PowerUser

Yes you can get creative with the arrays or just get the Growatt ES model, as I was looking at originally. However, there biggest turning point away from the Growatt was the lack of bi-directional flow to the non-essentials. I don't see myself going completely off-grid in foreseeable future and I'm not comfortable putting all my load for the entire house on just 2 x 5KW inverters. Even, if I was willing to do that, I will need 10KWh battery to match the inverters (as best practice) and that is not something I can afford right now. If I could find 3.2V 280AH (or even 100AH) prismatic cells for decent price and build my own matching battery - may be. But I looked and those cells are way too expensive in SA with unreliable suppliers. In case I don't put all my load on the 10KW Growatts with matching PV array, then often during the day, I can have 1KW load on 10KW potential production and 9KW will get wasted. And I couldn't find a way to overcome that with the SMART DEVICE as per my diagram. With the SunSynk you have bi-directional flow. If you are not using the full capacity on the UPS output, the inverter will still compliment the no-essentials and reduce your monthly bill. And you can start with 5KWh battery. Smaller array as well. That's why the SunSynk will work much better for me. For others - maybe the Growatts are better option.

@Paul Greeff If you are still looking for Rent to Own option, I saw a billboard today from https://investsolar.co.za advertising exactly Rent to Own scheme for solar.

@LeshenDo you know if it has active balancer inside in addition to the BMS? Do you know the specs and makes for those devices? Also is the temperature sensor going to prevent charging at 0 degrees or less? I think the data sheet only specifies protection at high temperatures.

Can you point me to that solution please.

The Growatt SPF 5000TL is very limiting with Max open circuit voltage: 145V DC. That was one of the main reasons, I discarded the idea of using that model.

Thank you all for the replies. At the end decided to go with the SunSynk inverter. Your replies definitely helped me make a better choice. There is couple of limitations, which I still don't like on the SunSynk inverter but for the price seems like, you can't have it all.

DeLonghi service centre in Roodeport: De'Longhi South Africa 1st Floor, Valley View Office Park, 1709, Constantia Kloof http://www.delonghigroup.com (011) 474-0153

I have been trying to find out more information on the following without success: Is there a way to share a PV array between directly heating the geyser and a solar inverter. Basically, the PV array to be connected in parallel to both at the same time. The geyser will have a DC element and I think, I need a solar charge controller between the PV and the geyser. So, when the sun comes up in the morning, the energy from the PV array is shared between heating the water in the geyser and charging the inverter batteries. When the geyser is hot enough, the full energy with the utilized to finish charging the batteries. I think this way will be more efficient, than redirecting excess energy from the inverter to the geyser element. Please let me know of your opinions on the above idea and if you know of a working installation like that.

Hi 87 Dream, Can the Axpert Max 8Kw work operate without batteries and without AC from the grid and still produce from power from PV? Sunsynk lacks that functionality. As far as I know Sunsynk shuts down in such situation.

Thank you for the reply. I'm almost 100% positive, the SunSynk can achieve the scenario described in the picture. However my question to everyone in the forum is regarding, if there is anyway to achieve the above with an Off Grid inverter like the Growatt? Does something like "SMART DEVICE 1" described in the picture exist and what could that be?

Hi tetrasection, your diagram is oversimplified and won't work in a real world setup. Above, I have drawn to show what I have in mind. So, we need a SMART DEVICE on the output which should split the output in 2 parallel circuits. It should actively monitor the Essential Load and push the rest though the other circuit which goes back to the Main DB through a Relay. If the Dry Contact closes the Relay, that should allow the excess power to feed the Non Essential Load and compliment the power from the Grid. Not sure, if another mixing device is required at the Main DB, in addition to the above. At the same time, we need another device to prevent backfeed to the Grid. So, can anyone tell me, what can be used as SMART DEVICE 1 to split the load and what can be used as a device to prevent feeding back to the Grid? And also, if this setup is viable at all with an Off-Grid Inverter like the Growatt?

Unfortunately, I'm in Joburg but I sent you a PM anyway.

According to the manual, that is a Dry Contact port and not AUX. Are we talking about the same thing? I have been trying to figure out how to have a setup, where I can use the Dry Contact to trigger such solenoid switch and be able to compliment the non-essential loads with the excess PV power then the batteries are full. So far, I was unable to find information on how to do that (maybe I'm not searching properly). Do you mind drawing a simple diagram for me, in order to explain how to do that? Or if possible someone directly to a link, where such setup is explained in mode details. That would make the Growatt very close to a bi-directional inverter. Why not? There is even a video from the SunSynk CEO, where he says, if you can use a small a battery. The only drawback of the Royals, if I'm not mistaken will be capacity. But anyway, I don't plan to stick with them forever, They are only a temporarily option. Eventually, I would like to build my own LiFePo4 from cells, when the funds are available.

Why do you say that? What shortcomings did you find with the 5000ES?

How would you do that? Through the AUX port or some other way?

I'm planning a new system and I'm torn between the Growatt SPF 5000 ES or SunSynk 5kVA inverters. I would like to get some opinion and views on those 2 options. I have a prepaid meter, so cannot feed back to the grid. I was very much inclined towards the SunSynk option, because if it's ability to push excess PV power through the AUX port and feed the geyser, until I read on another thread, that AUX uses the batteries, which was a bit of a put off. In the beginning, I planning to use a small battery system - 4 lead acid/calcium Royal batteries with the setup and replace with Lithium batteries later. However, looking at the prices, the Growatt with a 2.4kwh lithium is very close to the Sunsynk cost alone. What would the forum wisdom advise me in this case? Thanks a lot!

Where can you find Lifepo4 3.2V 280AH cells in SA for reasonable price? Someone is selling on takealot but the price is way too high. Others are waiting for shipment to arrive in months' time...