Grid voltage problems

Having run our battery system and car charging together since the 4th July yesterday we encountered a problem. Our inverter tripped (don't know the technical term) and only when I put a post on teh GivEnergy Facebook group did I discover what had happened and someone remotely restarted it. However since then I can see that it has tripped several times overnight (about 6 times) each time it has restarted until about 8.30am - since then it has not restarted and the Grid Data shows that it is usually about 255 volts, only occasionally dipping below 253 which should be the upper limit on the grid. What has happened is that it rained a lot yesterday and overnight - which will mean that the two small hydro electricity power schemes which are up the glen will be generating at a might higher level than they were since 4th July. This is resulting in an overvoltage problem which is not only affecting my GivEnergy battery system but also my Zappi. I spoke to the local engineer last night who came out to the house and he explained that they had investigated this back in March when I reported the overvoltage that the Zappi had identified and although they turned the current down at the main transformer that feeds our line they could not turn it any more as it covers a large area and we are near the end of the line. So they are planning to change the transformer on our pole so that they can adjust it there. However this may take a month or more to get organised. So in the meantime I am not sure whether I should restart the inverter myself - or if the grid voltage is still up whether that will damage the inverter or just mean that it will trip out again. I also don't know if I will be able to charge up from the grid overnight. But at the moment the battery is sitting idle and the PV is exporting to the grid and we are importing from the grid when there is not enough sun. To top it all the Zappi is also tripping with high voltage so we may not be able to charge the car when these hydro schemes are running. So do I just pray for no rain????

I meant to say that I am keen to be able to export the grid voltage data to send to SSEN. Is there a way I can do that?

Glengirlie Yes, go to the portal and the inverter tab.

Click on inverter data - select the date and the number of records (All I would suggest) and download it.

Glengirlie the battery is sitting idle and the PV is exporting to the grid and we are importing from the grid when there is not enough sun

If you have a hybrid inverter, unless your battery isolator tripped, you should be charging/discharging to/from battery, if the PV is working and you're able to export to grid. Check the battery isolator? If you are close to the hydro generators, you will be seeing higher voltages than further afield, but it should still be within 230V +/- 10% as you've said. It sounds like they accept that it's their problem and are providing a suitable solution albeit a few weeks away.

The Givenergy hybrid inverter data sheet (gen 1) says it can operate with a grid voltage from 180V to 280V, so for it to trip on over-voltage suggests either that the inverter is outside of spec, or that the local grid voltage is higher than 280V. Check the portal for the times when the inverter has "tripped" and check what the grid voltage was for those times.

Your Zappi will trip on over-voltage above about 258V. Mine does this sometimes, but usually only when there's a very bright day and the other solar locally is lifting the local grid voltage to about 253V when our inverters lift it above 258V and cause a Zappi trip. It's a pain that the Zappi doesn't indicate on the app that it's tripped.

If your inverter is disconnecting from the grid because of high voltage, it's worth checking with Givenergy whether it is operating within their specified range, or is itself faulty.

Glengirlie In your specific case a voltage optimiser may help.
https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/4471393-63a-single-phase-domestic-voltage-optimisation-unit
Consult an electrician for advice.

Rubikcube , the voltage optimiser can fix over-voltage conditions.
In the UK though we should not need to fit one as the grid supplies via the DNO companies are heavily regulated with a recourse process when there are issues.
We should not have to be introducing additional power losses in a household system just to fix what is a DNO supply issue.
It sounds like the local DNO is planning on taking action, just not as quickly as would be desired with the GE inverter and Zappi being sensitive to over-voltage conditions.