Travis

I am glad that you have pointed out that people should read things thoroughly. You may want to start with the Terms of Service of The Powerforum, where you will notice that The Administrator and Moderator's decisions are final, so please do not argue with them. 
I am encouraged by that fact that you have apologised to the offended member. Well done! This means a lot, and speaks to your own social skills and abilities.
The Powerforum has a preference for members who are even tempered, helpful, considerate, well mannered and generally nice. These are qualities that have built The Powerforum into the great online community and respected online resource that it is today. 
 

My Infini is "Green Leighton" on the PV Output list. Been running over 4 years now and going strong. Installed in June 2016 and still one of the top systems daily in terms of efficiency. I paid R16 377 in May 2016 from Current Automation.
Generated 24MWh so far and has exceeded my expectations. Only "mod" I did was to remove the fan filters and I clean with compresses air once a year roughly. 
Running a 3.4KW solar array and has regularly been pushed to 8kw for long periods without issues when grid is available.
I will replace with a 5kw unit when it dies with dual MPPT as I currently have 20 panels connected to inverter + 6 connected to DC geyser element. I'll move the 6 panels from the element to the second MPPT rather as the geyserwise MPPT dies after roughly 3 years..

Morning,
 
So after a few years of using my Land Cruiser as a daily driver I decided to bite the bullet on a electric car.
I have chosen the BMW i3 REX
It has a 22KW (18.8KW usable) 60Ah Lithium battery giving you a range of 130-160km (200km in ECO PRO + mode) and with the REX (Petrol range extender) you get 260-290km
I got the model with all the drive assist options, so it has active cruiser control and can drive itself in traffic upto 60KM/h
I ran the battery to 6% yesterday as a test. Drove 157km. Used 18kw to charge. At the peak price of 0.81c per KW, it cost R15. That is 1.1L of petrol equivalent or 0.7L per 100km
I am chuffed. As a bonus it is comfortable to drive and quicker off the line than most car at the robots!
 
Shout if you guys have any questions of want a test drive

Morning,
 
So after a few years of using my Land Cruiser as a daily driver I decided to bite the bullet on a electric car.
I have chosen the BMW i3 REX
It has a 22KW (18.8KW usable) 60Ah Lithium battery giving you a range of 130-160km (200km in ECO PRO + mode) and with the REX (Petrol range extender) you get 260-290km
I got the model with all the drive assist options, so it has active cruiser control and can drive itself in traffic upto 60KM/h
I ran the battery to 6% yesterday as a test. Drove 157km. Used 18kw to charge. At the peak price of 0.81c per KW, it cost R15. That is 1.1L of petrol equivalent or 0.7L per 100km
I am chuffed. As a bonus it is comfortable to drive and quicker off the line than most car at the robots!
 
Shout if you guys have any questions of want a test drive

Here are some pictures of the finished install.
The BMV702 sits inside the house. Rest of the equipment is in the garage.
I am happy with the install, though I had to neaten up cabling afterwards. I do wish they used better quality circuit breakers.
I am also extremely impressed with these Solar Frontier panels. They are producing for 12 hours in winter. Peak power has been 2.1KW on a 2.04KW array so they peak at over 100% their rated capacity. I have had days with over 11KW production which is 5.4KWh/KW in Winter. I was told to expect under 4KWh/KW in Winter. I can't wait for summer.
 
We have had some net export days where house consumption has been 10KWh and we have generated 10.5-11KWh. I think they system is the perfect size.
 
