{"id":510,"date":"2024-02-21T14:53:29","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T14:53:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/?p=510"},"modified":"2025-07-25T16:37:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T15:37:46","slug":"solar-and-storage-solar-sub-panel-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/2024\/02\/solar-and-storage-solar-sub-panel-design.html","title":{"rendered":"Solar and Storage &#8211; Solar Sub Panel &#8211; Design"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After a long time agonising how I would route all of the cables from the roof to the cupboard under the stairs, I finally settled on the idea of a solar sub panel as used by AC Solar Warehouse Australia, and also shown in this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@enphase_anz\/\">Enphase Australia &amp; New Zealand<\/a> video<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Enphase - multiphase solar sub board - overview\" width=\"650\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GD_qPtHO0ew?start=73&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>It took me a while to work out exactly what enclosure they were using, but it turns out it is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legrand.co.uk\/en\/catalog\/products\/plexo3-ip65-weatherproof-enclosure-3-row-36-module-622mm-x-340mm-x-161mm-601983\">Legrand 36 module weatherproof enclosure<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/enphase.com\/en-ph\/store\/communication\/iq-gateway-metered\">Enphase IQ Gateway Metered<\/a>, is DIN rail mountable and fits perfectly on a 12 module section of DIN rail.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/enphase.com\/store\/communication\/communications-kit-2\">Enphase Communications Kit 2<\/a> is also DIN rail mountable.<\/p>\n<p>I have decided to have a double pole isolator in a 2 module enclosure near my DNO supply.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/proteus_emis-a.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-522 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/proteus_emis-a-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/proteus_emis-a-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/proteus_emis-a-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/proteus_emis-a-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/proteus_emis-a.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This will have 16mm meter tails into the Henley block, then 2 core 16mm SWA up to the solar sub panel.<\/p>\n<p>I will run a separate 10mm earth connection, so I don&#8217;t need to rely on the steel armour for earth protection.<\/p>\n<p>I will also need to run (extended) wires for the &#8216;Supply&#8217; CT unit from the DNO supply up to the <a href=\"https:\/\/enphase.com\/en-ph\/store\/communication\/iq-gateway-metered\">Enphase IQ Gateway Metered<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The &#8216;Solar Generation&#8217; CT can sit inside the solar sub panel and have the 4 separate cores running through it (one for each &#8216;string&#8217;).<\/p>\n<p>I may yet put a second &#8216;Harvi&#8217; unit, if I can find another cheap one, in the solar sub panel to monitor the solar and battery feeds from a &#8216;MyEnergi&#8217; point of view as well, although I should be able to pick everything up within Home Assistant, having a second &#8216;feed&#8217; for verification never hurts.<\/p>\n<p>The solar sub panel will have it&#8217;s own double pole isolator along with C curve RCBOs for each of the required circuits.<\/p>\n<p>I can run all the other cables outside the house direct to the solar sub panel.<\/p>\n<p>A wired ethernet cable will come from my loft based switch that already feeds a number of items on my roof.<\/p>\n<p>Here is a graphical layout of the solar sub panel<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.40.49.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-544 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.40.49-165x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"165\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.40.49-165x300.png 165w, https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.40.49.png 439w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 165px) 100vw, 165px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The bottom row of modules contains the following items (from left to right):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 x 100A double pole isolator.<\/li>\n<li>1 x 6A B Curve RCBO for the <a href=\"https:\/\/enphase.com\/en-ph\/store\/communication\/iq-gateway-metered\">Enphase IQ Gateway Metered<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>4 x 20A C curve RCBO&#8217;s, one for each &#8216;string&#8217; of <a href=\"https:\/\/enphase.com\/en-gb\/store\/microinverters\/iq8-series\/iq8hc-microinverter\">Enphase IQ8HC Microinverters<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>2 x 40A C curve RCBO&#8217;s, one for each pair of <a href=\"https:\/\/enphase.com\/en-gb\/homeowners\/home-solar-batteries\">Enphase IQ 5P batteries<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>1 x 32A MCB (for the surge protector)<\/li>\n<li>1 x 40KA surge protector<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>External wiring for panels and batteries showing RCBO numbers<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.22.59.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-539 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.22.59-270x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.22.59-270x300.png 270w, https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.22.59.png 721w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.23.42.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-540 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.23.42-300x298.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.23.42-300x298.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.23.42-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.23.42-768x762.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.23.42.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.25.20.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-541 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.25.20-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.25.20-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.25.20-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.25.20-768x770.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-23-at-09.25.20.png 798w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The batteries wire directly into the solar sub panel through rigid conduit and each pair has its own DIN rail mounted isolator.<\/p>\n<p>The cables from the junction boxes to the 20A isolators are 2.5mm 2 core H07RF rubber cable, which is the same as that used on the Enphase IQ cable.<\/p>\n<p>It is not advised to &#8216;tap&#8217; from the end, but rather use the middle of a &#8216;string&#8217; of micro inverters in order to minimise voltage rise.<\/p>\n<p>This means twice as many IQ terminators will be required but I will also be less likely to overload the cable.<\/p>\n<p>The isolators are all 4 pole, so I can keep the cores separate, connectivity from the rotary isolators to the solar sub panel will be via 4 core SWA, 4mm for the solar panels and 6mm for the batteries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After a long time agonising how I would route all of the cables from the roof to the cupboard under the stairs, I finally settled on the idea of a solar sub panel as used by AC Solar Warehouse Australia, and also shown in this Enphase Australia &amp; New Zealand video It took me a&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":544,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[9],"class_list":["post-510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised","tag-solar"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=510"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1301,"href":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510\/revisions\/1301"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.hslracing.com\/myhome\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}