I recently had installed a 2.6KW set of West facing panels along with 2 Fox ESS 5KWh batteries and a 3.7KW inverter.
Additionally I have an existing 2.16KW solar panel set split as 2 strings (East and South). They were installed in 2011 under the old FIT scheme so can’t be connected directly to the new system under the FIT rules. The inverter is a 3KW Aurora One which has done well, but is now 14 yrs old and the power output seems to be dropping. Although the original panels are wired separately, on sunny days excess power from both sets of panels charge the batteries.
Hence I am looking to replace the original inverter with a Fox model that will integrate with the new battery / inverter Apps etc. As I need 2 strings, I am thinking about a Fox ESS F3000-G2 3kW single phase inverter.
I would therefore welcome comments on whether this is the best option to go with and if there are any alternatives.
Replacing existing Inverter
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Dave Foster
- Posts: 1661
- Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2022 7:21 pm
The Fox F series is a very good dependable solar only inverter, sadly because of your FiT installation having a bigger hybrid inverter (such as a KH) that can handle all of your strings in a single inverter would be ruled out.
The F series is likely to be more efficient than your Aurora one, but it sounds like your panels nearing 14 years old will be holding the generation back.
The F series will generate it’s own statistics when fitted with a datalogger but if you haven’t already got this you should connect CT2 from your new hybrid so it can monitor the generation from the solar only inverter and the majority of the stats will be in a single screen in the Fox app.
There are a quite a few users on here that have a similar setup - I think most wish they could have a single larger inverter to handle all the strings but needs must.
The F series is likely to be more efficient than your Aurora one, but it sounds like your panels nearing 14 years old will be holding the generation back.
The F series will generate it’s own statistics when fitted with a datalogger but if you haven’t already got this you should connect CT2 from your new hybrid so it can monitor the generation from the solar only inverter and the majority of the stats will be in a single screen in the Fox app.
There are a quite a few users on here that have a similar setup - I think most wish they could have a single larger inverter to handle all the strings but needs must.