Currently doing my homework on getting a suitable system for my home. Just read through 5x pages of comments 😵‍💫 (bit pening kepala). House is 3 phase.

This is the setup i am looking to go with:

TRINA vertex 605W N-type Bi Facial x16
Hoymiles HMT 2000 4T x4

Am leaning towards the above microinverter type because the panels will have to be laid in 3 different direction - North, South & East.

Hopefully sifus can help explain the following which i still am not clear on:

#1
Is there such a thing as 1 phase / 3 phase for micro inverters? I read the thread that you can direct each micro inverter to a differece phase but if i have 4 microinverters - it means 1:1:2 setup? Any pros & cons to this?

Is hoymiles a goos brand? Asides from Hoymiles, any other recommended brands?

#2
What is clipping and the ideal ratio?

This post has been edited by mrstohchu: Jun 10 2024, 12:00 AM

The panel was suggested by the seller. I think he is trying to give me the highest wattage.

I'm going w micro inverter setup because my roof is a smaller scale version of the attached pic. Cannot fit all panels onto 1 side. Have to split it up in clumps of 4 panels on the various roof facets.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Asked - installer told me 99% they recommend & install string, only cases like mine (due to my roof shape) they recommend micro. Also, he says only have access to string panel performance. Micro performance only owner have access.

I am still in the process of having my system installed so do research further on what i say.

Maybe consider taking up insurance? That's what my installer is suggesting. Rm10k sum insured for Rm5x a year. Of course, always read the fine print what is covered, what is not. So far, it seems fine print is Rm500 deductible. Ok la if repair cost is a few k and we just have to pay Rm500. My installer says manpower/skylift cost included, as in they will repair and backend they claim back from insurance co.

Having said the above, i am still in the begining stage, just closed deal today. So, am not going to share my installer contact until he finishes the entire project. Then i will share review whether good or bad.

I feel too early to share coz i just confirm go ahead today. (What if turns out it's not a good one, then i simply recommend?). Let me go through the entire install then i will share my review. 🙇🏻‍♀️

Hi Sifus,

How
does TNB calculate bills?

Eg:
1600kwh usage (assuming equal usage spread out over the whole day). Solar system generates 1000kwh. Meaning import is 600kwh.

Will TNB still imposed ICPT since overall usage is 1600kwh or we will avoid ICPT since net import is 600kwh?

From what i have read/heard so far, some say yes, some say no. Am confused.

Thank you. So it's base on scenario 'WHEN' the electricity is used.

Scenario A
Lets say my system generates 1000kwh and IF my consumption 1600kwh is balanced (we WFH so day & night usage should be the same) 800 kwh during day and 800kwh at night. We switch on ACs during the day (too hot to not switch on). Theorectically because i use what i produce, 1000-800kwh = 200kwh sent back to grid, i am not importing from the grid during the day. At night i use 800kwh so TNB will consider my import as 800kwh, then less my export of 200kwh and charge me 600kwh. I will therefore avoid the ICPT tax.

Scenario B
If i generate 1000kwh during the day, but household is empty coz everyine works in an office. So, 1000kwh all gets sent back to the grid. At night, everyone comes back and starts using electricity of 1600kwh. It means TNB will consider my import as 1600kwh hence ICPT kicks in, then only offset 1000kwh of my export?

That's how i understand it. I guess got to wait until my system is operational then i will find out for sure.

My quoted setup consist of Trina 605kw x16 panels paired with Hoymiles HMT-2000 X4. House is 3 phase.

So supplier only has HMS-2000 in stock. I will have ro wait longer if i want HMT 2000 (HMT id meant for 3 phase). i understand HMS is meant for single phase but seems that quite a few installers are using HMS Even if house is 3 phase. Is there a diff between the HMS and HMT? I cannot seem to find much info on the differences ... at least not in easily understood layman terms. Only diff i see is (HMS X HMT) max input current 14 A vs 16A x4 / MPPTs c4 vs MPPTs x2.

Is it better to wait and go w HMT or there is a reason why onstallers are using HMS?

TIA

This post has been edited by mrstohchu: Aug 15 2024, 06:37 PM

I'm guessing they order in bulk so have to finish existing stock before moving on to the newer ones.

Also time lag between quotation (early Jun) till confirmation / new application and now pending install...

605 to 610... ok la... minor diff...

This bad huh? My personal experience is, it also depends on the company. When i was sourcing for quotation, hampalang pattern also got, the one that stood out most was telling me 1k deposit to even do actual site survey then 'fomo' me by saying queue to install is 6 months long, another one got back to me on the day i signed on with a vendor... in between also got those that were responsive - they proactively offered to come and do physical site survey to see how many panels my roof can take (i wanted a ~12kwp system/20 panels but turns out my roof maxed out at 9kwp~/16 panels).


