the AC cabling as you describe. In my case the array on the roof is very undersized to the inverter (we plan more panels in the future) So we went with 6mm and 32A upfront. All happily working just fine and generally running at 25A maximum. Hope that helps and thanks for watching. Good luck!

[@neildickinson7117]

Thanks Mark. All the best 👍

[@chrisdix1]

Great video, just getting into solar, its a bit of a minefield to start. What model inverter is that?

[@electrician247]

Solax G4 6kW Your not wrong it really is lol

[@Mr.Therapist1]

Hey, just a quick one. Did you bring the solar DC cables through the SPD first and then all the rest? Where did you connect the incoming DC cables, that are from the roof?

[@electrician247]

Covered in the video. DC cables come to the DC isolators first 🫡

[@Mr.Therapist1]

@@electrician247 excellent!

[@jessamygoddard4112]

We have a solax inverter fitted and we are very happy with our setup. But can you tell me how to power the house from the solar panels during a blackout?

[@electrician247]

A video on my channel just after this one covers this. But it does depends what inverter you have as not all can run in eps mode

[@jessamygoddard4112]

@@electrician247 thankyou Mark! I will look tomorrow.

[@jonathonward123]

Hi, I have just installed solax inverter and 2x batteries. The batteries are flashing red.. any ideas? Thanks

[@electrician247]

Lol could be anything. Worth checking the inverter software is up to date as sometimes they won't charge the batteries if the software versions are not right. Call solax tech support. They are really good.

[@craigbutler6243]

Comprehensive install, great work but why the two AC isolatiors when the inverter is adjacent cu? Cheers

[@electrician247]

I cover this on the next videos. Not required but as we was awaiting MCS site assessment we was following the diagrams to the letter. When really if the inverter is in the same location as the CU you only need the one 🤭

[@craigbutler6243]

@Mark The Sparky Allison OK I see, thanks for response Mark. Keep up the good work mate

[@nic47531]

Do you have a preference of sunsynk vs solax, and even solis too?

[@electrician247]

Sunsynk is a no from me at the minute to many problems with app reliability. Prefer solax of the 3 options suggested along with growatt for basic string inverters. The later has the benefit of dc arc detection

[@nathanairey7795]

Hi Mark, Just wanted to know, so I see you have SPDs fitted at the Inverter side but did you also fit SPDs 10m from the last point also? In the loft for example? As reg 534.4. 4.2 says, "If the distance between the SPD and equipment to be protected (protective distance) is greater than 10 m, oscillations could lead to a voltage at the equipment terminals of up to twice the SPD's voltage protection level.

[@electrician247]

Hi Nathan, no one size fits all is applicable for this tbh. So it depends is the answer. Some inverters and optimisers carry over voltage protection within them so will vary on the equipment you use. In this case our cabling to the array is most likely under 10m regardless as we took an external route up to the loft and inputs pretty much straight above that. However we fit the auto shutdown product from projoy that has SPDs within it, thermal sensors and can be remotely activated by fire fighters. It sits in the loft under the array. I’ve shared videos on that product in the solar playlist if it’s helpful. With your DC SPDs primarily it’s what are you trying to protect. We still generally fit external ones even if the inverters have them built in. As was the case here actually. The solax hybrids have them while the string inverters do not.

[@nathanairey7795]

@@electrician247 Great answer thank you, have a good Christmas

[@malachygallagher4936]

Hi I have 30 pv panels to install but can’t do because inverter will only take a maximum of 16 panels? Only 2no mppts?? What can I do? Rgds mg.

[@electrician247]

Get a bigger/additional inverter

[@user-wp9yf6dt1w]

Hi Mark, what safety measures are there to prevent reverse feeding into the system in the event of a loss of network supply?

[@electrician247]

The shut down on loss of supply unless EPS output is used. Show how that works a couple of videos after this one using a manual change over switch. Thanks

[@Issomethinggoingon]

Hi mark I see some installers use a white board to fit everything on, but you don’t, I’m about to install, do I need a white board, is it a regulation or requirement of some inverter warranty’s or just different people’s choice ?

[@electrician247]

I use them mate. Shown on some other videos. The surface just needs to be fire proof. We use the boards to level uneven surfaces or to make it look a bit nicer is the short story lol

[@Issomethinggoingon]

@@electrician247 Nice one I get you, so regs wise I’m fine on a internal face brick work ( garage wall ) 👍

[@neutron6220]

Great Video Mark :) I have a question about the DC SPD's. Are they to protect against lightning strikes?

[@electrician247]

No, these are more for atmospheric conditions below that level. Or other external events that can occur through bird strikes and such. With lightening protection things move up a level.

[@neutron6220]

@@electrician247 thanks Mark :)

[@matthewdale956]

Nice install,how did you find getting into solar pv ?

[@electrician247]

Love it

[@alexrhodes5462]

Folks always omitt to install the stipulated DC mcb between battery and inverter. Solax support say optional but whats your opinion when its clearly in the installation plans?

