Accessing PV Optimisers or Microinverters for Maintenance

[LnP]

I've read that rather than fixing micro inverters or optimisers to the PV panel battens, it's better to bring them into the roof space so they are accessible for maintenance. This is because if (when?) they fail, you can access them more easily. If they're on the outside of the roof, you'll have to use a scaffold to get up there and lift panels to get to them. This is straightforward if you have internal roof space behind the panels, but what do you do if the panels are over a vaulted ceiling?

[Kelvin]

 You then have the height problem inside the house rather than outside. Plus the need for a hatch which you could maybe conceal. Our vaulted ceiling would need a tower. It has a flat section but there isn’t enough space above it even if you brought all the optimisers or micro-inverters together. Therefore I’d need to drop the ceiling a bit. You also have a bunch of electronics locked inside a relatively small space that you can’t easily access. Not for me. 
 

I’d just fit them on the roof under the panels. If you have a fault then a tower scaffold will be enough to get access to it rather than a full scaffold. 

[Conor]

Mine came with really short cables as the are designed to sit directly behind the panel. Installing them in the loft would be a real pain as you'd need more cabling (more voltage loss) and multiple penetrations through your roof membrane and airtight layer. Our ceiling is vaulted and only a 50mm service space, so once boarde dup you'd have to rip plasterboard off to get at them. PLUS they may not be properly ventilated and you might have overheating issues. Think that's enough reasons there not to do it  

[JohnMo]

27 minutes ago, LnP said:

fixing micro inverters or optimisers

First do you need either?

 

Optimisers, if you have definitely got shading issues from fixed objects, otherwise don't bother. Micro inverters, never seen the appeal, if you doing a battery install at same time you are likely to have a hybrid inverter anyway. Single string inverter multiple mttp's are cheap as chips and readily available, if not having a battery