Ecotech GRID CONNECT SOLAR User manual

GRID CONNECT SOLAR USER MANUAL
Phone: [phone]
Or 0450696606
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ecotechelectrical.com.au

GRID CONNECT SOLAR USER MANUAL
CONTENTS
1. Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3
1.1 Installation process-------------------------------------------------------------------------------3
2. System description----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
2.1 Private/residential class 1 installs--------------------------------------------------------------4
2.2 Private-residential or small commercial class 2 installs-----------------------------------4
3. System savings----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
4. System maintenance--------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
4.1 Maintenance schedule----------------------------------------------------------------------------6
5. System operation procedures and alarms-----------------------------------------------------7
5.1 Start-up procedure---------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
5.2 Shutdown procedure------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
5.3 System function-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
5.4 Earth fault alarm------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8
5.5 Inverter faults and diagnosis---------------------------------------------------------------------8
6. Warranties and documentation------------------------------------------------------------------8
6.1 Guarantees under consumer law---------------------------------------------------------------9
6.2 Warranty and document information---------------------------------------------------------9

GRID CONNECT SOLAR USER MANUAL
1. INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing Eco Tech Electrical to install your PV solar system. By choosing to
install solar you are offsetting green house gas emissions which when in a surplus are
detrimental to the environment and atmosphere.
1.1 Installation process
To start the process once you have accepted the quote, Eco Tech Electrical will send
off all relevant documents to Power and Water, the building certifier and engineer
while you send off a Power Purchase Agreement document to your retailer. Once
these documents are sent we can start the install as these systems (class 1 or 2) are
pre-approved through Power and Water.
On the day of install our qualified installers would have explained to you the
location/s of the array/s where the inverter or envoy is to be located, any variations
in the job and a rough time frame of the install. Your electricity meter will most likely
have to be swapped to a new bi-directional smart meter to register kilowatt-hours
that are imported and exported between the grid and your premises, along with a
lockable main switch at your meter box which is a national roll out in the NT. Once
completed and commissioned the electrician will answer any questions you may
have and show you how to use/monitor your new system via the screen on the
inverter and/or the online app.
After the install we will assign you an account and link you to the online portal so
you can monitor your system remotely via your phone or tablet. In the mean time
you will receive a certificate of compliance, commissioning sheet, warranty sheets,
engineering specifications and this manual.

GRID CONNECT SOLAR USER MANUAL
2. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The sun produces photons which your solar panel cells capture and then produce a
flow of electricity into the metal strands of the module through your array of panels
down to your inverter which converts the voltage type from DC to AC which runs
through your premises.
2.1 Private/Residential class 1 installs
If your solar system is producing more power than you are using, the excess power
will go out to the grid through your new bi-directional meter in which you will sell
back to your retailer at the same price you bought it for. (eg. If you pay 25c per
kilowatt hour, you will receive a credit of 25c per kilowatt hour sent back to the
grid). The amount of kilowatt hours exported can be viewed on your electricity
meter under number 23 on the screen.
2.2 Private/Residential or Small Commercial Class 2
For class 2 type systems (larger than 5kw single phase or 7kw three phase but less
than or equal to 30kw) there is no exporting of power from your solar system
allowed, this type of solar system will have an export limiting device installed, so it
will only offset the amount of power needed on the premises.

GRID CONNECT SOLAR USER MANUAL
Solar systems work best when the sun is shining directly down on the panels and the
ambient temperature is cooler. The panels will still generate power as long as there
is enough ambient light even on cloudy days. It will shut itself down over night once
there isn’t enough light to keep the inverter running and start itself up in the
morning. The inverter has an inbuilt mechanism called ‘anti-islanding’ which stops it
from working once there grid voltage or frequency is out of order, this helps prevent
any faults or spikes arising which could damage the inverter or sensitive equipment
you have, it also prevents anyone working on the power lines from an electric shock.
3. SYSTEM SAVINGS
Living in the NT gives customers a one for one feed in tariff, as discussed in section 2
means you will receive a credit for the same amount of kilowatt hours you put back
into the grid for class 1 users. Tariffs for the retailer Jacana can be found at this
address: https://www.jacanaenergy.com.au/residential/pricing.

GRID CONNECT SOLAR USER MANUAL
The average home in the NT uses around 25kwh per day which would amount to a
system just over 5kw’s worth, so in order to at least break even you would need a
system of this size as a minimum which wold save approximately $2360.00 per
annum. This figure is an estimation not taking into account shading issues and
various other factors that affect the output of a solar system.
4. SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
Maintaining a solar system is integral to the output as dust and bird droppings
accumulate on the panels decreasing the output sometimes quite significantly, so it
is in your best interest to schedule a clean of your panels. Because the optimum
angle for solar panels is about 10 degrees, the panels build up with a lot of dust
especially in the dry season when there is no rain to wash it away. Below is a
schedule for your system maintenance.