[@electrician247]

These have the mcb in the top bms panel. But I am thinking about this atm.

[@alexrhodes5462]

@@electrician247 solax said to install for piece of mind but no install I've seen uses them. Leaving installer liability wide open for fire risk I was thinking. 50a on the 7.5 x1H

[@electrician247]

@Alex Rhodes on the older solax batteries I would deffo be using a DC mcb. The new triple x as shown here without the black stripe are setup differently. The DC mcb is on the output of the battery cabling. Adding another 40cm away and introducing another termination and potential point of failure seems more detrimental than beneficial in my mind. But I am thinking about it over the longer term before I 100% commit 🤭. If the battery cabling was of a length it warranted further protection I would be including it. But on a 800mm run which already has an MCB in circuit and the cables rated for mechanical protection I only see downsides as described above. Interesting area to consider though so good question! If you haven't seen the new triple x which comes in 5.8kW variety then check them out. The prior black stripe models didn't include the same and other features.

[@johnnoden9435]

can lead acid batteries be used with this inverter?

[@electrician247]

They can but I wouldn't recommend.

[@allenglishknives6823]

I’m looking at Solax, what made you choose this brand?

[@electrician247]

Value more than anything else. With a strong brand history.

[@gino2465]

May I ask what is the ma of the rcbo you fitted. Did you fit a 30ma.

[@electrician247]

With the solax you don't need to fit rcd protection unless the cable type dictates you need it. It happily works on 30mA but as explained in this or the next video the setup was changed to no rcd protection

[@gino2465]

@@electrician247 hi Mark I got this from solax direct . SolaX inverters are approved for use of Type A RCD (ABB). ∆, Minimum Value for X1-Hybrid is 100mA.

[@gino2465]

If if you like I have the documentation from solax and solis inverters as I use 100ma as recommended. I can forward you the info I received. If you would like these just let me know how I can forward them on to you.

[@electrician247]

@Gino yes I have had the same. However having spoken to technical a fair bit I have done my own experiments! I've got one on test in my own home quite happily working on its own 30mA type A rcd. Peak leakage over a 3 week period of 3mA In customer installs so long as final circuits are RCD protected the minimum solax requirement is covered. As a minimum on the inverter they want the 100mA rcd protection to cover off connected loads in EPS and regular operation and what we might call minimum is in opposite to what they are calling minimum is the current chain of thought. I don't expect I will have any issues with the RCBO protection on mine but time will tell and in customer installs we are ensuring the inverter feed doesn't need it so not building in problems for anyone 🤭

[@gino2465]

@@electrician247 cool I fitted a solex last week and fitted a separate board with 100ma , same with solis inverters . I have basically followed manufacturers recommendations , keep us posted if you have any issues.

[@fuatali9114]

Hello Mark,thank you for yuor nice video,i hawe uan Voltronic inv.bud i wuont to change him im looking for uan Solax 8kw or Deye 8kw,yuo racomanded my dhis Solax inverter..thank you..ciao Mark grazie

[@mymusic77912]

Is the DC SPD box made by you or bought>?

[@electrician247]

Bought them

[@jonathanrose456]

I’m just not happy about installing lithium based battery packs in people’s houses so I’m designing external enclosures for my installs. Battery backup with economy 7 is far more economical over 6 years removing the need for solar installs in the majority of domestics.

[@electrician247]

I wrestled with that myself tbh. We will not install any equipment in loft spaces but happy to place them in garages or storage spaces away from the main routes of exit. It's a tricky one. We spoke about this on the electricians podcast Sunday night. Some good value with battery only and a solid option for those without roofs. But still tied to energy price fluctuation and changes to off peak tariffs and times. Thinking EV overnight charging adjusting that window in the future. Solar on its own with those who work from home or are home during daytime often can be most cost beneficial without batteries. Even more so with a storage water tank and myenergi eddi.

[@ilovepizzadoyou]

These batteries are heavily tested... Aslong as the cells are not punchered nothing serious

[@craigchamberlain]

There is a big difference in the safety of Lithium batteries depending on the chemistry used. The main two types used are NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) and LFP (aka LiFePo4 or Lithium Iron Phosphate). Personally I wouldn't have NMC cells in my house but I'm more than happy to have LiFePo4 battery modules installed. In fact I have two 4.8kWh Pylontech US5000 modules in the cupboard under my stairs right now and about to add a third. We don't have anyone living upstairs unless we have guests but we do have a fire escape route upstairs through a bathroom window onto a roof if it were needed. I don't mean to sound complacent but honestly I think the risk is higher from a fluffed up tumble drier or a cheap chinese charging brick than from reputable LiFePo4 batteries.

[@malachygallagher4936]

Can’t 5kw is max allowed for DSO for grid connection!

