Adding more solar panels to an existing SolarEdge system

[scrambler]

The only way to deal with that properly right now would be to use a separate Vue for the 100A circuit, using its 200A CTs on the 100A lines, so you can record bidirectional data there.
But you would have to combine data from the two Vues manually in an Excel sheet.

[warx]

The utility meter 200A circuit measures fine bidirectionally (green for export, blue for consume etc.). The problem is that I have a 100A circuit off the main panel to the storedge solar system. So this is birectional too - most of the house consumes through the storedge so it's sourcing from grid, solar, and/or battery. However when solar is exporting it uses this same circuit to push back to the main panel. So two issues for Vue - first it's 100A (exceeding the 50A CTs which can handle 63A) second it can be either direction. Previous system was plain solar (no backup interface) so was unidirectional export only. I suspect if Emporia fixed the software my load would rarely get over 50A since all the big stuff in the house bypasses this altogether (and does not get backed up).

[Ampster]

Are you using external CTs for that monitoring? It sounds like some CTs need to be reconfigured or reversed. Start with your utility meter to get a fix on which way power is actually flowing.

[warx]

Interesting that it looks like IotaWatt supports bi-directional 100A sub circuits - which would be much better for mixing solar/battery circuits in there. Gets spendy but may be able to use the Emporia CTs.

Now I finally have my My SolarEdge App configured to monitor it shows exporting when it is actually just passing grid power to the sub-panels. This throws off all the charting as I see this on the Production chart as Export but Solar Production is zero at least.
e.g. at night I saw 0.5kW exported to grid whereas the Emporia showed 0.5kW coming in from the grid, passing to the EnergyHub, and passing to the backed-up loads (the sub-panels). Oh well.

[Ampster]

I did go to the Emporia user forum and got the answer for my question about a three wire circuit (L1 & L2 with shared neutral). If I want to measure both legs I need to reverse one of the legs through the CT so the magnetic flux will not cancel. .

[scrambler]

Oh good to know the 50A CTs don't track both directions... Gotta get that K<->L the right way for mine. Oh but wait - that also means my whole setup of the 50A on the StorEdge is not working then. That has both grid->battery, grid-> sub-panels but also PV->grid. I guess the ultimate/only truth is visiting my utility portal (opower from PGE) for a day old report.

The frustrating part is that from what they said, the 50A CTs can track both directions, but that is not handled by the SW for now...

[Ampster]

Oh good to know the 50A CTs don't track both directions... Gotta get that K<->L the right way for mine. Oh but wait - that also means my whole setup of the 50A on the StorEdge is not working then. That has both grid->battery, grid-> sub-panels but also PV->grid. I guess the ultimate/only truth is visiting my utility portal (opower from PGE) for a day old report.

That is why I did not put the CTs on the subpanel in which my solar goes through. As I mentioned, I bought the self powered CTs for the main panel so I could fit them around the two wires each for L1 and L2. Then I put the smaller CTs on individual loads in both subpanels, doubling up some where the loads were not significant. Later I moved some around and that it probably why I occasionally see unaccounted for loads. The daily Net consumption off the two main CTs corresponds with my PGE daily reports from their website.

[warx]

Oh good to know the 50A CTs don't track both directions... Gotta get that K<->L the right way for mine. Oh but wait - that also means my whole setup of the 50A on the StorEdge is not working then. That has both grid->battery, grid-> sub-panels but also PV->grid. I guess the ultimate/only truth is visiting my utility portal (opower from PGE) for a day old report.

[scrambler]

I have been using the Emporia for a year now, and Its Grid Import / export CTs are tracking PG&E report by a couple of percent. They also track the grid Import export CTs of the Solar system (both sets are on the same wires side by side).

It is important to initialize the system properly, so it automatically detects which CTs are on L1 and which are on L2, and not to change them afterwards.

If you need more CTs, you can get more units and set them up as parent child, just don't use the 200A CTs on the child unit.

One thing I keep waiting for, is for them to enable Bidirectional reporting from the small CTs that are on Solar breakers, so I can record my Hybrid inverter properly when it charges the battery.

[warx]

Emporia has some limitations. My grid in is via two dual breakers (2x2x100A). i.e. each of L1 and L2 has two 1/0ga cables. Clamping a 200A CT on one of each has given me decent results assuming the same cable stock and each of the same phase is simply sharing the load. Sometimes it's way off. If the Vue had four 200A circuits it would work for me. This also messes up any SolarEdge CT option too - it can only do a single pair for grid in.
My panel gets more complicated as there's a 100A CB to the SolarEdge backup interface and a 100A connection back that goes to two sub panels for backed up loads. That leaves the EV, A/C, spa and my 6-50R welder socket on the main panel. The Vue can't handle 100A CTs but supposedly is ok to 63A or so.

[Ampster]

Ampster Glad you went for the Emporia, this is such a great monitoring system!!

Yes, I need more CTs but will start combining some small circuits because more CTs is not an option. I have my two sub panels fed through a big 6x6 wiring gutter so doing that is easy. I put circuit numbers on everything. I have gotten some weird results and am wondering if I need to pay attention to L1 and L2 when combining 120 V circuits through one CT. I understand about a factor of 2 when only putting CT on one leg of 240V circuit.

[scrambler]

Ampster Glad you went for the Emporia, this is such a great monitoring system!!

[Ampster]

That is the easiest way to add a few panels to an existing string inverter system. As I mentioned earlier in this thread I did the same thing a couple of years ago. I am now in a new home and have an all micro system facing SE.

I am going to add some west facing panels to supplement my SE facing system. I also have an Emporia and if your Solaredge system is on the Emporia you could just thread the lead from the new system through the Emporia CT.

[warx]

Well, to answer my own question; I ordered three Enphase IQ7 instead and will sell the P370 optimizers. SolarEdge really does a good job of protecting their setup. Hoping to avoid the Envoy system with such a small setup. I can do basic monitoring via an Emporia at tie-in.

[warx]

I'm in the same position. I have 7600 StorEdge with two strings of 10 and 11. I have three more panels and optimizers to add. If I add them to the strings but do not commission the optimizers (I don't have installer access to the portal - just end user simple phone app) will they produce anything or do they just remain in SafeDC mode?

Likewise, I have a warranty concern but since I have the optimizers I would like to try to get them on the SolarEdge system so they'll work with the batteries too. If I leave as a separate system at 3x350W I suppose it makes sense to buy 3 x microinverters rather than any sort of small 1kW string inverter.