Chaos

I have 3 geysers..one for outbuildings and 2 for the house. I leave the outside one off until we need it, and put both geysers on non-essentials. Since stove/oven/microwave etc are things you only switch on only when you need them and are easy to monitor, I left them on the essentials and use them when there isn't big load. But so far, nothing we have done has even strained this setup slightly and we can pretty much carry on as though there isn't loadshedding. We added 2 x Astutes for the geysers, and I think monitoring and controlling when your geysers work remotely is half the job of a solar installation. The rest....just keep it on essentials. Even the pool pump, if you set it to run during the day when you have good PV.

Been a great experience working with @Steve87 through this install. Although there were some delays, my brief from the beginning was to take his time, do it when he could...no pressure. He kept me updated every step of the way and I am very, very happy with the install. He and his team are incredible as is his electrician (Who once worked till almost 9pm one night to make sure we got up and running) I have LOTS to learn still, it's almost like learning a new language. But for those considering an install my advice is go for a bit higher spec than you think you need. More is never regretted! Btw, the install is even neater that it appears in the pics. He really does a lovely job of tucking everything away, running trunking etc. And is pedantic about how things need to be done. No shortcuts here! I'll update performance as we go along, but it's great living as though there is no loadshedding. We can even use the stove, microwave and kettle at the same time, if needed and not often.

Battery is going on the floor, underneath the inverter. I had to make a choice on whether to install on the patio, where pedestrians may see it and decide to do some shopping, putting it in the garage which was inconveniently far from the board, or installing it inside, in the entrance hall which is still out of the way. Decided to go for indoors, and instead of hiding it..make it a feature 🙂 Doesn't take up much space, noise is negligible and it doesn't look bad at all. I figure solar installations are something to show off and be proud of nowadays. Steve does a neat job that doesn't look out of place and I've only had good comments about it. I could have hidden it with some mods, but I'm ok with it. The FW battery is classy looking and doesn't look industrial.

Been 4 months since I joined, and at that stage solar was just a distant thought. But that didn't last long when we started to get stage 6. So I made some plans, put myself into debt forever, and took the leap. Stock shortages have been interesting. And are only going to get worse. But I wasn't in a rush. This forum has been invaluable, especially for finding the right installer. Steve has been amazing the whole way, and dealt with all my constant irritating phonecalls and silly questions. I am over the moon to be "part of the club" and consider Steve's work to be impeccable. I'm in the final stages now. Have the system mostly up, with a few things to do. But I have the battery connected and as I type this, I'm at the end of of 4 hour load shedding and just finished cooking dinner on the electric stove with no issues. Barely noticed the shedding today. Those considering getting an installation....do it. Looking forward to learning the finer aspects and tweaking, and the final stage of installation. But I'm up and running. Install looks great. @TimCam If I'm not mistaken, we went with 26 degrees or close. I am sure Steve will update and we are very close to the finish.

So I've been watching some of the well under priced solar panels for sale on places like Facebook marketplace, and wondering if they are either stolen, or whether there are fake panels being imported and sold. Tonight I saw a listing for Canadian Solar panels that were too cheap to be legit. Not that I'm shopping...my order is placed with a reputable installer and awaiting stock. So this was just for curiosity. I guess the attached pic answers that question. I highly doubt real Canadians would print on the label "MODEL TRYPE" instead of MODEL TYPE and also "Rire Rating" instead of "Fire Rating" Also... CLASS C is in capitals but the L in CLASS is lower case. I doubt a big company like Canadian Solar would make such entry level mistakes. I guess that answers that question. Buyer beware! Counterfeit panels are clearly flooding the market.

Busy installing an 8KW Sunsynk inverter on the other side of a wall that is shared with a bedroom. Have no idea what the fans sound like yet, so does anyone think the fan noise would make its way through a decent brick wall and disturb sleepers?

Looks good! Maybe I dodged a bullet, but seems if I had stuck with the slate installation you would have it well under control. A lot more effort, but shows it's completely do-able and you need to get someone who understands slate properly. Note: This isn't my installation, but I have a similar situation...luckily with an IBR area that will make life easier. That's a good looking install Steve.

What he said.

Hi all, Going through the process with a decent installation that should save me money monthly. In my area of Jhb, 5 out of 6 bills come from estimates. They never seem to consistently read and use meter readings. My question regards your monthly bill and what they will do once they see the reading are consistently down? Is it a case of the municipality pitching up saying your readings have been abnormally low, you showing them your installation and them going away and accepting the new lower bill? or is it (as I expect with Joburg) a fight with constant back and forth and them trying to see how they can screw me? I run off 2 phases, each going to a meter and sections of the house running off one of the 2 meters. I'd love for them to combine both into one phase, but I don't even know how I would start applying for that, and I'll be damned if I am going to pay for it since they have been pushing me to go for the new smart meters anyways. Anyone have any advice about dealing with the municipality, how to get them to accept you went solar and what to say to them when they eventually come round? Thanks all.

That can't be right? https://www.freedomwon.co.za/lite-home-5-4/

Has anyone drawn up a list of the most popular batteries, with their relevant C ratings? May be a useful quick reference for some. Thanks for the info above, very helpful. Something I have been wondering though. Given a rating of all 1C... Is it better to have one 8KWh battery, or 2 x 4/4.8KWh batteries when you are considering an installation?

