Occasionally solar PV generation meters fail. The good news is that replacing them is a straightforward process but to avoid FIT payment delays and complications it's important to let the FIT provider know that the solar generation meter has been changed. Below we outline the process and also some diagnostics that you can carry out to confirm that the fault is with the solar generation meter and not a symptom of a fault elswhere with the solar PV system.
Solar PV Generation Meter - Normal OperationSolar generation meters count all of the solar power production before it gets used in the property or exported to the grid. It records everything that the solar PV system has generated and is used to calculate FIT payments. During daylight hours when the solar PV system is operational, on most widely installed solar generation meters such as the Elster A100C and others from Emlite and Landis + Gyr you will see a red light flash as it counts, the quicker the light flashes the more solar power is being generated. The solar generation meter is an AC device which draws it's power from the mains, at night or when the solar system isn't generating the red light will stay on (not flashing) and you will be able to read the generation figures on the display. |
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Solar PV Generation Meter - No Display, No Lights OnIf you can't see the digital display and there are no lights on the solar generation meter, the next thing to check is that mains power is being supplied to it. If electrical work has recently been carried out at the property, the electrician would have isolated the solar PV system, they may have forgotten to turn it back on again. Somewhere close to the solar generation meter will be an AC isolator such as the one pictured, make sure that this is turned 'On'. If it's off assuming that the electrician or whoever might have switched it off has finished their work, it's safe to switch this back on again. You'll see the lights and display come on the solar generation meter, wait a little while for the solar inverter to restart itself and if all is well and assuming that you're doing this during the day, the red light will start flashing as it counts. The next things to check are the circuit breakers/RCDs that are protecting the solar PV circuit. Follow the cables out of the solar generation meter towards the mains and see where they go. The next place to look is inside the consumer unit/fuse box and look for a circuit breaker and or RCD marked 'solar PV' or similar and see if they are 'On'. There's a picture of a RCD on the left, you'll recognise it as an RCD as it has a 'test' button, circuit breakers are half the width without a test button. Circuit breakers and RCDs protect the solar PV system, if one of these has switched itself off there's a good chance that they've detected a fault somewehere in the system and for safety reasons have cutoff the grid/mains power supply. At this stage instead of switching these back on the best thing to do is contact us to discuss the next steps. If everything looks ok so far and everything is switched on, the next thing to check assuming it's daylight, is the solar PV system itself and see if it's working. Locate the solar inverter and if it has a display you will see it's status and how much power is being generated on the screen, if it's working correctly, there's also likely to be a solid green light on. If there's a problem it will let you know what the problem is on the screen, note down what is says and contact us to discuss what to do next. If the PV system is working correctly and generating power, we can now be reasonably confident that the solar generation meter is faulty and should be replaced. |
Solar PV Generation Meter - Display On - Solid Red Light On - Not CountingIf during the day the solar generation meter isn't counting the power coming from the solar PV system and the red light stays on solid as it would during the night, this is an indication that the solar PV system has stopped working. The next step is to locate the solar inverter and note what it's doing. contact us to discuss the next steps. |
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Solar PV Generation Meter - Lights Flashing - No DisplayIf the solar PV system is working as normal and the red light on the solar generation meter is flashing during daylight, this is an indication that the display on the solar generation meter has failed and that the solar generation meter should be replaced. |
Once it's established that the solar generation meter needs to be replaced before booking in the work it's best to check with the FIT provider what information they would like to know. In most cases they will ask you to confirm the following:
It's unlikely but possible that you may also be asked to provide a picture of the new solar generation meter, an accompanying letter or an invoice confirming that the installation of a replacement solar generation meter has taken place.
If they would like anything like this please let us know the details when you book in the work and we'll make sure that everything you'll need is provided on the day.
Replacement Solar PV Generation Meter SpecificationsSingle phase, 100A, Solar PV Generation / Feed in Tariff (FIT) Meter
Button scrolls through: Date, Time, Total Generation (kWh), Maximum Generation (kW) and when this was recorded. |
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Lots of articles, calculators and technical information including links for further reading. Covering a range of topics related to the installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic and electrical systems in the UK.
Solar PV: UK Feed in TariffsThe Solar PV Feed in Tariff (FIT) is available for everyone including homeowners, companies, farmers and schools. Updated UK Feed in Tariff (FIT) rates from May 2013. Surge Protection for UK Solar PV SystemsRecent changes to the BS7671 UK Wiring Regulations 18th Edition in the form of amendment 2 have introduced requirements and considerations for surge protection on both the AC and DC side of a solar PV System. In this article we take a look at surge protection, particularly in the context of the updated UK wiring regulations and how surge protection could best be incorporated into new and existing solar PV systems installed in the UK How to provide backup power to a house using a portable generatorIn this article we show you how to provide backup power to your home using a portable diesel, petrol or LPG backup generator. We look at changeover switches, the importance of earthing, backup generator loadings, how to isolate non essential loads. We ask where to locate the backup generator when it's in operation, how best to safely isolate the grid/mains power supply and switch to a backup generator supply. |
"Our inverter failed and as our installer had gone out of business did not know what to do. Contacted Glen who was brilliant. Came out checked the failure dealt with the manufacturer and all aspects of the warranty claim.New inverter received under warranty and Glen came out and fitted the new one straightaway. Superb service from a very professional and helpful person. Highly recommend this company." Martin Brailey, Wokingham
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