 
 
 
 

So almost 2 years after starting this thread my BMW i3 has done 45,000KMs.
This technology is a game changer. Just the concept of not needing a "service" every year requires a mind shift.
The service items for the i3 are brake fluid and vehicle check every 2 years! 
Having had the first i3 in South Africa for some years, it is now time to sell as the 120Ah (+-44Kwh) model is coming soon. It's amazing to me that BMW has managed to double the battery capacity of the i3 in 4 years. Mine was a 60Ah (22KW)
This has been my favourite car to drive. You have to experience it to understand. It's is relaxing and thrilling at the same time and I have not gotten bored of it for even a moment!
In 45000KMs the battery has lost 3% of capacity and my "fuel consumption" has been 15.7kWh/100km. My average recuperation has been 5.3kWh/100km. We pay R1 per kWh, so the car cost me R7000 to run in electricity, excluding any solar offset. In reality it was almost free.
I used 50L of fuel, meaning I filled the 9L tank about 5 times. This means in the time I had the car, I drove roughly 800km's on the Range Extender petrol generator (Rex).
I found that I could get roughly 120km's electric only before needing the REX. The battery lasted me 2-3 days on average, though I mostly charged it daily. The times I used the REX was mostly on long trips.
 
The one surprise with the i3 is that it seems to pickup punctures on it's narrow eco tires. I had 3 punctures over 2 years driving in JHB. Luckily replacement tires don't cost the world (R2200 Bridgestone) and the compressor kit works fine. I had the punctures plugged, but replaced the front tires at 35000km's.
 
The future of electric looks very bright and I cannot wait to have an i3 with double the range or to get behind the wheel of a Tesla in South Africa!
 

So almost 2 years after starting this thread my BMW i3 has done 45,000KMs.
This technology is a game changer. Just the concept of not needing a "service" every year requires a mind shift.
The service items for the i3 are brake fluid and vehicle check every 2 years! 
Having had the first i3 in South Africa for some years, it is now time to sell as the 120Ah (+-44Kwh) model is coming soon. It's amazing to me that BMW has managed to double the battery capacity of the i3 in 4 years. Mine was a 60Ah (22KW)
This has been my favourite car to drive. You have to experience it to understand. It's is relaxing and thrilling at the same time and I have not gotten bored of it for even a moment!
In 45000KMs the battery has lost 3% of capacity and my "fuel consumption" has been 15.7kWh/100km. My average recuperation has been 5.3kWh/100km. We pay R1 per kWh, so the car cost me R7000 to run in electricity, excluding any solar offset. In reality it was almost free.
I used 50L of fuel, meaning I filled the 9L tank about 5 times. This means in the time I had the car, I drove roughly 800km's on the Range Extender petrol generator (Rex).
I found that I could get roughly 120km's electric only before needing the REX. The battery lasted me 2-3 days on average, though I mostly charged it daily. The times I used the REX was mostly on long trips.
 
The one surprise with the i3 is that it seems to pickup punctures on it's narrow eco tires. I had 3 punctures over 2 years driving in JHB. Luckily replacement tires don't cost the world (R2200 Bridgestone) and the compressor kit works fine. I had the punctures plugged, but replaced the front tires at 35000km's.
 
The future of electric looks very bright and I cannot wait to have an i3 with double the range or to get behind the wheel of a Tesla in South Africa!
 

So almost 2 years after starting this thread my BMW i3 has done 45,000KMs.
This technology is a game changer. Just the concept of not needing a "service" every year requires a mind shift.
The service items for the i3 are brake fluid and vehicle check every 2 years! 
Having had the first i3 in South Africa for some years, it is now time to sell as the 120Ah (+-44Kwh) model is coming soon. It's amazing to me that BMW has managed to double the battery capacity of the i3 in 4 years. Mine was a 60Ah (22KW)
This has been my favourite car to drive. You have to experience it to understand. It's is relaxing and thrilling at the same time and I have not gotten bored of it for even a moment!
In 45000KMs the battery has lost 3% of capacity and my "fuel consumption" has been 15.7kWh/100km. My average recuperation has been 5.3kWh/100km. We pay R1 per kWh, so the car cost me R7000 to run in electricity, excluding any solar offset. In reality it was almost free.
I used 50L of fuel, meaning I filled the 9L tank about 5 times. This means in the time I had the car, I drove roughly 800km's on the Range Extender petrol generator (Rex).
I found that I could get roughly 120km's electric only before needing the REX. The battery lasted me 2-3 days on average, though I mostly charged it daily. The times I used the REX was mostly on long trips.
 
