Cory

Thanks very much, very informative. This installation is already quite a few years old. Owner now wants solar and be loadshedding bulletproof. So these pump motors don’t have soft starts and will draw plenty inrush. Given the new tax rebate, it’s probably worth replacing the pump motors with variable speed drives. Then the inverter won’t break the bank.

Three phase. It’s running a few years already so I assume it’s old’ish.

This system has been running for years and now needs to to be converted for loadshedding. I’m not concerned about costing, but rather inverter sizing. Constant load on the pumps are relatively easy to assume. What I need to understand is what to size the inverter for the 3kW pump startup. Assuming only the 1kW jockey pump and one 3kW supply pump, an 8kW inverter should be fine. To spec the battery is also ok. But, will it handle the startup inrush currents?

Hi guys, Please help me to size a system for the following? Size of the inverter and the batteries, recommended brands for both. A potable water supply system on a farm, to several residential dwellings. Needs to be convertible for adding solar in the future purpose for now is to be loadshedding bulletproof. One of 1kW jockey pump runs continually to keep the system pressurized. When someone opens a tap, the jockey pump may supply sufficient pressure. When another tap opens the pressure drops and a 3kW pump starts up to feed the system. When more taps open, a next 3kW pump starts up. Two pumps will not start up simultaneously, but all can end up running simultaneously. As and when water user taps close and the pressure rises, the 3kW pumps drop out one by one, and the 1kW pump is left running permanently. Two scenarios then; all as above explained and the other one leaves out the one 3kW pump from the system entirely.

Hi guys, Please help me to size a system for the following? Size of the inverter and the batteries, recommended brands for both A potable water supply system on a farm, to several residential dwellings. Needs to be convertible for adding solar in the future purpose for now is to be loadshedding bulletproof. One of 1kW jockey pump runs continually to keep the system pressurized. When someone opens a tap, the jockey pump may supply sufficient pressure. When another tap opens the pressure drops and a 3kW pump starts up to feed the system. When more taps open, a next 3kW pump starts up. Two pumps will not start up simultaneously, but all can end up running simultaneously. As and when water user taps close and the pressure rises, the 3kW pumps drop out one by one, and the 1kW pump is left running permanently. Two scenarios then; all as above explained and the other one leaves out the one 3kW pump from the system entirely.

Has anyone heard of SmartEnergySA? https://smartenergysa.com

Thanks, did that. Things are now back to normal with one exception. The battery won’t charge beyond 90%. No idea what caused this, I have not made any setting adjustments.

Thanks. Things are back to normal with one exception. The battery won’t charge beyond 90%. No idea what caused this, I have not made any setting adjustments.

Same problem here. How did you solve yours? I have a Revov Cube system with a Synsynk 6kVA 19” rackmount inverter and with two Revov LiFePO4 batteries. I run it as a loadshedding backup and thus have no PV installed. Everything was working just fine for weeks now, and I literally did not know when loadshedding happens. Yesterday, loadshedding happened as per schedule, but lasted more than 4.5 hours. I was unaware and ran induction plates and my oven. The load is within the Sunsynk capacity. But, I accidentally drained my batteries to zero, and everything shut down. When Eskom came on, the Sunsynk started charging the batteries, but gave no power output to the house. I then switched to bypass and Eskom fed the house and Sunsynk continued to charge the batteries. Despite that the inverter charges, when I Switch to inverter, there is no power to the house. Now the batteries are idling at 90% state of charge, but it still won’t feed power to the house. Advice please?

I have a Revov Cube system with a Synsynk 6kVA 19” rackmount inverter and with two Revov LiFePO4 batteries. I run it as a loadshedding backup and thus have no PV installed. Everything was working just fine for weeks now, and I literally did not know when loadshedding happens. Yesterday, loadshedding happened as per schedule, but lasted more than 4.5 hours. I was unaware and ran induction plates and my oven. The load is within the Sunsynk capacity. But, I accidentally drained my batteries to zero, and everything shut down. When Eskom came on, the Sunsynk started charging the batteries. I then switched to bypass and Eskom fed the house and Sunsynk continued to charge the batteries. I switched back and the grid now powers the house through to inverter, as it was set up for. One exception, now the batteries do not charge up full and are idling at 90% state of charge. Advice please?

Yes, but not through inverter settings. You could do your installation as usual, with separate changeover manual switching. Personally, I have a sub-DB panel where I can select Eskom or the inverter for either essential or non essential circuits. So it gives some flexibility. See the pic of my sun-DB. What you can do is to add another three way changeover after the non-essential isolator. There you select either the essential or non-essential isolator to feed to the non-essential circuits. Note that you will under that configuration effectively select the entire installation to become “off grid” during loadshedding. If so, be sure to keep an eye on the loads as it may unexpectedly drain the battery if the sun clouds over. If you want to go smart, you can do the latter switching through a coupe of electric relays and a toggle switch. Add to that a remote network switch and control it from an app like Smart Life. But as I alluded to, your system may be sized ito capacity to isolate the non essentials during loadshedding. So be sure to not overload it.

