Ct clamp on f5000

[aquascape]

Can I add a ct clamp to my f5000 so I can see load from property. I don’t have any batteries just 12 panels and f5000 inverter

[Dave Foster]

Yes you can (use the same CT clamp available for the hybrid inverters)

Once fitted it will be able to measure more parameters including load.

Just to note the Fox cloud itself will show the extra real time parameters but it will not provide statistics (i.e. daily / weekly totals), if you have a home assistant connected to the Fox cloud you can build sensors to track statistics there.

[aquascape]

When i enable the CT option in settings it shows 5000w, would i just leave that on 5000w?

[Dave Foster]

Yes that’s the export power limit which would be 5000 watts on an F5 (obviously set it to less if you want to reduce it’s export power)

[aquascape]

It throws up an error then, is that just because i haven't yet connected the ct clamp

[Dave Foster]

It throws up an error then, is that just because i haven't yet connected the ct clamp

Yes it won’t work without a CT or meter as it cannot measure load

[aquascape]

With the ct clamp connected and enabled it is showing a load and feed from grid but the readings make no sense. It also changed the PV readings to random figures. Any ideas?

[Dave Foster]

Can you provide some graphs of the various sensors and explain why they don’t make any sense ?

Usual problems are due to location of the CT clamp, has it been fitted to the live feed of the smart meter, also it is the correct Fox CT clamp ratio (100A/33mA).

[aquascape]

This is the CT clamp i have. Red wire in pin1 and black pin2

CT Clamp.jpg (40.69 KiB) Viewed 690 times

[aquascape]

This is with the CT clamp connected the correct way onto the live feed. It appears to show everything going to the grid and after a few minutes the PV shows 0W. The draw from the grid of 4.46kw is probably correct although the green lines show it all going to the grid and should the load show as a negative figure? After a few minutes though the PV drops to 0W. I don't have any batteries as we will always use all the load supplied as we use between 3500-8000kwH continually

[Dave Foster]

Yes it’s the right clamp.

You shouldn't be seeing negative load, thats usually a sign the CT clamp is facing the wrong way (or is in the wrong place), but to check you don’t have any other generation on site as this won’t work with multiple generators.

[aquascape]

There is two live feeds coming in, one from the grid and one from the solar which connect back together in a junction box, I've then connected the CT clamp past this connector where it is back to one live cable. CT clamp is definately the correct way round, fitted between the meter and the consumer unit.

Someone suggested on a f5000 the CT clamp wont work without having any batteries?

[aquascape]

The company who installed my solar told me this about CT clamp on a f5000? Is this correct?

'A CT clamp was not actually specified as part of the scheme due as the Fox F-Series inverter only comes with generation based monitoring. Monitoring should still be set up via a Wi-Fi dongle. If you do want to have full site monitoring, we'd need to install a separate metering solution. The Fox CT clamp is not compatible with the F-series string inverter for monitoring purposes - it only provides full home data for hybrid solutions where batteries have been installed'

[Dave Foster]

I’m not sure why the installer says the CT clamp will not work but does on a Hybrid - with the Hybrid it comes as standard the only difference is if you have more solar generation sources on site, the Hybrid can have a second clamp fitted to monitor external generation whereas the F series cannot.. so as long as you don’t have any more solar generation it should work (it is in the manual as supported, and documented to work).

Just going back to where the CT clamp is fitted, you said there are 2 live feeds coming together into a splitter - the CT clamp should always be on the live feeds coming together as close to the incoming meter / fuse as possible, try moving the CT clamp so it is there - it is measuring current flow and needs to be as near the grid connection to capture everything.

[aquascape]

There is the feed from the solar and the feed from the grid that go into a splitter which then join to one live cable to the consumer unit

[Dave Foster]

There is the feed from the solar and the feed from the grid that go into a splitter which then join to one live cable to the consumer unit

It should be on the feed from the grid not the consumer.