Marius2001

Most likely the Gen port , even in off grid scenario the Gen port charging can be limited and inverter is aware of possible hertz fluctuations

They indeed initiated it, got a note and was informed to chose a day

Sorry I can't assist with licenses and keys.

I'm still hoping that someone would be able to take the ICM project further but this doesn't seem to be the case...

R2.6k more for brand new battery.
For some reason batteries got significantly cheaper, good reason to upgrade but has impact on 2nd hand value.

If you don't have power-hungry heaters the winter PV (is normally more consistent day to day) should be able to cover your daily consumption... As above you'll most likely best off with electric and gas  geyser in series. I also have borehole and pressure pump on my load and can run dishwasher twice during evening if required.

If you don't have power-hungry heaters the winter PV (is normally more consistent day to day) should be able to cover your daily consumption... As above you'll most likely best off with electric and gas  geyser in series. I also have borehole and pressure pump on my load and can run dishwasher twice during evening if required.

If you don't have power-hungry heaters the winter PV (is normally more consistent day to day) should be able to cover your daily consumption... As above you'll most likely best off with electric and gas  geyser in series. I also have borehole and pressure pump on my load and can run dishwasher twice during evening if required.

I have similar specs, just above 20kWh batteries and using as much PV as available with gas as topup on geyser.
By adding another battery you should be able to be 98% offgrid but need to manage pool, geysers etc to ensure PV is available.

I have 4x US2000 Plus (700 cycles) and 4x US3000C (around 400 cycles).
Total SOH = 95% , on ICM I cannot see SOH per battery.
Your figures look better, but I also cycle them more at least 0.6 cycles per day. Always running from DC.
 
 

Still happy with the drop-in replacement batteries? 
 
 

So changing the order resolved your comms issue?  Strange but can also be dust or bad connection on RJ11.
 
 

Yip, limit is 60A. But based on my understanding there is some variance allowed.
Pulling more than 60A for extended time will cause issues... Good idea is to switch-off the geysers when starting the oven 😉 Buy yes there are some homes that will exceed this limit
 
 
 
 
 

Hi,
 
First is to flash the ESP8266 with Tasmota - I've actually used the online version and seems to work quite well.
You will need a USB adapter to perform this - check the Youtube as you need to solder 2 pints in order to perform a flash else it will be Read-Only.
https://www.botshop.co.za/shop/mod-144-usb-to-esp8266-adapter-board-esp-01-boards-1588?search=esp8266
 
For some reason I had to use the [Inversed] relay, but believe normally it should be relay_i
 
 
Then some rules - there are quite normal on single-relay ESP8266 but got this from my device.
"Rules":"on System#Boot
do Backlog Baudrate 115200; SerialSend5 0 endon  
 
on Power1#State=1 do SerialSend5 A00101A2 endon  
on Power1#State=0 do SerialSend5 A00100A1 endon
"}}
 
And then the pulsetime command ; this is to release the relay after x milli-seonds ; the esp8266 should only "signal" to open, should not keep the relay open.
 

 
Hope this helps!
 
 
 
 
 

Short version of my automation - always wanted to post details but did not find time to do it properly.
Here a draft version, hope it helps some of you if you wanted to perform something similar.
 
Overview
  99% Off-grid with 23kwH Pylontech storage ; 3x Kodak OG Plus 5.48 Inverters and 8x Canadian 600w + 6x JA Solar 450w panels.
Inverter 1+2 = Parallel feeding home, stock firmware.
Inverter 3 = Borehole , pressure pump and irrigation (and generator charging).   Coulumb firmware and fans turned around.
 
January 2025 not a great start, but yearly usage as below.

 
1. ICM Software - built-in automation as below.
1.1 Swimming Pool automation
Device:  Sonoff Basic R2, Tasmotized

 
1.2. Geyser automation (day)
Device: SONOFF POWR3, Tasmotized

 
1.3. Geyser automation (early morning)
Same device as above, just additional heating time early mornings until SOC less than 44.

 
2.  Geyser
  2.1  Solar geyser 300l  ->  Used for main bathroom, kitchen etc , mainly for kids showering early evenings.  
     Also has another SONOFF POWR3, but not scheduled  - plan to move this device.
  2.2 Solar geyser 150l  ->  With a Gas-gayser in series to ensure that if this geyser temp < 55 that Gas heats it up to 57 degrees.
   DewHot valve as follows - the TakeAlot version is expensive rather shop around for this one.
  

 
 Then a standard solar valve to ensure that output is consistent at 56 degrees, (by adding cold water)
 

Pipe bottom right is coming from the 150l geyser.   
This setup ensures that I'm utilizing as much PV to always have warm water - and use gas ONLY when necessary. For at least 90% of all days gas is not used and geyser is heated up to 70 degrees using PV.
 