My apology for the long winded explanation, I hope it helps. My installation is Canadian Solar, Victron Multiplus Inverter and Freedom Won storage. In terms of application I would think these things are pretty standard. Standard configuration is for essential circuits to run regardless of Eskom. Ideally, there should be sufficient capacity in both PV and battery to be off grid which of course is frightfully expensive. Hence the “Self consumption” configuration like mine, which manages important loads during grid failure. Come darkness and whilst Eskom is online (but PV is sleeping), the inverter feeds both essential and non-essential circuits, until battery reaches the preset discharge level (mine’s at 50%) then the feed for the non-essential circuits is disconnected and essential circuits only are powered. This will last until the battery fully discharges or reaches lowest state of charge setting (mine is 20%) and will then disconnect everything. Come sunlight and Eskom is online, the system will focus on charging the battery, whilst drawing on Eskom for both essential and non-essential circuits. As the battery fills up, the system will start sharing PV to total loads and battery charging. When the battery is full, the system will focus the PV to the total load and borrow from the battery. Technically, for few hours a day, the system runs “off grid”. During loadshedding, feed to non-essential circuits are disconnected, only essential is fed until the battery reaches total discharge as above. During loadshedding and sunlight, essential circuits only are fed and the battery is charged. The inverter then will balance drawdown from the PV and battery, ideally to charge the battery whilst feeding the essential circuits. If the essential circuits load exceeds the PV capacity, inverter will use max PV and draw from the battery, until the battery reaches discharge preset and all is disconnected. Note, during loadshedding, excess PV capacity will not be fed to non-essential loads. Non-essential circuits are fed only when Eskom is online. Maybe this clarifies your question?

Sorry to hear you got taken. I also ordered online, but did not pay right away. I received an email confirming my order, pending payment. I suggested that I pay COD, or issue a bank guarantee or collect personally and then pay cash. The responses were pretty amateur and I suspected a scam so I walked away. Send your collectors in to fetch your money. They must be traceable as they have transaction engines with the banks.

You’ll be surprised how little space it actually takes. My power station takes up 900mm by 2m and being Victron it’s quite bulky. I board-mounted it coz it’s a nice idea. Plenty space for more batteries and another MPPT also in that same area. Of space it right, why not raise it up, above head height. You don’t really need access. Wall hang the Sunsynk and Hubbles and MOU them either beneath or next to each other. Caution though, if you’re at all tight for space, always mount your equipment higher than the car boot/bonnet, in case there is a parking mishap. Further, think about human trafficking past your equipment, that it won’t get bashes or used as a “shelf”. If you do have floor space, you may also consider mounting everything into a 19” rack. Have a look at the Revov www to see what they do

I offered to purchase their products on condition that I pay cash, credit card or instant EFT on collection from their warehouse or office. They now simply don’t respond.

My approach is that I collect personally. Unless of course, it is a company I know well or a well established business.

I note on their www that their address for non sales warehouse is in Centurion and their office is in Durban. I still want to go to either and buy my Freedom Won battery, the price is right 😇

So they responded cash upfront only. I offered to collect and now they’re silent.

They name several individuals with professionally taken pics. But none of these persons show up on LinkedIn or Facebook. They also quote their products VAT free. Language on their www is clumsy. At first I thought it’s “lost in translation” until I could not find their management members on any social media. I’ll place an order and ask to pay cash on delivery. Let’s see how that goes..

I noted my LED lights also flicker random now and then, when Eskom is off line. This is highly annoying. I have a 5kVA Victron Multiplus II with a Freedom Won 5kVA battery. Neutral is separated and not shared between AC1 and AC2. This happens regardless of battery charge state, and regardless of whatever other loads are running. Does anyone have a solution to this problem please?

I also built my home new, and I designed AC1 (essential circuits) and AC2 (non essential circuits) distribution for my DB. My contractor thus specifically cabled plugs and lights to the DB for these two main circuits. My inverter is a Victron Multiplus II an it provides for the separation. For your Axpert, you’ll connect its output to your AC1 and Eskom to your AC2. The attached pics for my main DB and the inverter change overs might guide you with some ideas. Note that for the plugs on AC1 and AC2 you’ll need separate earth leakage protection.

That’s a very neat dashboard. Is it available to use? How to get it? I have a Victron / Freedom Won system.

Hi guys, May I please have some advice on selecting a generator to back up my Victron inverter. I live in a one horse town in the Western Cape where we are loadshedded by Eskom, and also regularly have power outages due to Overberg weather and fynbos fires. Add to that, sometimes our town is out due to other “technical issues”. Eskom is quite snappy to sort out technical breakdowns but sometimes parts or mountain access are an issue. In any event, Eskom is unlikely to improve significantly in the near future. I run 6 * Canadian 460W panels with 5kVA Victron Mulitiplus II and a 5kVA Freedom Won eTower battery. My DB is nicely configured for essential and non-essential. Technically, I’m loadshedding proof unless we have impossible weather for two days and Stage 6 loadshedding in that time. When things do go pear shaped I’d like to start up a generator for 2 or 3 hours to charge up. To drive that Victron I’ll need at least 8kVA generator, according to Victron. Which brand and model is best for this size application please?

Thanks everyone for the advice. I finally installed the following by EnergyPivot from George; 6 * Canadian Solar 460W, Victron SmartSolar MPPT 250/60, Victron MultiPlus-II 48/5000/70-50, Freedom Won E-5000 Modular LiFePO4 battery, Victron Cerbo GX & Touch GX with long range WiFi. Great people to work with, quite neat installation and very prompt service.

Thanks Pieter. No, that was a quote for a friend who has a greater need that I. I was trying to get in understanding of Rands/kVA but am learning that is not a linear progression. My own need is about 10 units per day and I was offered 2750Watt panels, 5kVA inverter and 5kVA batteries. Price for that installed is R150k using Canadian Solar, Victron and Freedom Won.