My aim is to get close to the 8kW, which should take care of all my needs. I hear good things about Hubble, Pylon and Sunsynk. The Sunsynk 10kW battery is close to the price of the Freedom Won, so then I may as well go for the FW. Warranties are nice, but who knows what the Sunsynk warranty will be like in 6+ years. 2 x Hubbles isn't waaay cheaper than the one Freedom Won, but a few thou is money saved. Does anyone have an opinion on whether they would rather go for one x Freedom Won 8/10 or 2 x Hubble 5.5's? Which will be more effective and give the best results? @mzezman Thanks for the advice on other hardware. I don't know much about Greenwich. Can't be as simple as one 5.5Kwh battery giving you decent 7+Kwh? What is the downside?

Hi, After many weeks of back and forth reading and research, I've kinda decided on a Sunsynk 8Kw hybrid inverter for my future setup. I had my heart set on the Freedom Won 10/8 battery. But this is already going to hurt me badly so the extra cost is just not easily justifiable no matter how much I try. Therefore I was considering Hubble, Sunsynk or maybe Pylontech. Not far less, but enough to make a difference I guess. 3 Questions....which battery would communicate and work best with the Sunsyk Inverter with least hassles and best installation? Second, would I be best advised to go for a single +- 8Kw battery, or should I rather be looking at using 2 batteries, maybe 5Kw each? Third....can someone advise if they were setting up this system, would you go for Canadian Solar panels, Cinco or JA...and I'm guessing Monocrystalline? What other important hardware do I need to look at besides panels, inverter and batteries? Thanks!

Thanks, yeah I figured any budget is just a dream, and know that it will be more. I'll budget accordingly. You bring up a question I have been wanting to ask. The Sunsynk battery. Is it worth doing the inverter/battery combo to get the extra guarantee and what is their battery like compared to the Freedom Won? If the choice was a Sunsynk inverter, and then either their battery or the FW 10/8, what are the pros/cons of that combo? Both seem decent, although FW seems to get a bit more cred, but haven't established exactly why. And is one 10/8 FW better or worse than getting 2 x Pylontech 5000's? Thanks @Steve87, gottit and will be in contact.

Makes sense. Have a good idea what I need and what I want now. Now to decide if I want to make the bond bleed or sell some collectibles. Whatever happens, I guess I'm going for it. Things are not going to get better as far as power supply goes. Will be in touch. Perhaps you would pm your contact details @Steve87?

Thanks all, and especially @Steve87 for the advice and comments. Seems I am on the right track. In my experience with everything else I have tinkered with, installers don't particularly like to just install if you have purchased all the hardware yourself, maybe due to the slight extra margins selling the parts too? But I am not sure if this is the same with the solar field. Are installers happy to quote and do just an installation, obviously also supplying the fittings and small extras needed? I ask because it may be an idea for me to purchase the items bit by bit over a few months until I'm ready to have them installed. I think I am pretty set on the Sunsynk Inverter and Freedom Won battery. Panels can be decided when I find out how many I have space for. I'm a bit scared of general pricing going up very soon, either because of the Eskom situation getting worse, and the exchange rate. They certainly aren't going to go down anytime soon. I'll be in touch Steve, and look forward to seeing the progress on your project.

Hi all, just a quick intro. Just your average Joburger frustrated with load shedding and looking to get some sort of relief without having a clue how I'm going to pay for it. I'm at the beginning....the research stage and doing an insane amount of Googling to try and get an idea what I am going to need. Of course the internet is wonderful for making you change your mind about things that seemed sorted the day before. One day X is just what you need, then the next day Y is the chosen brand and specs, and everything goes back a step. Just the 2 of us at home, largish house. We are using 2 Phases, but don't think I have a problem moving essentials over to one of the phases, so looking to power the usual stuff minus the stove. I have a 5KVa diesel gennie wired into one phase, which powers most of what we need when we need it. So I'm figuring if I go to something with about 8KVa, then I should be in a fairly decent position to run what I need to. The price jump higher than that seems considerable. I'm figuring I want to be as close to R160K all in as I can. Inverter: The Sunsynk 8Kva seems faily respected, decent and value for money? Battery: Hard to research what is recommended. Everyone has their own choices. Freedom Won 8/10 seems a good choice at a slightly higher price point but good quality? How well does it integrate with the Sunsynk? Other options are the Sunsynk battery, or the Pylon 5000? But then I would need 2 of them to get above the 5Kva point, right? I know comms between inverter and battery are a spoken about point, so what combo gives an ideal install? As far as panels go.... I'm guessing Canadian Solar would be decent. Need to work out how many of what type I need. Roof space I think is ok...I have a fairly ok section facing North or East...or West actually. I'll attach a pic. Have a section of flat roof, and sloped sections. It's slate...so I know the installers are going to hate me, but I think it can be done? Don't know what else I need. I have been desperately trying to identify the best installers, and think it may just be best to contact one of the guys on this forum that seem so highly rated. Maybe @Steve87 or @Leshen would be available when I get my act together and take the plunge. Any comments on the rough plans above, and anything I need to research more or anything that will pose a problem? Thanks in advance.