The one surprise with the i3 is that it seems to pickup punctures on it's narrow eco tires. I had 3 punctures over 2 years driving in JHB. Luckily replacement tires don't cost the world (R2200 Bridgestone) and the compressor kit works fine. I had the punctures plugged, but replaced the front tires at 35000km's.
 
The future of electric looks very bright and I cannot wait to have an i3 with double the range or to get behind the wheel of a Tesla in South Africa!
 

So almost 2 years after starting this thread my BMW i3 has done 45,000KMs.
This technology is a game changer. Just the concept of not needing a "service" every year requires a mind shift.
The service items for the i3 are brake fluid and vehicle check every 2 years! 
Having had the first i3 in South Africa for some years, it is now time to sell as the 120Ah (+-44Kwh) model is coming soon. It's amazing to me that BMW has managed to double the battery capacity of the i3 in 4 years. Mine was a 60Ah (22KW)
This has been my favourite car to drive. You have to experience it to understand. It's is relaxing and thrilling at the same time and I have not gotten bored of it for even a moment!
In 45000KMs the battery has lost 3% of capacity and my "fuel consumption" has been 15.7kWh/100km. My average recuperation has been 5.3kWh/100km. We pay R1 per kWh, so the car cost me R7000 to run in electricity, excluding any solar offset. In reality it was almost free.
I used 50L of fuel, meaning I filled the 9L tank about 5 times. This means in the time I had the car, I drove roughly 800km's on the Range Extender petrol generator (Rex).
I found that I could get roughly 120km's electric only before needing the REX. The battery lasted me 2-3 days on average, though I mostly charged it daily. The times I used the REX was mostly on long trips.
 
The one surprise with the i3 is that it seems to pickup punctures on it's narrow eco tires. I had 3 punctures over 2 years driving in JHB. Luckily replacement tires don't cost the world (R2200 Bridgestone) and the compressor kit works fine. I had the punctures plugged, but replaced the front tires at 35000km's.
 
The future of electric looks very bright and I cannot wait to have an i3 with double the range or to get behind the wheel of a Tesla in South Africa!
 

I am keeping the cruiser for weekends. Lucky for me its a 100 Series 4.2TDi, not a barbie Prado 4.0V6
I cover 2-3000Km's per month. Cruiser sits on 11l/100km, not terrible, still R4000 per month. 
I think the electric car adoption requires a total mind shift. You go from driving a car with gears and vibrations and noise ( even the best mercs have a litttle bit of it) to absolute silent, smooth drive, with instant power. Driving has become relaxing, and at the same time I am consuming 100% renewable energy. It's a good feeling. I encourage you all to take one for a drive.
Comparing this to a VW UP is wrong, Interior quality is on par with a 5 series, the interior passenger space is better than a big SUV, Can comfortable seat 4 fully grown men. It is quicker off the line that a GTI+ it drives itself in traffic!
 
Fully charges in 3.5 Hours. 78km per hour charge rate on the wall charger. Or DC quick charge to 80% is 20min
Bonus that it is free to charge at BMW garages.
 
No fuel requirement means to affected by petrol attendant strikes, Carbon fibre/lightweight construction means no possibility of hail damage. No Oil means no oil changes+Filters+Air filters+++. You change the brake fluid+cabin filter every 3 years. Regen brakes means no brake pad wear or disk replacement in the life of the car+your wheels don't get covered in brake dust. Electric AC means the cabin is always the right temp where most cars AC gets slightly warm in traffic.
 
