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Wondered if anyone can answer my query

 

Im an existing FIT payment receiver (solar panels installed with single string inverter 11 years ago) so receive a decent FIT payment.

 

Recently had installed a EcoFlow 3.6kw inverter with 10kw battery storage, the generation meter was changed to a bidirectional meter as instructed and followed the correct schematic.

 

However the meter is showing a negative number and I can’t seem to work out what the solar panels are generating apart from what shows in the EcoFlow app

 

We charge the batteries up at night using an off peak rate and then any solar during the day tops the batteries up.

 

am I correct in thinking there should be another meter of sort between the solar panels and inverter just to monitor the generation from The solar panels?

 

installers seem to think by summer it will change to a positive but that’s no good to me right now when I’ve generated about 30kw of solar 

 

 

Hi ​@Astraroy ,

Looks like you’ve exported 212.1kWh of eco-juice so far. The value you want is EXP which is shown whenever the arrow indicator is on the top left corner. That Meter appears to be an Export Meter - there should be another one somewhere else for Generation.

Actually, the NET meter is normally the correct one to use. It calculates the difference between any import from the grid and your generation. During winter and acknowledging losses in the system, if you are significantly charging overnight and then discharging during the day, it can show negative at this time of year. 
You might just double check with your FIT provider as to which reading they will accept. As I mentioned, normally it’s the NET reading but some want the EXP reading. 
There will be no other meter just for generation on a set up like yours (mine is the same)

Actually, the NET meter is normally the correct one to use. It calculates the difference between any import from the grid and your generation. During winter and acknowledging losses in the system, if you are significantly charging overnight and then discharging during the day, it can show negative at this time of year. 
You might just double check with your FIT provider as to which reading they will accept. As I mentioned, normally it’s the NET reading but some want the EXP reading. 
There will be no other meter just for generation on a set up like yours (mine is the same)

Thanks for the response. Does it ever get to a positive in the summer? The installers have assured me it does but very nervous rot potentially get to summer and it’s incorrect and lose out on FIT

Hi ​@Astraroy ,

Looks like you’ve exported 212.1kWh of eco-juice so far. The value you want is EXP which is shown whenever the arrow indicator is on the top left corner. That Meter appears to be an Export Meter - there should be another one somewhere else for Generation.

We only have 1 meter as this is bidirectional and only way I can track generation right now is through the EcoFlow app which Ovo won’t accept 

Actually, the NET meter is normally the correct one to use. It calculates the difference between any import from the grid and your generation. During winter and acknowledging losses in the system, if you are significantly charging overnight and then discharging during the day, it can show negative at this time of year. 
You might just double check with your FIT provider as to which reading they will accept. As I mentioned, normally it’s the NET reading but some want the EXP reading. 
There will be no other meter just for generation on a set up like yours (mine is the same)

Thanks for the response. Does it ever get to a positive in the summer? The installers have assured me it does but very nervous rot potentially get to summer and it’s incorrect and lose out on FIT

Yes it does .. but I agree that the NET metering system looks odd, especially if you had a more standard generation meter previously.

As I mentioned, when you charge the batteries overnight from the grid, that counts as IMP (imported). Anything coming out of the inverter (including any solar generation) counts as EXP (exported - but not actually a grid export).

Because the inverter isn’t 100% efficient, your import/charge from the grid will be higher than any output and so during winter, if your overnight charging is ‘high’ compared to any solar generation, that inevitably shows on the NET meter as negative. (NET = EXP - IMP)

Super thanks for the explanation.

We have always had the standard generation meter so looked very odd to us.

in your experience was the reading similar to previous years after you moved to a new bidirectional meter? Trying to understand if we would receive the same generation fit as last year now we’ve moved to this new meter or would we lose some generation?

Super thanks for the explanation.

We have always had the standard generation meter so looked very odd to us.

in your experience was the reading similar to previous years after you moved to a new bidirectional meter? Trying to understand if we would receive the same generation fit as last year now we’ve moved to this new meter or would we lose some generation?

I agree - the update looks odd (we went through the same).

From what I’ve seen (1 year on the new Net meter), the generation is down overall but the phasing is what throws things out so much as I guess you won’t take as much from the grid as the days get better. I do think installers are often not the best at explaining everything. 

Yes I agree, I would have hoped the fit provider would be able to take the reading from the inverter app as that is clear as to what the solar panels are generating.. was the generation down by much year on year? As I’m on the old FIT payments part of what we receive was to recoup some of the outlay we’ve paid for batteries and inverters.

Yes I agree, I would have hoped the fit provider would be able to take the reading from the inverter app as that is clear as to what the solar panels are generating.. was the generation down by much year on year? As I’m on the old FIT payments part of what we receive was to recoup some of the outlay we’ve paid for batteries and inverters.

I have done the same, adding batteries to increase our solar gathering. We had our panels fitted early in 2012 so are also on the old FIT scheme. 
As I mentioned, the reading was reduced after using the Net meter but of course, each year is different anyway so it’s difficult to get a precise answer.

The inverter is always a rough guide but as it’s not calibrated and often fed from a CT (they are notorious for inaccuracy), the inverter readings are never accepted unfortunately.

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