Smart Load Connection
Good afternoon from Scotland. I'm new. Feeling my way through the installation and setup. ECCO Hybrid Inverter 8.8KW
Question...I have a 4 core armored cable between the installation and the house. I want to set the system up to run the house and dump the excess into a smart load...Can I use a common Neutral with independent Live from the Gen(smart Load) and Grid blocks?
Thanks,
Martyn
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Hi Martyn, without knowing more about you or your installation, I am nervous making any siggestions. If you create common neutrals, your RCDs/RCBOs will be popping up and down like a cabinet ministers trousers! Are you an electrician or electrical engineer? Was your equipment installed by a professional, or are you an untrained DIYer? I ask this because here in the UK anything classed as microgeneration equipment, that creates 230V AC and is AC coupled to the grid requires the relevant ENA certificate to be provided to the DNO to get permission and certification to allow it to be connected. If this hasn't been done, you could wake up to your DNO knocking on your door to cut off your supply.
However, assuming everything is kosher and you have an SPN supply, you firstly need to confirm is the armour on your 4 core cable provides satisfactory earthing for your earthing system, and the cable cores are satisfactory for current and volt drop? For the benefit of Groot, here in the UK, a neutral/earth connection can only be created once, before the meter position, by the DNO, and only if the local network has been PMEd.
If the cable proves to be satisfactory, I suggest you use one pair for the grid connection and non-essential circuits, and the other pair for the Load connection and your essential circuits, (lighting, TV, internet etc). That way you'll have your lights on if you have a power cut. The clever bit is to buy a MAINSSWITCH, (note the spelling). This is a radio control remote fail safe switching device used primarily with heating systems. The transmitter is connected to the programmed Aux port, and will switch on your smart load using a circuit of your choice when there is spare energy. I've installed it all in a portable enclosure with a trailing lead and plug top, and an ouitput socket outlet so it can be moved to charge my car, or water heater or whatever? The devices can be daisy chained to extend the range if necessary. It is only rated at 1kW, so a contactor will be needed if the smart load is rated higher.
However, if you're an unqualified DIYer, you're playing with fire!