My timeline so far:
12 Jun - confirmed contractor, paid 1k deposit
14 Aug - Day 1 install (bracket n wiring)
21 Aug - Day 2 install (inverter n panel)

As of yesterday late evening, 2 out of 4 inverters onlkne. Today the installer got to come over again, said tak sempat config 2 out of 4 inverters yesterday due to low sunlight. So, technically today should settle all. <- to the sifu's out there, does this sound right? Or from get go inverter problem? 🥲

This post has been edited by mrstohchu: Aug 22 2024, 10:39 AM

Re the 1 week gap:
Installer brought the wrong inverter model - i am on 3phase they brought the single phase one. So everything kena postponed.

Thank you for thr explaination - make sense what you say. Just checked, still 2 out of 4 working. Later the installer say will come and config again. Hopefully all good.

From what i remember from my research, string is fine if your panels are facing max 2 directions. Something about string inverters have 2 strings so they can put 1 string for non shaded panel and 1 string for shaded panel (as per what a vendor explained). If your roof is multi-faceted and panels gonna face more than 2 direction, in my case, my panel faces north, south and east, micro inverter maybe better.

Higher Kwp w string - if your roof got space i guess. But then even if you put more panels, more panels will also be affected kan?
If your roof has limited space (typical w multi-level segmented roof), the multi would be better.

Woot! 1st full day my system in operation:

System size: 9.68kw
Today's yield: 39.68kwh
Sun hours: 4 sun hours
Location: PJ, today weather wise, sun playing hide n seek the whole day.

Also to contribute back to the thread, what i wished i knew before i embarked on this journey:

- make sure your roof structure is sound, else make sure to include budget to replace/repair one's roof before you install a solar system.

- not only focus on the system, make sure to ask your vendor how they plan to install the wiring / system. Yesterday came across a FB post where owner showed pic of a string inverter installed indoor where the setup looked really messy (he was asking for ideas how to hide the whole setup).

I didn't ask beforehand, too fixated on the system specs itself. Luckily, my installers did a neat job, cabling just 1 pipe down from the roof via side of house then hidden all the way in my false ceiling till it reached my DB. Even the switches/breakers(?), managed to fit inside my existing DB box. Didnt have to worry about installing inverter either since mine is a micro inverter system.

PJ here... sun has been playing hide and seek pretty much whole of last and this week. Kejap sunny, kejap cloudy. Haih~

9.68kwh system. 30 Aug was not a good day~



This post has been edited by mrstohchu: Aug 31 2024, 02:59 PM

I have 4 of the hoymiles HMT-2000s so considered 8kw i guess. Sorry not that well verse technically.

Hi sifus,

My system intermitently shows 1 row as offline (pic1) Installer says not to worry, panels are working, just that DTU is too far so not recieving data.

Today I noticed this offline row only started producing energy at 10am(?), another row, same facing but +1 storey higher already started production at 8am. Checked the past days, this occasionally offline row starts production around 8am (same as the rest).

Just wanting to verify if all is working well or something is off.

That was the original quote. My house is 3 phase - i thought it made sense to have a 3 phase inverter.

Yes -all lines show readings.

I have moved the DTU (just today) to monitor but location is not ideal (kinda in rhe midsle of nowhere). Will have to monitor i guess.

I'm just curious, is the inverter suppose to still work if it cant connect to the DTU...

This post has been edited by mrstohchu: Sep 2 2024, 06:36 PM


Attached thumbnail(s)

Oof~

You mentioned only 1 phase jalan. Are you on HMT inverters too?

Did the installer give you any explaination?

Anyways just sharing mine yield today (9.68kw setup) - 25.45kwh. Am suspecting 1 of the micro is problematic though - only started production at 10am. Still trying to figure it out.

Installer said, for my situation, it's because that microinverter signal couldnt reach the DTU so no data sent. It is actually still working. In other words, DTU displays real time data. So anything that signal couldnt send through, data will not be captured. Meaning that the yield i see on the app will be lower than what my system is actually generating.

I have moved my DTU to a more central location yesterday. Today seems better, no more offline issue. Still monitoring.

There wasnt much info on HMT available online so it was a judgement call to go w HMT. Figured might as well go 3phase to 3phase. Must be a reason they came out w 3phase, if not could have just offered 1phase solution for all if they both work the same. I dont mind the additional safety features, to me, better be safe than sorry.

If you dont mind me asking - what kind of anticipated issue? Mine's 2.5 storey and i have panels on both 2nd and 3rd storey roof...

Oop... what you are saying is the exact opposite of what my installer explained...

I guess i just have to hope that all goes well~