JohnB_GP

Thank you for your reply. I am not comfortable at all with the Greenrich as I can't find a single reference to them anywhere, I wasn't happy with the number of them either as I think battery storage is key, where the suggestion of the ex potential installer was rather increase the size of the Inverter so I can connect an aircon so he suggested 8kw Inverter and 18 panels instead of 9 but kept the 2 batteries. This is what led me to look at a manual switch option which seems like not needed as the inverter can manage it. Only part I was happy about the recommendation was the brand of Inverter. He came to do an assessment and I expected him to connect a meter up to check the draw and switch things one and off etc, but no testing..... I will be looking through some of the installers on this site, I was giving him the benefit of the doubt.

That would work for me, installer said it would only be on eksdom power and the sunsynk basically ignores non essential loads and they are only grid which doesn't make logical sense to me and seems like a total waste of a system as then why have a non essential load section. My head says Essential load= low/no PV panel power and battery below level x then switch to Essentials to preserve batteries. Non Essential Load = Good PV panel power and good battery then use that and top up with eksdom power if needed. Else why have a Clever Inverter, you can just wire Essential and leave the rest on the original DB. Maybe I need to start talking to different installers, I think any electrician is getting on the solar train which I don't blame them for but makes it difficult if buyer doesn't figure out for themselves. I may have it wrong though. In that case I would appreciate being told that I have an ID 10 T error.

I checked with the installer that I have been talking to and he said that the non essential side can only be powered by the grid. This brings me back to my frustrating part as I would be within the limits of the Inverter and panels but would be using 200W of TV and unable to switch on a 2,000W aircon if the PV Panels are generating the power as the aircons need to go on non essential side.

Thanks guys, from JoeSlow's reply I might need to learn more about essential and non essential loads as I may be getting this part very wrong. I thought non essential loads was basically grid power loads, but now sounds like it can be running Aircons etc with panel power within the limits while the grid is on and then once you loose grid then they switch off............. Or could it be even better that if you batteries are full/above x percent and the PV Panels are giving power it will allow non essential loads to operate and only switch to essential loads based on battery percentage regardless of grid power. This could completely change my view.

Hi All I was originally looking at a system that could handle load shedding easily do a decent inverter and Lithium batteries that could charge in the 4 hour period between stage 4 load shedding, lately though I think systems need to be able to handle outages due to breakdown which I have had 10 to 22 hours which then need solar assistance. I am on a prepaid meter (Cashpower - Landis Gyr) I have converted all lights to LED, Have put the Geyserwise PV Panel system on the geyser and have a Gas Hob with electric oven. But a 12,000 BTU & 18,000 BTU aircon which only 1 would be used at a time. I use around 400 Units a month so not massive consumption but need to be able to handle the load if I decide to switch an aircon on etc ? I have experienced 2 types of quotes and either seem. 1. Over the Top and claim I will save R2,000 a month in electricity usage (I only pay R600 a month now so are they paying me the difference) 2. Totally Under rated so suggest a 5kw Inverter with one or two 2.4kwh batteries. From what I have seen this will void the warranty as you batteries need to be a bigger rating. Probably my best so far has been a 5kw or 8kw (due to to AC) Sunsynk and 2 x 3.6kwh Greenrich Lithium Batteries which are 2C and then 9 x 450w Panels. I still think this is under the warranty requirements with the battery size. So here comes my frustration, if its a good day my batteries will be charged in the morning and I cant feed back to the grid so panels could may as well be used to to run the aircons and anything else I choose within the load limits on the inverter and so far everyone wants to put those only on Grid power. Am I missing something or would something like the pic be possible ? Any guidance or inputs will be appreciated, I'm not an electrician it just seems logical and also would allow all neutrals to be split by breaker as this seem to be a common problem.