hi all
please forgive me - i am totally (electrically) technically unaware. i have been reading thru these forums, but now have more questions than answers :-(
i have a standard house, with daytime consumption comprising pool pump, fridge, freezer, computer - about 3,500 W.
i would like a hybrid system that can :
* use daytime PV where possible
* if i exceed my generated PV, then source the balance from battery/grid intelligently (don't trip if i exceed - once a week the tumbledryer, iron and washing machine will also be running)
* at night source from battery first (e.g. from 22h00 - 06h00)
* have some load shedding capacity - e.g. survive at least 3 hours with no grid (day or night)
* at least have ability to feed back to grid in future (currently just doesn't seem to make sense)
what i've discovered sofar :
* Infini 5kW seems great, but expensive and scarce
* Infini 3kW seems next best, but limited to 3kW (naturally) - it has a low "tripping point"?
* Axpert 5 also popular, but cannot intelligently distribute between PV and grid/battery
my questions (sorry if this has been covered a million times already)
1) i can't seem to get ballpark pricing for standard, all-inclusive installations e.g. infini 3 plus panels plus batteries, or infini 5, or Axpert 5?
2) is it recommended to draw from battery every nite i.o. from grid? you will draw less from grid, but how will this affect the batteries in the longterm?
3) i have a prepaid meter - what does this mean for my proposed installation? what can and can't i do with it?
4) any recommended installers in the cape town northern suburbs area?
5) what permissions do i need from municipality? if i don't?
6) any other recommended setups that i should investigate?
many thanks for your response - you guys seem remarkably patient with all of us noobs that keep asking the same questions ...