Plug-in Solar supposedly going to be 'easier'?

Chris Pearson said:

What could work quite nicely is charging an EV on DC direct from the 'balcony' panels.

That may be difficult to achieve as most EVs use a 400V architecture*.  They aren't likely to be impressed at being offered less than 1kW either.

*Some are now 800V but accept 400V charging for backwards compatibility.

I hope that I haven't got my decimal point in the wrong place, but a very modest (by modern standards) 100 kW is 400 V x 250 A, but perhaps the motor runs at an even higher voltage?

Is there any reason why solar could not supply 400 V DC?

I guess the motor must run on something like 400V, because stepping it down would only make the currents higher.  But the motor doesn't actually run on DC anyway.

My Renault has a 100kW motor (so your figures are about right).  The motor Renault chose uses a 3-phase AC stator and a DC electromagnet for the rotor.  Others use permanent magnets instead.  I can only assume that there's a VFD hidden under the bonnet controlling all that.

If you're using standard rooftop type solar panels, you'd need a good number of them for 400V.  My rooftop system has two strings of 9 panels, with each string running at approximately 300V.  The voltage isn't constant. and varies with insolation. So the charger will need sonething to regulate the voltage.  It will also need to handle black clouds drifting across the sky mid charge. Maybe a small buffer battery to keep the power going while the charger tells the car to slow down its charge.

I think the complexity of direct DC charging is why most householders wouldn't bother. Easier to use an off-the-shelf solar inverter to generate 230V AC, then rely on the car's own charger to convert that back to DC again.

not much more risky than,,, is what i meant to type. But didnt.Now corrected.

I recalled a website on historical electrical accessories featured an MK BS1363 plug which had sprung shrouds, albeit only over part of the pins to prevent inadvertent contact,

I was thinking along similar lines - but more like the "safety" BC lampholders - i.e. an internal switch disconnects the pins when it's withdrawn. Of course it could be defeated by an extension lead - but then socket shuttering is defeated by the common "kettle lead" - so nothing new there.

   - Andy.

All great ideas, but the timescale to update a standard should not be under-estimated, even if everyone agrees on the technical changes necessary.

In the case of shrouds or "plug removed switch" approach, suitable requirements will need to be written, along with verification Clauses for type testing the durability and functionality.

Interesting times.

Sparkingchip said:

I have an image in my head of a plastic box on a house wall with a multi gang socket strip supplied from an existing socket outlet and a EV granny charger plugged into the socket strip along with one or more balcony PV sets.

I did see an eFIXX video questioning what happens if you plug in multiple balcony solar sets and then the power goes off. Does the anti-islanding still work, or do the inverters still see each others' outputs and think everything is fine?

They should all chase each others outputs,  and drift down in frequency and then cut off - after all in normal operation in a large block of flats, there will be many such units per phase, even when used correctly.

This is also how big arrays of micro-inverters work as well, and such behaviour is a requirement of the G xx standards.

Mike.

Chris Pearson said:

ministers have not been well-briefed.

Agreed

They seem to lack the knowledge and history.

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) was launched in
2007.and went independent in April 2018, the scheme became independent of the government, transferring to the MCS Service Company Limited.  Its Purpose: is to serves as a quality assurance scheme for products and installers of renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and heat pumps

Question….What quality assurance will they be IF I buy is from Amazon and install myself?  Would it be plugged into and outdoor socket which MAY be questionable in the first place or do I cut the plug off and poke a whole through the fabric of the build and then wire up a new plug?

Then there is BS7671 last few amendments say over the last 10 years with things like
Regulation. (530.3.201) use of bidirectional and unidirectional devices
What about Amendment 2 (2022)
Regulation 716.443 requires surge protective devices (SPDs) to be installed where PV or energy storage systems are connected, reflecting the increased risk of transient overvoltages from lightning and switching events

Regulation 716.514.1 requires clear labelling at the consumer unit, meter position, and point of connection to identify that a prosumer installation is present and to indicate the presence of multiple sources of supply


How many of these DIY kits will comply with Regulation 716.514.1?

Sergio Fernandez said:

Regulation 716.514.1 requires clear labelling

712.514.1 does indeed. Would they have to be removable for when the system is unplugged?