[@electrician247]

Have you applied via g99? However that said this is a 5kW system

[@user-sz5iw5ge8m]

Hi Mark, I have been told we cannot backfeed RCBOs by every manufacturer I talk too, is your backfed

[@electrician247]

That's such a good question and during this job that exact thing entered my mind! Part 2 will show some changes that are visible in this video if you look at the supply cable to the inverter early on and then again at the end 🤭. These inverters don't require rcd protection anyway unless the cable supply method dictates it. But I was trying to be belts and braces! I have another video soon with a way I have tackled this in case you have to have rcd protection because of cable type. I thought it was an interesting topic and glad you also spotted it 🤭

[@user-sz5iw5ge8m]

@@electrician247 thanks for the reply it is much appreciated. I have come across three installs in the last year that had tripping issues and each one was backfed, hence my research. As you rightly say many inverters do not need this and in each of the case I just swapped out the rcbo for an mcb... keep up the good work with the videos. I also think it would be helpful to see a schematic of how to install with and without RCD protection. keep up the good work with the videos., best regards, Jeff

[@electrician247]

@jeff taylor thanks Jeff. I'm really enjoying the learning tbh. It's a bit of a mind shift in the way current is flowing to keep me on my toes lol. Thanks for the input!

[@electrician247]

​@jeff taylor hi Jeff. I've done some digging and if it helps in the future the Proteus mini DP rcbos can be back fed and work in both directions. Hope that maybe helps you out. Thanks.

[@user-sz5iw5ge8m]

@@electrician247 thanks it does and off to CEF.....

[@RNMedic99]

Isn’t that a solax slave battery? The master battery normally has a black band around the top and is taller.

[@electrician247]

This is a triple x master battery. New look 💪

[@paulf3353]

You don't need SPDs for DC nowadays, i think all MCS compliant inverters have it built it.

[@electrician247]

Some do not. I would still encourage installation of them in the string wiring. I have 100% never seen an inverter that has replaceable SPDs once fried lol. For the cost its an easy decision tbh. Cant think of many reasons not to install them. Same on the AC side. Loads of electronic equipment has elements of SPD built in. However pop a nice one in at the intake and sub boards is such a simple, low cost effective measure to take.

[@paulf3353]

@@electrician247 Yeah, but pretty much any modern one on sale has it. This breaker box with SPDs probably over 100 gbp wasted not to mention it takes quite a bit of space too. But fair enough, there is no harm in adding it anyway.

[@electrician247]

@@paulf3353 they don't have these SPDs in tbh. Some have some AC surge arrestors on board. But very few have true DC SPD protection. In the grand scheme of things £100 to protect an expensive suite of equipment is a total no brainer

[@trisknight9430]

Hasn’t the invertor got a DC isolator intergrated into it ?

[@electrician247]

It does but that is not part of the fixed wiring so it’s a no from me on that front.

[@trisknight9430]

@@electrician247 thanks I am not an electrician just about to have solar and there are videos out there about fitting additional DC isolators if the invertor has an intergrated one, is this the case ? Or are they still being fitted.

[@electrician247]

@@trisknight9430 imho they should be fitted. But people can and do argue you don’t have to. I’ve shared a number of videos explaining why I think that is absolute nonsense invented by manufacturers to deskill a sector ever further. To complex for a commented reply tbh. But when the inverter is on the floor getting replaced, were is your isolation.

[@trisknight9430]

@@electrician247 thanks for the reply the videos refer to recent fires at properties where DC isolation was fitted this of course could be down to a faulty switch or one not meeting the BS standard. As I said not a fitter just an end user wanting to understand what the fitters are likely to do with my installation I’m having a solax inverter with an AC coupled battery with Solax inverter

[@trisknight9430]

@@electrician247 just viewed the video regarding the dc isolation interesting the view is installer error and the need to ensure training and skilling of installer to improve standards and I agree

[@justinsmall8294]

Should the installer have run a earth cable from the two batteries to the inverter near the power on/off button, because it would appear they have not done so here.

[@electrician247]

There is one battery not 2 and earthing of both the inverter and battery was discussed and is in place. The earth lug is located on the battery case near the battery connection leads. The earth lug on the inverter is on the left or right of the bottom casing. All present and correct. Was extensively discussed in the video regarding the earthing. Did the viewer even watch???

[@justinsmall8294]

@@electrician247 sorry no mine. Batteries do not appear to be earthed. Only noticed as I was looking over the system with view of swapping out the inverter

[@jamesredmond4038]

I Work with solax if you don't keep your AC side and DC separate as in either side you'll have problems with cables fluxiatin and ringing England they don't have a clue and they put you onto china when they cant answer it I switched it heuwai there actually a better brand to be fair

[@electrician247]

Not had a single problem with solax and we have installed a fair few now. We do make efforts to keep AC and DC away from each other in the trunking and most recently did a no trunking job with total separation which was shared on KZbin. Either way never seen a single problem.