My Solar powered home.

In this video I go into detail about my system. Including the components and software used to automate my energy use/storage.
Things mentioned in this video:
www.ginverter....
www.solaxpower...
www.mppsolar.c...
en.pylontech.co...
mqtt.org/
www.lg.com/uk/...
www.perlight.co...
www.openevse.com/
energenie4u.co...

[@Venomator.]

Thank you for this explanation Nicholas, stumbled across your channel as we are having solar panels plus battery & inverter installed and looking for information on the processes involved and this was very helpful… 👍🏻 Question; is your system completely self installed, it is quite an impressive set up… ✅

[@nicholashowell]

No, it's not self installed. The original system was fitted by a solar company. I put the panels on the wall of my house but had the same solar company come back to connect it all up to the grid. The shed is an off grid setup that I built.

[@Venomator.]

@@nicholashowell Ah thanks Nicholas, makes sense I suppose, I just figured one could add panels and plug them into the inverter so I’ll have to check when the electrician installs the Inverter/Battery on Monday… 👍🏻 Thanks again… ✅

[@chrisrebar2381]

I am currently writing my spec (using your system as the basis for mine) to put out to tender. I quite like the look and functionality of the pylontech batteries. I have not read up on these batteries yet. Question: Your newer ones are the US2000 models. If you were buying them today would you still buy these (I noticed they have a US3000 model)?

[@nicholashowell]

I'd happily buy the 3000 models, they are just bigger and so depending on how much capacity you want they may be preferable.

[@chrisrebar2381]

Nicholas Howell Thanks Nicholas

[@richardteychenne3950]

Brilliant, I have found your system video. I have to get into Raspberry Pi systems having everything under your own control 😁🤩

[@mariusonitiu]

Hey Nicholas. I've noticed that you have panels mounted on the wall. Have u any videos about that. I couldn't find any on your channel. How is the energy produced by them by the fact that the angle is probably not quite the most efficient. Tks

[@nicholashowell]

I do have a couple of videos about my wall mounted solar on my channel. They work really well. Better in the winter than the summer but that compliments well with my roof mounted panels that are better in the summer than the winter.

[@mariusonitiu]

@@nicholashowell thanks for the quick reply

[@iainmackay9269]

Does the home build powerwall need a BMS connection to the inverter?

[@nicholashowell]

No it doesn't. It does have a kind of software connection that I have written to deactivate the inverter if any cell gets below a certain value.

[@MrDavidcarp]

Awesome 👏🏿 ⚡️🚙⚡️🏠⚡️

[@dbcooper7326]

How do have time for this as well as manage Man City ?

[@nicholashowell]

🤔

[@nicholashowell]

Ah, I see now. Sorry, not into football but my son has just explained. I wish I earned that salary!

[@raymondlockhart7811]

Hi Nicholas i was told that pylontech batteries were not compatible with solax, obviously not, what is the model number of your solax inverter?

[@nicholashowell]

It may be the case for the newer models but back when I got mine it was the only choice. It's a X-hybrid SK-SU5000 E

[@andrewwest5562]

Hi can you add a 2000C battery to the older battery or do you have to use like for like as I'm thinking of adding more

[@nicholashowell]

I think it depends on a number of things. How old your original batteries are. If the firmware can be updated to make the BMS compatible with the newer versions and your inverter. They are both LiFePo chemistry so no issues there. So technically you can just put the new ones in parallel with the old ones and not connect the new batteries comms cables but unless you know a bit about what you are doing, I wouldn't necessarily advise it.

[@josipkubasa4944]

Hi Nicholas, Which model inverter you use from Solax. I means, that is Solax hybrid.. But, Solax X1 not work with 48v. Thanks..

[@nicholashowell]

I have the older original xHybrid model that works with a 48v battery. I'm not sure they still sell them anymore but here is a link to one I found for sale in the UK. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224431636753?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=224431636753&targetid=1140323547510&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1007264&poi=&campaignid=12125451281&mkgroupid=117045676499&rlsatarget=pla-1140323547510&abcId=9300480&merchantid=6995734&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwLKFBhDPARIsAPzPi-LGXn7M5uXatCKPr5gqCoxafFlGIgTilOzlvtZnYHBVxktmW6URvZIaAkfyEALw_wcB

[@josipkubasa4944]

​@@nicholashowell Thank You for info.

[@timcx]

Very interesting, regarding the software that you wrote (monacle) is that available as opensource? it would be very useful for a DIY project that I am planning.

[@nicholashowell]

It is not available under open source. I was originally developing it as a commercial product but it still needs a lot of work. Especially the GUI/look and feel of it.

