ZCS

Thanks @Nexuss. i assume this is controlled remotely via app? what does it cost to purchase and install if you dont mind me asking? i assume this would then replace my cbi astute timer?

while on the topic of geysers, is anyone able to explain what this geyserwise is that i keep reading about on the forums? what are the pros and cons of installing this? currently using a cbi astute smart switch to programmes my geyser to switch on/off at certain times, is this the same as geyserwise or are there additional benefits?

great. thanks for the info bud. will definitely ask the installers to put the pool and geyser on the non essential side and then hope for the best

thanks @Bobster. i am also concerned that i am a bit light on battery power but the budget doesnt allow me to do more right now. for now i am hoping to at least negate loadshedding and save some cash on the monthly eishkom bills. will be trying to move most of the loads like ironing, dishwasher, pool, washing machine etc to the day but will need to figure out the timing of such so as not to have too much running at the same time. the biggest draw will probably be the geyser and pool pump during the day so hoping to schedule one after the other using cbi astute timer on each. Separate question and unrelated to this topic... seeing as I am light on batteries, is it possible to easily change the settings (or have various pre programmed modes) for periods of loadshedding. effectively, when eskom announce loadshedding, I want to save my battery for outages, when no loadshedding, i want to maximize the use of my battery and therefore cost savings...

brilliant! thanks @hoohloc

thanks, this is what i was thinking. just a question... if i leave the 4kw element in for now, would the 5kw sunsynk still run this from pv where possible and if other appliances are switched on at the same time, blend eskom power with the pv or will i be causing issues to the system or possibly trip the inverter? as mentioned i will not want to use the geyser or pump etc while loadshedding so this is only while grid is available... is my understanding our your statement correct in that the 5kw sunsynk can push through 8kw of power while grid is present without issues? what happens in the unlikely event that i go above 8kw? apologies if these questions seem trivial but my knowledge around these things is very limited.

HI @Bobster. thanks for your feedback as always, installing a 5kw sunsynk and 5kwh greenrich up5000 lifepo battery. the pool pump would also be on the non essential side along with the geyser (hope i am getting the terminology correct). Am i correct in assuming that while there is grid power, the system would not trip but just blend eskom and pv when load goes above 5kw? when loadshedding, i will obviously not use the geyser or pool pump. stove is gas so that will not be a problem. What have others done in terms of their geysers? would changing the element be recommended? should i rather just leave the geyser off the inverter completely and let eskom heat up my water? i am obvisouly trying to save as much as possible on eskom costs but with a limited budget, was not able to install a bigger/better inverter/batteries/pv. just looking for ideas to maximize my potential savings.

Hi All, so i am about to have a small solar system installed, 5kw SS, 5kwh li bat and 4.8kw pv array. I was hoping that the geyser could be connected to the non essential side and that i would be able to use PV during the day to heat it up a bit before our evening showers and therefore reducing the eskom cost. I also have a pool pump (1.1kw) which i am hoping to run during the day via PV as well, both geyser and pool pump are on smart switches. I now noticed that the geyser has a 4kw element and seeing as I will only have a 5kw inverter, would this expectation be unreasonable? I have measured my base load at various times and its around 400w to 700w. I am very new to all this so any recommendations would be welcome... if this would not be advisable, what other solution(minimal cost) would assist this or should I just resolve myself to the fact that eskom will need to be used twice a day to heat the geyser up. i assume i could replace the element with a 2/3 kw element? what effect would this have on heating my 150l geyser? estimated cost? estimated heating time?

Thanks @GreenFields. appreciate the feedback.

Hi All, So I am really new to solar and currently in the process of getting a 5kw SS installed with 5kwh lifepo bat. Budget was constrained so limited the equipment to this. As i understand it, i would be able to run the aircon during the day off PV depending on the other loads in the house on at the same time? my question is at night or specifically, during loadshedding, how much of the battery would I use by running the aircon for about an hour? its an older aircon and not an inverter but other than that, i have no clue on how much power it would draw. anyone able to provide an estimate of the percentage of my battery that would be used just for the aircon?

thanks for the feedback and goodluck with the rest of the install. let us know once installed and how its working. interested to hear while awaiting my own installation. good luck.

HI @Eldred, just reading through your post and your requirements are very similar to mine. interested to get an update from your side if you finally decided and decided on your solution? i just pulled the trigger on a 5kw sunsynk with a single 5kwh bat and 12 x 400w panels. hoping it will satisfy my basic requirements which like you, is to reduce bill and back up for loadshedding.

Hi All, Been quoted on the above battery for my solar install. Reading through the forums however, this does not seem like a very popular brand so it is slightly concerning. has anyone ever used these or know of these bats? apparently rated at 1.5C but i cant find much info or reviews. thanks in advance for any insights.

So.... i bit the bullet and just accepted a quote to install a 5kw sunsynk, 5kwh greenrich battery and 12X400w jinko panels. My Budget didnt allow to go with much more and not expecting to be completely off grid. just hoping to cope with loadshedding and save a little bit of cash from the eskom thieves. install happening on 18 August so patiently waiting until then... what are the thoughts of anyone who has installed a similar sized system? i have learned so much already just by reading through this forum so thanks guys. i am sure ill be back with loads of questions for our resident pros once the system is up and running...

Thanks for your insights. Very helpful and appreciated. Yeah i am ok with using eskom for a while over night to reserve some juice kn the battery in case of loadshedding. Think i am going to pull the trigger and get this installed. Look forward to not having to deal with loadshedding.

Thanks for your reply @Bobster.. we currently use around 40kwh per day. i estimate about 60% of this is during the day (pool pump, dishwasher, geyser microwave etc..) i plan on installing a cbi astute timer for the pool pump and geyser as i only need the geyser to warm up for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. budget is always the deciding factor and i am not looking at getting off grid. i just want to be able to get through loadshedding with minimal interruption to our lives and also to be able to reduce my eskom bill( in order to justify the capital expense). ideally, i am hoping to move most of our heavy loads (washing, ironing, pool pump, dishwasher) etc to be used during the day to try and maximize the pv. i know the battery is a bit small but the budget doesnt allow for bigger/more right now. i will most likely leave the geyser and oven (gas stove installed recently and use gas kettle) off the inverter (or can i have these connected as non essential?)at night it will mainly be a few LED lights, 3 fridge/freezers and a LED TV that would need to run. not much else significantly being used after 6pm. i am hoping this setup will at least make loadshedding non existent, get our fridges through any unexpected power cuts and also be able to save a reasonable amount on our eskom contributions...

also have been quoted on a greenrich battery by an installer but cant find much info online about them or any reviews on them...

Hi There, been reading through the forum a lot over the last few weeks. i am in the process of having a 5kw sunsynk inverter, 12 x 400w(4.8kw) jinko panels and a 5kwh lifepo battery installed. just looking for an opinion on this setup. the company i am considering is called Alumo. anyone used them? what will be the drawbacks of this set up? will i be able to run most of my household during the day with this?