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mattwillhill
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March 23, 2022
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Are my solar PV panels connected to my smart meter and measuring my exports correctly?

  • March 23, 2022
  • 44 replies
  • 13169 views

We recently in Dec 2021 had a large PV solar install completed on our house.  A new 24 panel [385W each] Solar array at 8kW by a seemingly professional company. Disappointingly the install has issues, the main one being that the house utilty meter has the same consumption rate as before the solar install started!  This suggests there is wiring config. or equipment fault issue somewhere or the meter cannot cope with Solar supply since we are having large Solar Yields!

        Either way we are none the closer to getting either the solar installer coming back to fix it in a hurry [I don’t think they understand it!] or the Utility company to check  the meter!   All this in rapidly rising energy prices ….. pause to weep …… seriously this is cry for help please, we have spent a fortune for nothing! 

       One thing that stands out to me, being a lighting engineer [as a I have some electrical knowledge - although a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing!] is that the Solar Installer has wired the Solar Arrays Inverted 240V output not direct to our Consumer Board but has put it through our Utility Meter with the grid supply [on a single split combined cable]. When I asked the solar installers engineer how the Utility Meter can tell the difference between electricity we are consuming direct from the grid or through the Solar he just shrugged his shoulders and exclaimed that it just can! Personally rightly or wrongly i am unconvinced!

I attach an image of our electrical utilty meter [ a SMET 1 – Elster AS300P] cupboard with the solar installers wiring config  displayed. Please the question to those in the know is should the Solar always be through the consumer unit first [as in schematic A] or through the utilty meter [as in schematic B] shown , or does it depend on  other factors?

Any help or direction most welcome.

    Best answer by PeterR1947

    @mattwillhill  There is no way that meter will measure export as the PV is not connected through it.  If the PV was connected as every other one I have seen, i.e. though the consumer unit, your Elster meter would be able to measure the export.

     

    All meters are clever enough to sense which direction current is flowing through them.  With non-smart meters, if the very old variety the spinning wheel would go backwards, the electronic ones would display “RED” (Reverse Electricity Generated).

     

    A Smart meter is smart!  if you are exporting to the grid, this is sensed and measured as export which you now know how to read and when you are not exporting the meter measures the consumption.  When you are generating but less than the house is using, the meter will simply show the reduced rate so your monthly PV generation will reduce the consumption you are seeing at present.  On thinking further about what I said earlier, I don’t think a PV installer is allowed to connect directly to an incoming supply, only your DNO is allowed to make these connections, perhaps @Transparent  can confirm that

    44 replies

    Show previous replies
    BPLightlog
    Super User
    BPLightlogSuper User
    Super User
    February 4, 2025

    ​@dms66 that phenomenon is often caused by an incorrect orientation of the CT clamp which monitors household consumption. 
    A photo of your main wiring near your meter might give a clue

    Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
      Chris_OVO
      Community Manager
      Chris_OVO
      Community Manager
      February 6, 2025

      Hey ​@dms66, 

       

      If you’re able to upload a few photo’s of your current setup then we’ll be able to give your more advice. Both ​@Blastoise186 and ​@BPLightlog are on the same track that it sounds like an issue with the wiring. 

       

      Keep us updated! 

      Renewable energy jokes never get old.
        J
        Newcomer
        Jgas
        Newcomer
        March 15, 2025

        Hi All, I recently been noticing that the solar panels are not generating even on a sunny day. When i go onto the GivEnergy app the panels are not showing on the home page. Who do you contact to help resolve this issue.

        Regards

        John

          BPLightlog
          Super User
          BPLightlogSuper User
          Super User
          March 16, 2025

          I don’t know your system but it sounds like things need to be linked again - presuming that the inverter is still connected and on.

          There are some details (and help links) on the Givenergy page https://givenergy.co.uk/givenergy-app/

          Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
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