This is the future. I can only imagine the Tesla Model 3 is going to be even better

So almost 2 years after starting this thread my BMW i3 has done 45,000KMs.
This technology is a game changer. Just the concept of not needing a "service" every year requires a mind shift.
The service items for the i3 are brake fluid and vehicle check every 2 years! 
Having had the first i3 in South Africa for some years, it is now time to sell as the 120Ah (+-44Kwh) model is coming soon. It's amazing to me that BMW has managed to double the battery capacity of the i3 in 4 years. Mine was a 60Ah (22KW)
This has been my favourite car to drive. You have to experience it to understand. It's is relaxing and thrilling at the same time and I have not gotten bored of it for even a moment!
In 45000KMs the battery has lost 3% of capacity and my "fuel consumption" has been 15.7kWh/100km. My average recuperation has been 5.3kWh/100km. We pay R1 per kWh, so the car cost me R7000 to run in electricity, excluding any solar offset. In reality it was almost free.
I used 50L of fuel, meaning I filled the 9L tank about 5 times. This means in the time I had the car, I drove roughly 800km's on the Range Extender petrol generator (Rex).
I found that I could get roughly 120km's electric only before needing the REX. The battery lasted me 2-3 days on average, though I mostly charged it daily. The times I used the REX was mostly on long trips.
 
The one surprise with the i3 is that it seems to pickup punctures on it's narrow eco tires. I had 3 punctures over 2 years driving in JHB. Luckily replacement tires don't cost the world (R2200 Bridgestone) and the compressor kit works fine. I had the punctures plugged, but replaced the front tires at 35000km's.
 
The future of electric looks very bright and I cannot wait to have an i3 with double the range or to get behind the wheel of a Tesla in South Africa!
 

So almost 2 years after starting this thread my BMW i3 has done 45,000KMs.
This technology is a game changer. Just the concept of not needing a "service" every year requires a mind shift.
The service items for the i3 are brake fluid and vehicle check every 2 years! 
Having had the first i3 in South Africa for some years, it is now time to sell as the 120Ah (+-44Kwh) model is coming soon. It's amazing to me that BMW has managed to double the battery capacity of the i3 in 4 years. Mine was a 60Ah (22KW)
This has been my favourite car to drive. You have to experience it to understand. It's is relaxing and thrilling at the same time and I have not gotten bored of it for even a moment!
In 45000KMs the battery has lost 3% of capacity and my "fuel consumption" has been 15.7kWh/100km. My average recuperation has been 5.3kWh/100km. We pay R1 per kWh, so the car cost me R7000 to run in electricity, excluding any solar offset. In reality it was almost free.
I used 50L of fuel, meaning I filled the 9L tank about 5 times. This means in the time I had the car, I drove roughly 800km's on the Range Extender petrol generator (Rex).
I found that I could get roughly 120km's electric only before needing the REX. The battery lasted me 2-3 days on average, though I mostly charged it daily. The times I used the REX was mostly on long trips.
 
The one surprise with the i3 is that it seems to pickup punctures on it's narrow eco tires. I had 3 punctures over 2 years driving in JHB. Luckily replacement tires don't cost the world (R2200 Bridgestone) and the compressor kit works fine. I had the punctures plugged, but replaced the front tires at 35000km's.
 
The future of electric looks very bright and I cannot wait to have an i3 with double the range or to get behind the wheel of a Tesla in South Africa!
 

So almost 2 years after starting this thread my BMW i3 has done 45,000KMs.
This technology is a game changer. Just the concept of not needing a "service" every year requires a mind shift.
The service items for the i3 are brake fluid and vehicle check every 2 years! 
Having had the first i3 in South Africa for some years, it is now time to sell as the 120Ah (+-44Kwh) model is coming soon. It's amazing to me that BMW has managed to double the battery capacity of the i3 in 4 years. Mine was a 60Ah (22KW)
This has been my favourite car to drive. You have to experience it to understand. It's is relaxing and thrilling at the same time and I have not gotten bored of it for even a moment!
In 45000KMs the battery has lost 3% of capacity and my "fuel consumption" has been 15.7kWh/100km. My average recuperation has been 5.3kWh/100km. We pay R1 per kWh, so the car cost me R7000 to run in electricity, excluding any solar offset. In reality it was almost free.
I used 50L of fuel, meaning I filled the 9L tank about 5 times. This means in the time I had the car, I drove roughly 800km's on the Range Extender petrol generator (Rex).
I found that I could get roughly 120km's electric only before needing the REX. The battery lasted me 2-3 days on average, though I mostly charged it daily. The times I used the REX was mostly on long trips.
 
