Grid tie inverter solar panels 2x80w panels

This is a grid tie inverter that I bought off EBay just to try with my solar panels. The solar panels are 2 x 80w panels which cost £350 also off EBay. If you are buying the solar panels and then inverter I recommend getting allot bigger system and having it professionally installed as I don't think this system will ever be able to pay for the panels but we shall see. The solar panels I had anyway for the caravan so alls I need to buy was the grid tie inverter which cost about £80. When I bought the grid tie inverter I was not expecting much because Rotherham is not a sunny place but they don't do to bad on a dull rainy day they can still be putting in 30-50w which I think is very good and when the sun comes out it can put in anything up to about 160w.
If you have any questions please comment on the video and i will reply asap.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Grid
• tie
• solar
• wind
• generator
• turbine
• inverter
• panels
• panel
• green
• energy
• efficient
• environment
• environmentally
• friendly

[timcat100]

Could I use this with an inverter instead of the Grid? Example my Honda inverter generator or the inverter in my camper?

[aljisonline]

@timcat100 yes definitely I have tried it, you would need to make sure that the inverter is pure sinewave but as for the Honda generator I have used this setup with the exact same kipor generator as that is what is powering my caravan look at my other videos of solar panels in the caravan.

[seandanm]

Is their any easy check to see if the inverter is working? How do I check the voltage of the inverter? The voltage from the panels are between 12 and 20. But I need to double check that? thank you for your help.

[aljisonline]

@seandanm If it is working then the green led’s will flash and it will buzz if it is flashing but really slowly then it is either dull or the solar panels aren’t the right voltage for the inverter. The solar panels are probably 18v and the inverter needs to be 14.28v.

[seandanm]

Thank you for the reply. I do have a socket monitor like yours, but for me it records no power going into the socket. I have 3 * 100 watt 12V panels . The grid tie inverter I have is the same as yours (300W). The inverter seems to be working, but don't know how much. So either the inverter is not working or the device I have to record the power is not working. So If you could give me the make and model that would be great, I could rule out the inverter or the socket monitor. Thanking you.

[aljisonline]

@seandanm Hi, the electricity meter is a Proteam plug in energy monitor and I would think the problem is with your inverter as 300w of panels in this inverter will kill it, I would not put anymore than 160w of panels on it because it can get really hot. For 300w of panels you want a minimum of 600w inverter. Also have you checked what voltage the panels give off and the voltage of the inverter.

[aljisonline]

@seandanm Hi any meter will record power but what ever you do make sure you get a digital one as the one i have in this video uses most of the power that the panels generate i quickley replaced it with a AMPY 5196 which uses no power at all..i have i digital meter on my 1.3kw system please check out my other videos

[seandanm]

Thank you for the video.

Quick Question in the relation to the device that you are using to record the power generated by the inverter. Will any watt meter record the power or are there different types? What is the make and model of the one you are using, Thanking you.

[aljisonline]

@peeinginthewind hi it is 14-28v