CarlosBebe

We're using a less elegant system, but so far the results are okay.
My oven is on the non-essentials, so if the LED clock on the oven is on, you can use what you want.
If it's off, you can't.

Hi
 
This might work for you. You can turn on a light and turn off the appliances your wife keeps turning on. 
 
https://www.sonoffafrica.co.za/product/loadshedder/?utm_source=Google Shopping&utm_campaign=sonoffallproducts&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=8117&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-q7Wu4Ss_AIVN4FQBh3K1wAsEAQYAiABEgIj8vD_BwE
 
 

I use a Sonoff Mini R2 as a sensor.  Mine is connected to the inverter island port, but it would also work on raw mains.  I have Sonoff switches on most other light switches, so I change the state of 2 lights when the Mini R2 changes states to indicate mains failure.  The internet connection just has to be reliable.

Mother in law has been having major power issues and recently (the last 5 days) the area has had 3 8+hr outages - today's one started at 4am and is still out. She works from home moderating papers and marking exams so a proper backup system was needed. Powerguru were running a "black friday" special and we managed to get:
1x Luxpower 5kw inverter 1x Shoto 5.12 kwh battery 7x 455W JA Solar panels Instillation ancillaries Installed for R98k. House is a 3bd 2 bath unit in a complex with a north facing roof.
Installation started yesterday 9am and the backup system (inverter + batteries) was up and running by 1pm. She was covered when the power went out at 330pm yesterday and again at 4am today (nice impromptu tests)

Today worked to install and complete the panels was done - the roof is very high off the ground and needed some interesting solutions but was all done by 2pm. Panels have charged the battery and heated the geyser (on essentials but managed with a CBI astute) and she is thrilled. Peak PV today was 3.35kWh which is enough to charge the geyser from on normal days. 


 

My LXP 5kw hybrid has been running for 2 years now flawlessly. 18 x 410wp Art Solar Mono split and 2 X Hubble Am2 5.5kw . 

A relative has gone the rent route and is very happy. Fully compliant, very neat and exceeding expectations. Not at all interested in getting side tracked by having to source and manage something she knows nothing about and isn't interested in. 
 

This is my installation at my house that does the trick. My requirements.... Or rather the wife, was lights, TV in bedroom and lounge, wifi, the induction plate, (used sparingly during LS) and the blinds or screens that can be dropped when the sun hits. 
3Kw Sinyrji Hybrid with 2 deep cycle batteries... So far, all works perfectly during loadshedding. 

Hi there, 
Corneel here, this is my second post but here is my first installation.
I am a mining engineer doing mining finance at a bank - no formal electrical training apart from 1 semester at varsity 25 years ago...  And a one-day solar overview course a few years ago. 
I only got my installation's CoC this morning so I did not want to post my installation in case I made a mess! At least I have not seen any smoke yet! 😂
The main DB is around the corner in the garage. I do woodwork there and I did not want to put the Inverter and battery in such a dusty environment, hence the installation in the passageway. 
Comments are welcome! 

 

This is just 3 of the 5 panels, the other two are on other sections of the roof. 
 
When money allows, I will add another string of 2.7 kW and another battery.  (We use about 30 kWh a day so the current system is a bit small). Even with the second string and battery I will still not be able to generate 100% of own consumption.  And my roof is too small for more panels so we will stick with that final size. 

Get an idea of 
1. Average KWH consumption per day = idea of no panels and battery requirements, size of inverter
2. What is maximum load at any time (without a meter need to calculate using appliance watt specs) = size of inverter
3. Average KWH consumption at night (winter = 16+ hours) = battery size
If you are going to jump in then consider more than the just loadshedding, look more at investing in reducing your need to use Eskom as little as possible. The big bucks are in what you don't pay to Eskom.  The returns on the investment is that money that you would pay to Eskom, that you would be paying back to yourself, and after 6/7 years will make a profit for you because the system will be paid off and that money goes directly into your bank account. A loadshedding solution works out to be a convenience but saves very little. Scrap together as much as you can in the beginning, and/or plan a schedule to upgrade to the final solution
https://globalsolaratlas.info/map?c=-31.358328,19.660034,7 is a good site to get an idea how much solar you can generate in summer/winter at your location 
https://app.opensolar.com/#/home allows you to build and test solar solutions, including shading issues - free account
You can provide me your location and your expected average KWH usage per day,  and I could build a energy profile for you