The one surprise with the i3 is that it seems to pickup punctures on it's narrow eco tires. I had 3 punctures over 2 years driving in JHB. Luckily replacement tires don't cost the world (R2200 Bridgestone) and the compressor kit works fine. I had the punctures plugged, but replaced the front tires at 35000km's.
 
The future of electric looks very bright and I cannot wait to have an i3 with double the range or to get behind the wheel of a Tesla in South Africa!
 

So almost 2 years after starting this thread my BMW i3 has done 45,000KMs.
This technology is a game changer. Just the concept of not needing a "service" every year requires a mind shift.
The service items for the i3 are brake fluid and vehicle check every 2 years! 
Having had the first i3 in South Africa for some years, it is now time to sell as the 120Ah (+-44Kwh) model is coming soon. It's amazing to me that BMW has managed to double the battery capacity of the i3 in 4 years. Mine was a 60Ah (22KW)
This has been my favourite car to drive. You have to experience it to understand. It's is relaxing and thrilling at the same time and I have not gotten bored of it for even a moment!
In 45000KMs the battery has lost 3% of capacity and my "fuel consumption" has been 15.7kWh/100km. My average recuperation has been 5.3kWh/100km. We pay R1 per kWh, so the car cost me R7000 to run in electricity, excluding any solar offset. In reality it was almost free.
I used 50L of fuel, meaning I filled the 9L tank about 5 times. This means in the time I had the car, I drove roughly 800km's on the Range Extender petrol generator (Rex).
I found that I could get roughly 120km's electric only before needing the REX. The battery lasted me 2-3 days on average, though I mostly charged it daily. The times I used the REX was mostly on long trips.
 
The one surprise with the i3 is that it seems to pickup punctures on it's narrow eco tires. I had 3 punctures over 2 years driving in JHB. Luckily replacement tires don't cost the world (R2200 Bridgestone) and the compressor kit works fine. I had the punctures plugged, but replaced the front tires at 35000km's.
 
The future of electric looks very bright and I cannot wait to have an i3 with double the range or to get behind the wheel of a Tesla in South Africa!
 

You are right. Especially on a spall UPS. Probably charges at <1 AMP for their 7Ah LA batteries.
 
According to the Relion website, the RB50 battery has a built in BMS.
 
This kind of UPS should be fine
https://www.rebeltech.co.za/8373-rct-850va-line-interactive-ups.html
 

Hi Richwost.
 
Sounds like a simple 12V inverter would work, but it isn't always so simple.
I don't know the specifics of your TV etc, but modern LED TVs use under 200W. I would think a DSTV decoder uses less than 50W and the LED light another 10W.
So lets say you need a 300W 12V inverter.
 
Your 50Ah Lithium battery has 480W of energy in it at 80% DoD. Should last 2h, more if the TV is off.
 
I would think a Victron Phoenix 800VA would be a good fit, but does not have a transfer switch
https://powerforum-store.co.za/collections/inverters/products/victron-phoenix-12-800-schuko-outlet
The Ctek lithium charger is a 5A unit. You will be drawing 20A from the battery, so recharging the lithium will take much longer.
 
The better option would be a Victron MultiPlus Compact 12V 800VA. This has a transfer switch and lithium charger built in!
 
https://powerforum-store.co.za/collections/inverters/products/victron-multiplus-c-12-800-35-16

Looks like I managed 3rd or 4th Yesterday. Had a bit of clouds at mid day. Otherwise a good one. No tracking or anything on my system.
 
