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Please Post In The Correct Section :)
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Our picks
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Solar Panel Direction for best PV production
Solarcrazy posted a topic in General Discussion,
Hello.. I want to install 14 panels however I only have space for 8 in the N direction and 3 in the NE and 3 in the E.
My question is those that are placed in the NE and E direction.. Typically what time would PV production start and for how long?-
- 11 replies
Picked By
Energy-Jason, -
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New Solar Journey
Inzaghi posted a topic in Starting In Solar? Feel free to introduce yourself,
Good day all,
Just need some advice on my solar setup which was installed recently in the Pietermaritzburg Kzn region.
I have 6 panels (415w each) mounted on my north side roof and 6 panels (415w each) on the westerly side closer to north.
Now the issue I found is that I am not receiving the total possible production from this setup. In fact the total I noticed was 3.5kw which is a good 1.5kw roughly shy.
Is this seasonal related because the sun is shining well these days however the angle of the sun has altered itself as oppose to summer?
If you guys have some recommendations let me know.
Thanks-
- 27 replies
Picked By
Energy-Jason, -
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Guidance on Solar Configuration
PB15 posted a topic in Starting In Solar? Feel free to introduce yourself,
Hi All,
I have been reading most of the discussions here for last couple of months and now finally made up my mind on the installation. I want to achieve the following and reduce the electricity bill
1. Power during load shedding
2. Daytime energy savings and
3. Use the battery to meet the evening demand
We are a family of 4 (us two and two kids) and a family of two (tenant) in the cottage.
I am thinking of the following configuration
1. Sunsynk - 5Kwh
2. Panel - 455w * 12
3. Battery - 7,2Kwh
Please let me know if this should be sufficient to generate enough power during the summer and winter. I am aware that I will still have to use grid for the shortfall, but I am hoping it won't be too much.
Here is the list of some of the things we use, 2 geysers (200L which I recently retrofitted to solar geyser and 150L), 2 fridges, 2 washing machines, 2 microwaves, 2 electric ovens, 2 toasters, 2 TVs, 2 electric kettles, 2 irons, 2 grinders, pool pump, electric motor, electric fence.-
- 10 replies
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Energy-Jason, -
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Some Very Basic Questions
Red Rubber Gloves posted a topic in Starting In Solar? Feel free to introduce yourself,
Good day all.
So I've been studying up like a ferret, my head's jam packed - numbers going up, numbers going down. And now my noggin's turned into 'slap-pap'. I have a few very basic (read dof) questions, hoping someone can set me straight...
How does one calculate the 'surge draw' from a fridge? (Spec sheet only tells me consumption per annum and 24hr-period)
Can I literally attach (plug) a cable from the wall socket into the inverter to charge my battery? (when I want, and this to avoid wiring into DB)
Can I also feed out a cable from the inverter to an adaptor off of which I'm to run a laptop, fridge?
And does this cable have to be of certain spec or can "normal" extension lead do?
I came across this statement from "Solar Shop" website Re: Pylontech batteries:
"Transformer based inverters or Victron Inverters specifically specify a 100% continuous discharge current from the batteries. As an example for a 5kva Victron which is 4kW the battery requirement would be 4000W/48V = 83A continuous discharge from the batteries. In this case a full 3x US3000 or 4x US2000 batteries would be required."
The webpage also started by saying with 'high frequency inverters' the 'batteries supported continuous discharge current can be 70% of the inverters capacity', eg "5000W/48V = 105A...the supported continuous battery discharge current can be 73.5A" (ie 105-30%)
With this in mind and having seen comments here and there across many platforms of "Inverters destroying batteries" or "sucking them dry" could someone please explain this? What's going on here?
I mean, does it mean your batteries/pack always have to be massive? (Meaning you cannot initially invest in a larger inverter?).
And where on the various data-sheets is this nugget of info hidden?
Or perhaps a link to an explanation. My Goggle searches are proving fruitless.
As I said, not the brightest questions but thanks nonetheless.
Regards.
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- 12 replies
Picked By
Energy-Jason, -
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Steepest learning curve ever! :)
PicHopper posted a topic in Starting In Solar? Feel free to introduce yourself,
This has definitely been the steepest learning curve I've had so far! I was asked by the family to help out with a solar/ backup solution. They have been plagued by major outages where they stay due to roadworks closeby. The contractor has damaged the mains feed cable to their complex resulting in at least 5 occurrences of power outages lasting 3-6 days at a time this year (over and above the load shedding we've all experienced.
I now have around 10 quotes to choose from and am really worse off than before.... The information and ideas from this forum have given me a lot of knowledge - thank you all!
Can I please ask for some user feedback on your systems that you've installed, to get an idea of whether there is something to really look for or to stay away from:
Which Inverter brand? - score and rate them for me 1-5 (5 highest = best)
Sunsynk
Victron
Alpha-ESS
FoxBox
Growatt
Battery brands to consider? - score and rate them for me 1-5 (5 highest = best)
Hubble
FreedomWon
Alpha - goes with Alpha-ESS
Growatt
Dyeness
FoxBox (goes with Fox Box)
Are all solar panels the same? Do they all perform the same, or is there some tweak that makes one good or bad?
Canadian Solar
JA Panels
Percium
Vertex
Is the Tesla Powerwall a good option to go for? Its expensive but appears to do everything in one box! Your ideas please?
Thank you very much for guiding a total newbie...........
Cheers!
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- 13 replies
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Energy-Jason, -
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