TiaanSmit

Good moning Lads.
 
The results for Februworry is in.
We used a total of 6.7 kWh eksdom units for the month of Februworry. 2023
We used a total of 751 kWh eksdom units for the same month last year februworry 2022
 
2022
September = 21 kWh
October = 26 kWh
November = 9.5 kWh
December = 9.8 kWh
 
2023
Januworry = 7.8kWh
Februworry =6.7kWh
 
Total Eksdom units used in 6 months = 80.8 kWh (R254.52  calculated at our rates -R3.15 per kWh.)
 
 
Woke up this morning to battery bank levels at 36% because my wife decided to cook when it was dark last night and left the slow cooker on during the night with 2 fans running. None the less we only used 0.2 eksdom units during the night which is a win. I'm still saving up for 2 more batteries.

I have doubled my battery capacity and feel I have now reached the point of maximum “savings” from my system as I can now run on my batteries for 8 or 9 hours, effectively throughout the night.   Bear in mind I am not off grid.
The only way I could possibly still increase my saving would be more battery as I do not use all the electricity I generate and could save it that way, but the capital expenditure could not be justified.    Another option could be to run my stove and oven from my Inverter, but that seems a bit "risky", its to easy to work in the kitchen and have geyser on as well as stove and then quickly switch on kettle🙄
I also heat my Geyser from my PV.
We are at the point of maximum solar generation and minimum night duration!
So only my Oven/Stove need the grid. I am considering changing my electric hob to a Gas/Electric more from a point of convenience then anything else.
I have been told this installation is not allowed in S.A. Gas and electric next to one another, can someone enlighten me?
Note the point I have made in the past, the effect of CTC’s fixed tariff structure, and my expectation that they will continue to increase this fixed cost; my units used from the City has reduced by 64% but my Rand savings by only 44%
See new graph.

I've attached an (probably outdated) brochure that I have.
I've seen their battery's at quite a few houses on the west coast and also saw the same batteries in use at Montagu caravan park.  
So far at approx 190 cycles the batteries have served us quite well.
Apart from selling their own built batteries they also fix broken ones of almost any brands. I can recall seeing Alot of SolarMD batteries in the workshop due for BMS repairs when I went there to collect my batteries. 
 

 
 

Hi there, I bought them from Navitas energy in Stellenbosch
 
078 443 5272
 
Absolutely no issues after 6.5 months of use.

Hi Yes I'll share.
 

Good moning Lads.
 
The results for Februworry is in.
We used a total of 6.7 kWh eksdom units for the month of Februworry. 2023
We used a total of 751 kWh eksdom units for the same month last year februworry 2022
 
2022
September = 21 kWh
October = 26 kWh
November = 9.5 kWh
December = 9.8 kWh
 
2023
Januworry = 7.8kWh
Februworry =6.7kWh
 
Total Eksdom units used in 6 months = 80.8 kWh (R254.52  calculated at our rates -R3.15 per kWh.)
 
 
Woke up this morning to battery bank levels at 36% because my wife decided to cook when it was dark last night and left the slow cooker on during the night with 2 fans running. None the less we only used 0.2 eksdom units during the night which is a win. I'm still saving up for 2 more batteries.

I'd like to hear from everyone what their average kWh eksdom usage was before and after having solar installed
 
We had solar installed mid August but decided to do my first reading in September and compare it to the same month of last year.
For the month of September we used a total of 21 kWh compared to 512kWh for the same month in 2021.
The 21kWh mostly contributed to the grid prickle charge set on the inverter.
We still use a electric stove and oven,3 aircons  1 electric geyser and 1 flat panel solar geyser with a electrical element that we can use if the water did not heat properly during the day.Not bad Imo.
the above mentioned is connected to the non essential load with the ct clamp in place to allow excess solar to feed non essentials.
Our system consist of:
14x 545w canadian solar panels 
8kw sunsynk inverter and 3x 5.12kWh navitas batteries.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Here is my data for January, I turned off my Eskom supply at the begining of December and have only turned it on when I use the AC. All the grid import for January 2023 was the spill over as the CT coil reaction is a bit slow (the Sunsynk CT coil struggles to keep up with the 30000BTU and 20000BTU AC running at the same time resulting in small grid feed and use as the compressors turn on and off).

I did not think I could go lower then in Nov but we did, R390  and 90 units.
We had very good sun and we are becoming experts at managing the system!
I have also installed a Gas cooker and if the weather pattern holds then in theory we should go even a bit lower for Feb, lets wait and see.
As I said before, we can never save as much as those who are completely off the grid, but we're doing pretty well I think.   Currently we run totally on PV from around 22h00 to around 16h00 the following afternoon.

