… Diehl Platinum 3800S inverter …
Hey, Mark, thanks for the inverter recommendation. Looks good. 780Vdc max so not stressed at 600-ish.
Price OK too. I’ll go for this one.
Speccing this kind of thing for the first time is a hassle: so many variables!
Does it matter if one slightly over-specs the inverter to allow for adding a few panels in the future? Especially as panels get cheaper. There is enough roof space and it seems a shame to waste it.
Not so keen on Chinese Inverters though, and a 4600tl would be too small for 8KW and to big for 4KW.
Could you not use an SMA, maybe a waterproof one if needed, and fit the generation meter that end also.
I know people do, but I am not a fan of long DC runs, it is High voltage with no real protection, Your PV system will be no good to you if you end up dead.
Yes, I know, but I will absolutely certainly end up dead anyway. But not quite yet!
It will be underground SWA with earthed armour.
I have 12kV overheads across my garden, on crappy old poles and within easy reach of my digger, forklift and sons’ kites etc. So some MV DC underground will complete the set. We do have a defibrillator in the cupboard, and my girlfriend might even like me enough not to forget to use it …
BTW, SMA inverters won’t handle the voltage.
I don’t want to have to buy half a ton of copper just to keep the voltage drop down, which I would if I run LV AC to the house, since there’s not a lot of point in expensively harvesting the sun’s energy just to heat the ground with hot wires
My opinion, if you are happy to take a punt then go for it, would I sell an unknown panel to a customer? No I wouldn't.
I hope this helps.
Yes, it’s great advice and makes much sense. Thanks.
I spend much of my time doing stuff in a non-standard way and saving money, and do virtually everything myself. That way I can live in a fantastic house I could not otherwise afford.