Hi all,
So after an absolute nightmare since my installation was done 4 months ago, I have to expand my setup to get what I needed and wanted from the get go. But that's a different story entirely.
Current setup is the following:
2 X Growatt 5000 ES inverters, in parallel (Each inverter can take a load of 6000+ watt)
16 X CSun 350 watt panels (2 strings of 8 panels each)
2 X Shoto 5.1kw Lithium batteries
The problem is that the batteries does not take us through the evening/morning until the sun starts shining again, so Eskom kicks in around 2am to charge the batteries. My aim for the system was to be 99% off grid, and for that I now need to expand it, as the installer messed up the energy requirements. I have done quite a bit of research on it, but I need some assistance to be sure I'm doing the right thing and that what I want to do, will work.
I'd like to add additional panels and was looking at the 595w Canadian Solar Mono panels. I'd like high output panels, as I'm running out of roof space facing North. So, can I add the higher output and different make panels to the current strings, so an additional 4 panels to each string? Or should I put the current 16 panels on one string going to one inverter, and the new additional 8 panels on a string going to the other inverter?
As far as storage goes, one option is of course just to add another lithium battery, but another suggestion that was made to me to as the upfront cost is much less, is to use gel batteries.
So affectively, getting 3 gel batteries, which will then charge the 2 lithium batteries when they start to run low? I'm not 100% sure how this will work and also a bit hesitant about the idea, as although the upfront cost is less, gel batteries doesn't last as long, charge as well or are as efficient as lithium.
I'd really appreciate some ideas and assistance with this.
Thanks!