physical location AIO & gateway

we're planning a new installation but are getting conflicting advice from installers.

Our plan:
6.5kw pv solar
pv inverter (make tbc)
AIO
Gateway

We have existing ASHP & Zappi

Our setup
We want to use the eps capability
External meter cupboard - approx 7m to CU
CU is in boiler room that does not have space for AIO

Plan to install AIO in room next to boiler room - back to back ...on other side of wall from CU

I think this setup should be fairly typical. Needs DNO permission for solar size (very slow in our area!)

One installer is saying the Gateway has to be close to the incoming mains & meter cupboard. In my case externally. Sounds strange?
Another installer proposes installing in vicinity of AIO - which sounds better.

Anyone know if there is a max distance for location of Gateway from incoming Meter?
any other comments or suggestions?

FWIW, we were advised to put the GW near the grid / meter supply. We have both GW and AIO on the outside of the house. The GW is close to the grid meter cupboard, and the CU is a few feet away on the other side of the wall inside the house. The AIO is about 3m away from the GW, below the inverter and DC and AC isolation switches, and so leaves space to add more battery capacity later.

I think the GW next to the meter cupboard reduces the amount of new wiring required, because effectively you're just putting the GW between the meter and the CU. The only new cables going into the house are LAN cables.

Photos FWIW.

26Left That's the only reason you would need to put the gateway closer to the meter box - cable runs - both length and size of cable.

are those lan cables outdoor rated? (uv safe) Normal cat 5 /6 etc are not but it can be purchased for not much more.

Tim Adams Sounds strange?

AFAIK, as long as the meter tails (from energy supply meter to Consumer unit) is less than 3m (which will include the route via Gateway and isolator), it'll be straightforward; the tails can be standard size (25mm² I think). Longer lengths would need more effort to work out the size to cope with fault currents. I understand it's part of the regs and compliance is very much easier if the length is less than 3m.

Tim Adams hi Tim, our AIO is inside detached garage near Zappi, gateway is outside next to meter box approx 10m away, consumer unit in utility room again more than 3m from gateway. I would have preferred it next to or very near AIO but it looks ok outside, the boss hasn’t commented yet so it must be OK.

Jase1703 the critical distance is from the energy supply meter to the consumer unit (via the isolator). The distance of the AIO to the gateway isn’t a constraint (just need to use big enough cable) as the input/output is limited to 6kW whereas the power limit between DNO fuse and consumer unit is anywhere from 60A (14.4kW) to 100A (24kW), depending on the DNO fuse.

thanks for replies. It will help me discuss further with installers.

I prefer the AIO inside even if its rated for outside... may as well have the use of heat inside in winter... and I believe they lose efficiency in the cold.... as well as better to keep out of rain - even if rated.
I can live with Gateway outside but again prefer the idea of inside protected from weather - especially as I have space.

Tim Adams Hi Tim. We had Gateway installed underneath our consumer unit - inside a tall kitchen cupboard - pretty much back to back with meter box outside. We then have circa 15m worth of AC & Coms cables running from there up into an upstairs spare bedroom wardrobe - where the AIO and string inverter are. To your point - wanted the battery inside due to winter performance drop off. Currently monitoring the temperature of the air in the cupboard - it can go from 23 to 38 degs - may well put an extract air vent at the top and recover the heat using our MVHR unit. Great bit of kit so far - worth getting your installers to run LAN to both AIO & Gateway - in addition to the coms cable.

Think this question is relevant to this thread. Apologies otherwise.
Is it absolutely necessary to connect the AIO power cables directly to the gateway? I was hoping to connect ours to the sub main in the garage, and just run ethernet to the gateway.

Pete Cousins It's the gateway that controlls 'islanding' when the grid goes out and the gateway wants the AIO AIO wants to take over your supply. That's why all the cables need to go to the AIO.