Edit: My system is Green Leighton

That 2.4V would make a huge difference on the speed of torque of power tools.
 
Look at Lithium cells rather. +-16V from 4 cells in series.

Wow Don, 8 will be brilliant.
 
My record on my 2.04KW array was 15.129kWh @7.416kWh/kW on 18 January. 5:20AM to 7:15pm
I now have a 3.4KW array on a 3kw inverter so best I have managed is 22.502kWh @6.618kWh/kW with 20 minutes of clouds. 6AM to 6:30 pm. That was yesterday!
Days are getting shorter, so I suspect I will not hit 7 again till next summer.

Make sure you drill the hole through the top of a corrugation, not the bottom where the water runs.

Hi Bushman,
 
My understanding of the initial current spec it that it assumes the battery are low or close to emply. Under 12V each. Since you are only drawing 1500wh, less than 10%, I think you can ignore the 36A requirement and just configure your Axpert according to the Float and Bulk Voltage specs.
 
More experienced forum users may have a different view

So my i3 is sitting on 26,000KM. I am getting an average of 145km on a charge. I run on Eco Pro most of the time with a mix of Aircon. I don't drive lightly, have places to be and people to see. Rex has seen 9570km of mixed use. On average I see 150km on the 9l tank, most of that REX milage came from running without charging at home for 2 months, while I established a baseline power usage for November-December and also a trip to Cape Town and back.
 
I find myself not using the 7.4KW R30,000 charger, but rather the 3 pin plug charger as I charge the car over night so 8 hours isn't an issue for charge time, besides battery isn't empty when I get home and I topup during the day if I am home.
 
The DC rapid chargers in Midrand and Sandton are handy, I have used the 20+ times on trips out to PTA or running around to multiple clients in Sandton. I have also used the AC fast chargers at Melrose Arch a handful of times while I grab lunch there.
 
My electricity cost for the 3000km average month is less that R336, and thats before my solar production that is now running 60% of house consumption. 

So my i3 is sitting on 26,000KM. I am getting an average of 145km on a charge. I run on Eco Pro most of the time with a mix of Aircon. I don't drive lightly, have places to be and people to see. Rex has seen 9570km of mixed use. On average I see 150km on the 9l tank, most of that REX milage came from running without charging at home for 2 months, while I established a baseline power usage for November-December and also a trip to Cape Town and back.
 
I find myself not using the 7.4KW R30,000 charger, but rather the 3 pin plug charger as I charge the car over night so 8 hours isn't an issue for charge time, besides battery isn't empty when I get home and I topup during the day if I am home.
 
The DC rapid chargers in Midrand and Sandton are handy, I have used the 20+ times on trips out to PTA or running around to multiple clients in Sandton. I have also used the AC fast chargers at Melrose Arch a handful of times while I grab lunch there.
 
My electricity cost for the 3000km average month is less that R336, and thats before my solar production that is now running 60% of house consumption. 

Indeed, I am making power from 5:15am to 6:30pm at the moment. Making 500w by 6:45am, 1kw by 7:35 and 1,5kw by 8:30. Power production dips down to 500w again around 4:30

I am hoping we can share our real works number of our solar arrays. I went for Solar Frontier 170W panels as they are said to be more efficient, especially in low light.
So I am keen to see what other people are getting. These are stats I have got from my inverter
PV array size: 2.040KW
Max PV input: 2.202KW - 20 September
Max hourly KWh: 1.947Kw
Max daily production: 14.201Kw
Average daily production: 10.621kWh
Total Production since 28 June: 1050KW
Max Efficiency: 6.961kWh/kW
Average Effieciency: 5.207kWh/kW
 
 
Interested to see how Solar Frontier with their CIS technology compares to others.