3. Timers and switches
3.1  Inverter 3 is managed by ESP8266 and auto-switched-off every day between 23h00 and 05.30.  This enables a 12v solenoid (with battery) to enable municipal water to ensure water during the night.   (Tasmotized)
3.2  Borehole is on timeswitch + floatswitch and only active between 08h30 and 17h30  (Standard 220v digital timer and float switch)
3.3  Another 2x ESP8266 devices with Timers to perform switch irrigation on and off.
3.4  Also installed a ESP8266 to open the gate.
 
4.  Scripting
4.1  Mosquitto-sub ; Check battery SOC every morning at 08h45 and if less than 44% it disables timers for irrigation.
 
 

 
5. Concepts
5.1   When SOC less than 22 percent, Inverter 1 and 2 switch to Eskom
5.2  I try to never charge from Eskom, only PV charging
5.3  Inverter 3 is connected to 4kwH generator -> If batteries are less than 20 percent and Eskom down, this Inverter charges the battery and Inverter 1+2 runs as usual.
      Red Rhino Dual Fuel Inverter Generator RGLIV4500 -> connected to gas, I don't like storing petrol.  This is a proper inverter-based generator, I'm considering moving my older generator in this setup.
     This is still done manually - don't want to automate this as it is really exceptional cases.
5.4  Also running Gas oven and stove , also energy efficient LED and lights.
 
 
6. Most likely the best functionality - MQTT Dash app on my phone, can overwrite automation and check details as above.
 
 

 

 
 

 

 

Short version of my automation - always wanted to post details but did not find time to do it properly.
Here a draft version, hope it helps some of you if you wanted to perform something similar.
 
Overview
  99% Off-grid with 23kwH Pylontech storage ; 3x Kodak OG Plus 5.48 Inverters and 8x Canadian 600w + 6x JA Solar 450w panels.
Inverter 1+2 = Parallel feeding home, stock firmware.
Inverter 3 = Borehole , pressure pump and irrigation (and generator charging).   Coulumb firmware and fans turned around.
 
January 2025 not a great start, but yearly usage as below.

 
1. ICM Software - built-in automation as below.
1.1 Swimming Pool automation
Device:  Sonoff Basic R2, Tasmotized

 
1.2. Geyser automation (day)
Device: SONOFF POWR3, Tasmotized

 
1.3. Geyser automation (early morning)
Same device as above, just additional heating time early mornings until SOC less than 44.

 
2.  Geyser
  2.1  Solar geyser 300l  ->  Used for main bathroom, kitchen etc , mainly for kids showering early evenings.  
     Also has another SONOFF POWR3, but not scheduled  - plan to move this device.
  2.2 Solar geyser 150l  ->  With a Gas-gayser in series to ensure that if this geyser temp < 55 that Gas heats it up to 57 degrees.
   DewHot valve as follows - the TakeAlot version is expensive rather shop around for this one.
  

 
 Then a standard solar valve to ensure that output is consistent at 56 degrees, (by adding cold water)
 

Pipe bottom right is coming from the 150l geyser.   
This setup ensures that I'm utilizing as much PV to always have warm water - and use gas ONLY when necessary. For at least 90% of all days gas is not used and geyser is heated up to 70 degrees using PV.
 
3. Timers and switches
3.1  Inverter 3 is managed by ESP8266 and auto-switched-off every day between 23h00 and 05.30.  This enables a 12v solenoid (with battery) to enable municipal water to ensure water during the night.   (Tasmotized)
3.2  Borehole is on timeswitch + floatswitch and only active between 08h30 and 17h30  (Standard 220v digital timer and float switch)
3.3  Another 2x ESP8266 devices with Timers to perform switch irrigation on and off.
3.4  Also installed a ESP8266 to open the gate.
 
4.  Scripting
4.1  Mosquitto-sub ; Check battery SOC every morning at 08h45 and if less than 44% it disables timers for irrigation.
 
 

 
5. Concepts
5.1   When SOC less than 22 percent, Inverter 1 and 2 switch to Eskom
5.2  I try to never charge from Eskom, only PV charging
5.3  Inverter 3 is connected to 4kwH generator -> If batteries are less than 20 percent and Eskom down, this Inverter charges the battery and Inverter 1+2 runs as usual.
      Red Rhino Dual Fuel Inverter Generator RGLIV4500 -> connected to gas, I don't like storing petrol.  This is a proper inverter-based generator, I'm considering moving my older generator in this setup.
     This is still done manually - don't want to automate this as it is really exceptional cases.
5.4  Also running Gas oven and stove , also energy efficient LED and lights.
 