[@kamransaleem6835]

Would you like some help with it. I’m a UI developer so perhaps can assist ?

[@marcoolim3180]

At 7:30 you talk about a switch for your off-grid system circuit. Can you explain a bit more why you needed this switch?

[@nicholashowell]

My consumer unit is divided into 2 circuits each with its own RCD. In a normal consumer unit these are both joined to the incoming grid supply. I have a changeover switch that disconnects one of the circuits from the grid supply and connects it instead to the off grid supply. This is important so that nothing back feeds onto the grid in the event of a power outage as this could endanger workers who may be trying to fix the line in a power cut situation.

[@marcoolim3180]

If I understood it correctly, your off-grid inverter then feeds your grid tie inverters? If so, when you don't have enough load, does the grid tie inverters start to overload the off-grid one?

[@nicholashowell]

@@marcoolim3180 No, that not how it's set up. The off-grid inverter feeds a set of house circuits (lights and sockets) that are isolated from the rest of the house circuits via the transfer switch.

[@marcoolim3180]

@@nicholashowell Ok. Got it! Congratulations... great project. Thank you for the videos

[@790219zl1]

Hi Nick, quick question are all three solar inverters wired into the main distribution/consumer board or are each inverter wired in their separate enclosure via henley blocks? Looking to add an additional inverter and solar panels myself.

[@nicholashowell]

All the inverters are wired together into a point between the DNO fuse and the distribution board (with a suitable sized cable of course). However I should point out that you can't just add a new grid-tied inverter without getting permission from your DNO as you may overload their equipment. If you add an off-grid inverter then you don't need to get permission but off-grid inverters come with their own issues/limitations.

[@790219zl1]

@@nicholashowell Understood, thanks Nick, I will limit my second inverter for zero import I wonder if thats ok?

[@nicholashowell]

@@790219zl1 I think you mean zero export but unless you have a hybrid inverter then I'm not sure you can do that.

[@790219zl1]

@@nicholashowell Apologies I did mean export. My current inverter is a hybrid with pylontech batteries. My second inverter will be a standard grid tie, but does have the feature of export limit. Looking forward to your next video. June has been a mixed bag interms of generation, some really good days but also some very grey days.

[@nicholashowell]

@@790219zl1 I think you can probably set an export limit with your hybrid inverter then. Hopefully get my stats video out this weekend.

[@alanrobinson2229]

Just watched this,mind boggling to me,the novice. Are you self taught with the electrics? I had the standard 4kw system fitted(wanted more,but was put off,now I know it was for installers benefit?). I have 3.6 lux power inverter,so if I want more panels,I will need a bigger or extra inverter?This would need to be tied to grid ?

[@nicholashowell]

Are you in the UK? If so and you want to get more grid tied solar you will have to get permission from your DNO first.

[@alanrobinson2229]

@@nicholashowell maybe I should look to do a DIY off grid system.

[@nicholashowell]

@@alanrobinson2229 It's doable but has it's limitations.

[@alanrobinson2229]

@@nicholashowell this is in addition to my grid tied system

[@nicholashowell]

@@alanrobinson2229 For an off grid system (like the one powered from my shed) you need to have an isolated circuit and you can't pull more than the inverter can supply so you have to be careful.

[@carsonlurbanwindandsolar3437]

👍

[@martdaymo]

Did you install the grid tie system yourself, or did you brought in a company for that?

[@nicholashowell]

My original roof mounted system was installed by a company. For my wall mounted array. I mounted the panels on the wall and ran the DC cables to the location where I wanted the inverter to go. I then bought in a company to do the electrical install.

[@martdaymo]

@@nicholashowell your system is a great proof-of-concept, I'm sure manufacturers will be looking to offer an all-in-one arrangement like what you have done here.

[@philipwood123]

@@nicholashowell Very interesting setup. I have a grid tie PV system on FIT. Micro inverters. Looking to add batteries and an inverter to make an AC coupled system. So the new inverter would connect to the batteries and the grid to charge the batteries from excess solar power. then hang most of the consumer unit off the new invertor. lights and sockets. So my question is did you do you batteries and related systems yourself similarly to what I wish to do? many thanks

[@nicholashowell]

@@philipwood123 My off-grid inverter was added because I wanted more solar but was at the limit for grid tied inverters on a single phase (DNO limit). I'm your case you could probably get permission from your DNO to add a grid tied battery inverter (such as the Sofar ME3000) paired up with some batteries and be done with it. You wouldn't have to mess around with hooking some house circuits up to run off the inverter directly unless you wanted it to work in a grid down scenario.

[@wasim21k]

MonACle open source?

[@nicholashowell]

No, it was going to be a commercial product but it's not ready yet.