I'd like to hear from everyone what their average kWh eksdom usage was before and after having solar installed
 
We had solar installed mid August but decided to do my first reading in September and compare it to the same month of last year.
For the month of September we used a total of 21 kWh compared to 512kWh for the same month in 2021.
The 21kWh mostly contributed to the grid prickle charge set on the inverter.
We still use a electric stove and oven,3 aircons  1 electric geyser and 1 flat panel solar geyser with a electrical element that we can use if the water did not heat properly during the day.Not bad Imo.
the above mentioned is connected to the non essential load with the ct clamp in place to allow excess solar to feed non essentials.
Our system consist of:
14x 545w canadian solar panels 
8kw sunsynk inverter and 3x 5.12kWh navitas batteries.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Not sure if it does. Cannot see that it will if the device is installed by a qualified electrician 

Use a sunsynk approved installer.
You can find one at the following link.
https://www.sunsynk.org/approvedinstallers
 
 
 
 
 
 

Clearly hubble knows of the bad batch sold in 2021. They should have recalled those units .

If you want to start in a modular way then start with a 5kw inverter and a 1c rated 5kw battery.Make sure the inverter can run in parallel with another.
You can always add another inverter and battery later.
We used approx 650kWh per month.
We dont use gas. Everything is electrical ie. 2 electric geysers, 3 aircons, electric oven and electric stove.My wife runs a hair salon from home and use some power hungry salon equipment ie. Hairdryers, curling and straightening irons etc ..
 
The system Literally carries the whole load.
 
Our system consist of
8kw sunsynk inverter 
3x 5kwh batteries
14x 545w canadian solar panels 
 
Currently our eskom usage sits at R76 pm or less.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hi there. 
Can I help?
Jay

I really enjoy your invaluable input so I’ll take it up with the administrators. 

If you want to start in a modular way then start with a 5kw inverter and a 1c rated 5kw battery.Make sure the inverter can run in parallel with another.
You can always add another inverter and battery later.
We used approx 650kWh per month.
We dont use gas. Everything is electrical ie. 2 electric geysers, 3 aircons, electric oven and electric stove.My wife runs a hair salon from home and use some power hungry salon equipment ie. Hairdryers, curling and straightening irons etc ..
 
The system Literally carries the whole load.
 
Our system consist of
8kw sunsynk inverter 
3x 5kwh batteries
14x 545w canadian solar panels 
 
Currently our eskom usage sits at R76 pm or less.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

If you want to start in a modular way then start with a 5kw inverter and a 1c rated 5kw battery.Make sure the inverter can run in parallel with another.
You can always add another inverter and battery later.
We used approx 650kWh per month.
We dont use gas. Everything is electrical ie. 2 electric geysers, 3 aircons, electric oven and electric stove.My wife runs a hair salon from home and use some power hungry salon equipment ie. Hairdryers, curling and straightening irons etc ..
 
The system Literally carries the whole load.
 
Our system consist of
8kw sunsynk inverter 
3x 5kwh batteries
14x 545w canadian solar panels 
 
Currently our eskom usage sits at R76 pm or less.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Nice calculation / graph... 
0.41kWh on a 5.1kWh battery (8%) might make the difference for smaller installations... older equipment might even draw more. 
The main purpose is to shift usage nearer to day time. 
The same is to be said for geysers. We kick-start our heatpump (with resistor to fool it to think it is cold) at 15h00 to top it up to 58 degrees using solar. Then it does not turn on until the next morning when the sun is shining. 

Normal wear and tear, most were older than 15 years and were due for replacement.

I have just come off the back of a major issue with 1 of my AM 2 batteries which is 5 months old.
I will be doing a post soon but needless to say I would not have bought them knowing what I know now.

A client of mine also had an AM2 with a weld that has come loose after 2 months. Will definitely push for a refund. 

good luck with that.I have an ongoing nightmare with them.Never again.

Same here. I’m done with Hubble

I'm happy that i can drive in and give someone the battery and get support  (which is why i bought the Hubble in the first place) but it is _-SuPeR-_ annoying that it is now working a month and broken a month alternating repeatedly after working fine for a year without any issues. It certainly can be a dud thing, and yes, any battery from any manufacturer can turn into a lemon just like cars, or any other product. i'll be treating it accordingly with Hubble support now as i clearly have something that needs a bit more attention than just a quick bench weld and off you go back to the customer (which should have happened the second time i sent it). Likely a full unpack, clean and repack, full re-weld of everything as new, or just give me another battery while you salvage that battery for whatever purposes (The cells are fine!).
Which other product has a local manufacturer warranty with offices you can actually go and touch in your province? LBSA? The installer needs to sort it out i agree with but they can only do so much if they can't reach out for product support either and they are processing the warranty on your behalf. These things are heavy, bulky and expensive and you can't just carry sufficient stock of batteries as an installer that are compatible with every client you have installed in their specific environment, for their dimensions and capacities and still be expected to have a functioning business after a year unless your charging rates and support fees that most people won't even care to do business with you in any case then unless your entertaining the 1% for business exclusively.
I'm now shit out of luck until end of January probably and even if i yell at an installer for an hour, what is he going to do, yell at Hubble, and then everybody just takes a beating down to the underpaid guy doing the welding which then throws a finger at the boss and walks out which then have to put a junior down there to get through their mountain of recalls because everybody keeps getting yelled at and then quit which means no experienced staff which results in QA being overwhelmed with subpar work, which leaks out the front door resulting in my poor battery acting like a lemon, the whole process just sounds "unhealthy".
Enjoy xmas everybody.. i'll be braaing with no power likely.