 
6. Most likely the best functionality - MQTT Dash app on my phone, can overwrite automation and check details as above.
 
 

 

 
 

 

 

Short version of my automation - always wanted to post details but did not find time to do it properly.
Here a draft version, hope it helps some of you if you wanted to perform something similar.
 
Overview
  99% Off-grid with 23kwH Pylontech storage ; 3x Kodak OG Plus 5.48 Inverters and 8x Canadian 600w + 6x JA Solar 450w panels.
Inverter 1+2 = Parallel feeding home, stock firmware.
Inverter 3 = Borehole , pressure pump and irrigation (and generator charging).   Coulumb firmware and fans turned around.
 
January 2025 not a great start, but yearly usage as below.

 
1. ICM Software - built-in automation as below.
1.1 Swimming Pool automation
Device:  Sonoff Basic R2, Tasmotized

 
1.2. Geyser automation (day)
Device: SONOFF POWR3, Tasmotized

 
1.3. Geyser automation (early morning)
Same device as above, just additional heating time early mornings until SOC less than 44.

 
2.  Geyser
  2.1  Solar geyser 300l  ->  Used for main bathroom, kitchen etc , mainly for kids showering early evenings.  
     Also has another SONOFF POWR3, but not scheduled  - plan to move this device.
  2.2 Solar geyser 150l  ->  With a Gas-gayser in series to ensure that if this geyser temp < 55 that Gas heats it up to 57 degrees.
   DewHot valve as follows - the TakeAlot version is expensive rather shop around for this one.
  

 
 Then a standard solar valve to ensure that output is consistent at 56 degrees, (by adding cold water)
 

Pipe bottom right is coming from the 150l geyser.   
This setup ensures that I'm utilizing as much PV to always have warm water - and use gas ONLY when necessary. For at least 90% of all days gas is not used and geyser is heated up to 70 degrees using PV.
 
3. Timers and switches
3.1  Inverter 3 is managed by ESP8266 and auto-switched-off every day between 23h00 and 05.30.  This enables a 12v solenoid (with battery) to enable municipal water to ensure water during the night.   (Tasmotized)
3.2  Borehole is on timeswitch + floatswitch and only active between 08h30 and 17h30  (Standard 220v digital timer and float switch)
3.3  Another 2x ESP8266 devices with Timers to perform switch irrigation on and off.
3.4  Also installed a ESP8266 to open the gate.
 
4.  Scripting
4.1  Mosquitto-sub ; Check battery SOC every morning at 08h45 and if less than 44% it disables timers for irrigation.
 
 

 
5. Concepts
5.1   When SOC less than 22 percent, Inverter 1 and 2 switch to Eskom
5.2  I try to never charge from Eskom, only PV charging
5.3  Inverter 3 is connected to 4kwH generator -> If batteries are less than 20 percent and Eskom down, this Inverter charges the battery and Inverter 1+2 runs as usual.
      Red Rhino Dual Fuel Inverter Generator RGLIV4500 -> connected to gas, I don't like storing petrol.  This is a proper inverter-based generator, I'm considering moving my older generator in this setup.
     This is still done manually - don't want to automate this as it is really exceptional cases.
5.4  Also running Gas oven and stove , also energy efficient LED and lights.
 
 
6. Most likely the best functionality - MQTT Dash app on my phone, can overwrite automation and check details as above.
 
 

 

 
 

 

 

My version is 72.02 - under reporting however not critical as the impact is only that the PV generated is reported less but otherwise functions 100%
 
Background info - I've replaced my 2x Axpert 4000w with Kodak Kings 5000w after one has failed. Same strings, software, config and batteries.
Calculation used to be (roughly) Total Watts - Load Watts - 240w  = Battery watts   (the 240w is losses and internal use for 3x inverters)
Now 4009 + 452 + 240 = 4701 but reported as 3638 (of which 3rd inverter was 1600 which means 2x Kings reported as 2038)
  King 5000: 1019w average
  Actual:   1550w avarage based on calculation above.
Based on this the 15-20% is more like 50-55% under reported.
 

 
First 2 = Kodak Kings   (1 = East, 2 = West hence the MPPT difference)
3rd Inverter = Axpert 5kva 400w  (3 = North)
 
Inverter 3 has 6x 450w panels ; First 2x has 4x Canadian 655watts.
 

Total MPPT calculations used to be where the North facing was slightly more (10%) than the other two, but one also needs to be fair wrt North/East/West angles.
 
Just posting this out of interest, will most likely try more recent firmware later on but as above not a problem or concern just sharing my data 😉
 
 
 
 

DM me or whatsapp on 071 six two one 4498.
 
Spare panel still available for collection.

Hi Guys,
 
I also have one unit available - based on Pretoria (Waverley) and working in Centurion area.
This one is like to picture above, came with 5kw RCT Axpert unit.