GRID CONNECT SOLAR USER MANUAL
4.1 Maintenance schedule
Maintenance schedule
Component What to Inspect Quarterly Anually 5 Yearly
Solar Panels Clean panels for dust and bird droppings r
Inspect for panel discolouration and micro cracks r
Monitor shading issues that may develop over time r
Check for corrosion of frame and any visual defects r
Inverter & Switches Inverter stops within 2 minutes of
disconnected grid voltage r
Inverter start up takes a minimum of 60 seconds r
Check continuity and disconnection of switches, r
circuit breakers and fuses (if applicable) r
Record string voc and isc values) r
check integrity of surge diverters r
check for correct labeling r
Wiring Systems &
Enclosures Verify integrity of cabling and enclosures including:
Junction boxes, isolators, conduits, cable tray, etc r
Check enclosures for: leaks, broken seals, tightness
of connections, entry glands, water accumulation, etc r
Check all electrical connections for tightness and corrosion r
Earthing Inspect earth wiring and clamps for corrosion
and tight connections r
Test continuity from Main earth bar to Inverter
and Main earth bar to racking on roof r
Mounting System Check for corrosion of rail and clamping devices r
Check clamping devices and mounting feet for tightness r

GRID CONNECT SOLAR USER MANUAL
Note: All maintenance work should be carried out by a licensed electrician as dangers of
electric shock may be present under inspection conditions, as solar modules remain live and
cannot be turned off.
5. SYSTEM OPERATION PROCEDURES AND ALARMS
5.1 Turning inverter on
To turn the inverter on there is a sequence in which you should follow as to not damage the
inverter, the sequence is as follows:
1. Turn on the DC isolator/s or switch/es adjacent to inverters
2. Turn on the solar supply main switch located in the switchboard
3. Turn on the AC isolator located next to the inverter (if applicable)
5.2 Turning the inverter off
To turn the inverter off is the opposite to turning it on, this will be on rare occasions but is
good to know in emergency situations.
1. Turn off the AC isolator located next to the inverter (if applicable)
2. Turn off solar supply main switch located in the switchboard
3. Turn off DC isolator/s or switch/es adjacent to inverter
5.3 System functioning correctly
The installer will run through these procedures with you on the day of commissioning.
To check if everything is functioning correctly there will be a green LED light being displayed
on the front of the inverter with an output in watts, the amount of watts shown on your
display screen will fluctuate as cloud cover appears and disappears which is normal. It will
show a higher output when the sun is beaming down on the panels than when there is cloud
cover.

GRID CONNECT SOLAR USER MANUAL
Another way to check your system is functioning correctly is to check how many kilowatt
hours it has generated for the day, (check this at the end of the day) you can also view it
online through the portal on your phone app, as a general rule of thumb your system will
produce on average 4.5 times the rated output of your solar panels. Eg for 5 kilowatts of
solar panels you will produce around 22.5kwh per day (depending on shade and other
factors).
If your system is producing close to zero kWh per day try turning the inverter on and off
again as mentioned above, if this fails to rectify the problem please contact Eco Tech
Electrical.
5.4 Earth fault alarm
In the event of an earth fault alarm which may be recognised by one of the following:
1. Red LED displayed on the inverter.
2. Fault code displayed on the inverter representing an earth fault alarm (fault code
diagnosis can be found online or in the inverter manual).
3. An audible alarm could be heard coming from the inverter.
If you see or hear any of these symptoms coming from the inverter shutdown the inverter
as stated above and contact Eco Tech Electrical.

GRID CONNECT SOLAR USER MANUAL
5.5 Inverter faults & diagnosis
If there seems to be a fault with the system as displayed on the inverter screen there are a
few things you can do:
1. Try turning the inverter off and on again as the procedure says written above.
2. If there is a fault code on the display screen, there is a fault diagnosis section in the
inverter manual that will tell you what is wrong.
3. If all else fails contact Eco Tech Electrical.
Note: keep in mind if there is some type of grid failure the inverter will not turn on at all
until the grid has been re-energised.
6. INSTALLATION AND MANUFACTURERS WARRANTIES AND OTHER
DOCUMENTS
All products meet the relevant Australian standards, CEC guidelines and our goods are
covered under consumer law.
The Australian Consumer Law covers general standards of business conduct, prohibits unfair
trading practices, regulates specific types of business-to-consumer transactions, provides
basic consumer guarantees for goods and services, and regulates the safety of consumer
products and product-related services.