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Yes, hybrid inverters are like retrofit AC battery inverters but with added PV inputs. I have used them with direct PV and AC inverters. Also you can add them to existing AC PV inverters with the possibility to expand by adding DC PV later. Just watch the total inverter loading is not exceeded...

Your previous ones 20 years ago were probably around 15% efficient, current ones although bigger are also nearer 22% efficient, so you will need less panels and less total area for the same output,

Home assistant has integrations for most Solar systems, I use it on our Solax inverters and batteries. Mine does run on a raspberry pi 4 but could run on any virtual server computer if permanently powered. My interface is via modbus, but there may be wireless or ethernet options. Home assistant...

I would try to maximise the PV power from the south facing roof. Maybe use more efficient pv panels (450 watts +?), mix portrait and landscape, use different aspect ratio panels, get as close to the edges as regulations allow. East/west only gives a half or less PV power at best more like one...

The alternative is an indirect hot water system. We have that, although it's a GHSP. Hot water is confined to a closed system heat store. Domestic hot water is then drawn direct from the cold water mains passing through a heat exchanger. It does away with the need for a domestic hot water tank...

I have two identical systems except that on in south facing and one is split EW (2mppts). I can compare the two systems directly and on sunny days the south facing one peaks at around 50% more power in the middle of the day, and the EW one just beats the S first thing and last thing, but the...

100ma TD Works fine on my inverter system on TT. Whereas 30ma RCD's previously were causing problems.

Of course the way to ensure electricity is totally decoupled is to generate it oneself from PV.

So you only have two batteries. First get the total battery voltage of the two from the system status menu. Then isolate the batteries if you have a DC isolator, if not switch off the inverter and or master battery, and disconnect the two leads connecting the two batteries together, and measure...

In my experience these batteries can take a long time to correct any imbalance, think weeks vs days. But once balanced all should be good. It's not too difficult to measure each individual battery voltage with a meter on DC by disconnecting them, I think you need to put the short jumper link...

I have a Solax system and find sometimes anomalous battery states, but they seem to sort themselves out after a while, probably BMS working. Just interested though how did you get into battery balance mode?

You can add a completely separate system (with own inverter) as long as it does not alter the existing FIT system, and of course you must not feed into the FIT meter! Just may need DNO approval

Check in settings that the meter is correctly set, ie CT or Modbus, also that the meter is enabled in settings. Check wiring to CT.

Always wondered why they chose 50/60 Hz go AC transmission. What if you upped the frequency? Marine and aircraft used to use 400Hz enabling smaller transformers. switched mode power supplies are kHz. I think the problem is not in the transformers but the reactive losses in the lines and cables...

I don't get the voltages floating too high argument. Most if not all inverters now will progressively reduce output if voltage rises beyond a threshold. Also don't get the 30% back feed argument either, All transformers can work equally well forwards or backwards it makes no difference to them...

With Hybrid systems If they are not specifically set up in parrallel mode, I found you can get problems with one battery charging the other and vice versa oscillating like that and wasting battery cycles plus the inefficiency. If they are just inverters without battery they would work fine.

Almost certainly. Not familiar with Growatt but check the manuals first by downloading. Solax hybrid inverter manual state that all parralleled inverters must be the same generation number and firmware must be the same version. It also states that you should have the same number of batteries on...

Having said that 5kw is not going to heat the pool very much, a more efficient way would be to divert the underfloor heating water from the heat pump system in the summer to a heat exchanger in the pool. That way you get three to four times the amount of heat out. Probably more complicated than...

Exactly. The swimming pool is almost an infinite sink for heat compared to 5kw. Use a solar diverter. I designed and manufacture the SolaControla solar PV diverter, and have made bespoke 3 phase versions up to 50kw special order. But you could use 3 separate single phase alternative brands .

All of the above, but also consider a type C MCB ( of the correct rating) to avoid nuisance tripping.