Czauto

True. This is the main reason why I chose FW. Their LiTe range was just too expensive for me. The same capacity bank would've cost me double. Even though slow under the new ownership they still offer after sales support which is much better than most other Chinese brands. I've heard horror stories about certain other "cheaper" brands.

https://herholdts.co.za/pi64308/victron-anti-islanding-relay-ufr1001e/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3vO3BhCqARIsAEWblcAg-9Jlr0R2s0dpPd5lhTSSxDaPVI0GjOxRjvWgAg39wcRmpLbm1w8aAmwXEALw_wcB
 
This is what you need. And no it's not advertising for anyone, this was the first one my Google search spew out.
 

I got mine from FW. They actually sent it to me for free. Only had to organize a courier

Normally the BMS will only start balancing above a certain cell voltage (around 3.45v-3.48v). The BMS will also only recognize and reset to 100% SOC when the pack reaches a set voltage and goes below a set charge current for a set time. Victron's ESS system (when set to Self consumption with batterylife) will set your lowest SOC% according to the amount of charging the batteries get to get the to 100% SOC as often as possible. This means that an algorithm automatically increase the SOC% should the battery not be charged fully in a certain timeframe and vica versa.
Properly charging Lithium batteries is a debate that will probably continue for a very long time. My opinion is that the bloody things are too expensive to not look after them.

Normally the BMS will only start balancing above a certain cell voltage (around 3.45v-3.48v). The BMS will also only recognize and reset to 100% SOC when the pack reaches a set voltage and goes below a set charge current for a set time. Victron's ESS system (when set to Self consumption with batterylife) will set your lowest SOC% according to the amount of charging the batteries get to get the to 100% SOC as often as possible. This means that an algorithm automatically increase the SOC% should the battery not be charged fully in a certain timeframe and vica versa.
Properly charging Lithium batteries is a debate that will probably continue for a very long time. My opinion is that the bloody things are too expensive to not look after them.

You should subscribe to Andy's Youtube channel, "offgrid garage" 
He has experimented a lot with different batteries and BMS's

I would say go for the FW eTowers. 5kWh each, stackable and communicates with most inverters. I installed 2 back in 2020 and recently had a problem with a faulty cell on one of the batteries. I returned the battery to Herholdt's for RMA and they borrowed me an eTower while mine was in for repairs. That's service unspoken of these days. The eTowers currently sell for around R22k at Herholdt's..... Not sure what cells they use but they use a Pace BMS which is not the best out there but quite reliable. Good value for money IMO
 

I'm not sure about SANS regulations (mechanic by trade) but I would say yes. If you think logically, you need to be able to safely isolate all components in a system in case of failure. For example, one of the two batteries fail and you need to remove it and send it for repairs. It's not safe to have any "hot" cables hanging around but if you have an isolator/fuse on both batteries you can isolate the faulty one by removing the fuse and still keep a safe enviroment. That was just the way I was thinking when I installed mine. After all, in the end it's all about safety right?
 

I'm not sure about SANS regulations (mechanic by trade) but I would say yes. If you think logically, you need to be able to safely isolate all components in a system in case of failure. For example, one of the two batteries fail and you need to remove it and send it for repairs. It's not safe to have any "hot" cables hanging around but if you have an isolator/fuse on both batteries you can isolate the faulty one by removing the fuse and still keep a safe enviroment. That was just the way I was thinking when I installed mine. After all, in the end it's all about safety right?
 

If it were mine I would stay away from any repair attempt. Even if the cells can be salvaged, I don't want LiPo batteries with faulty/damaged BMS's close to any of my property. 

Also look at Freedom Won's eTowers. 5.1Kwh stackable and much cheaper than their Lite range. I've bought 2 in December 2021 and I'm very happy them. They integrate seamlessly with Victron equipment.
 

Last winter I realised that my UPS was transferring every now and then in peak times (6pm-10pm) This was before my Axpert installation so I had no monitoring software or anything to check any historic data. I installed a Volt/Ammeter between my prepaid meter and DB and after confirming readings with a digital multimeter realised that my Grid supply voltage was sometimes as low as 192V. Well that was the lowest I've tested it seeing that there was no other means of monitoring. One night I went nextdoor to my neighbor one night and tested his supply and got the same low voltage as mine (both supplies from the same electricity pole) I complained at the council's electricity dept and not sure what they did to remedy the problem but it seems stable now. One should never assume Grid supply to be stable, never.
Today, just as I was setting up the pressure washer to clean a client's engine, my neighbor shoved his head over the wall and told me that it was not going to work because apparently the whole town's electricity has been off for more than two hours. I looked him straight in the eyes with a very smug smile on my face and started pressure washing the engine. I watched in the corner of my eye as he turned around and went inside. After about two minutes of pressure washing I started drying the engine and my 200ltr, 2.2Kw compressor started. By this time neighbor was outside again watching very confused. After I finished I closed the bonnet and he asks me "buurman nou hoekom werk jou goed en myne nie?" I just pointed my eyes up to my panels and said nothing. Is there any pleasure better than to hear generators start and people complaining about blackouts and all your unnecessary, expensive "shit" (sorry for that) just works like everyday.
In the end we had a blackout for more than three hours and I had no disruption at all on this sunny day. SOC didn't even go below 98%.
Sort of like the Visa ad.
Axpert 5Kva = R10800, PV array = R12000, Batteries = R14000, Look on neighbor's face when there's a blackout at HIS side of the fence and not yours? PRICELESS!!

Hi guys, 
Everything solved. I contacted victron's sales manager (if i'm correct), Gerrit Tromp, and he sorted everything out in a matter of days. I sent the Multiplus back to my supplier and no more than a week later it was repaired (actually repaired this time), under warranty and is now working perfectly. 
In the time i was without an inverter and had to use my generator more often i decided to automate it completely. I ordered a Linixe generator controll module from Aliexpress and less than 14 days later, at a total cost of R927, it was delivered to my door. I also acquired a proper 63A automatic transfer switch and installed everything when the Multiplus came back last week.
Now, when grid power fails, the Multiplus takes over the loads (system is used as UPS with no solar and small 200Ah battery bank). 
What's lekker now, without any user intervention, the Multiplus starts the generator as soon as one of the conditions are met (battery SOC, AC loads) and the transfer switch switches over to auxilary power (generator in this case)
As soon as grid power returns, the transfer switch goes back to normal mode and the Multi stops the generator after the set delay time is met. 
Setting are different for "silent hours" so if grid supply should fail through the night, the generator will only start if it's really needed. 
This is a really great function and i wanted to utilize it for a long time. Glad it's done now. 
Thanks Victron. I now realize again why i've converted to blue, even while you (or rather a supplier) made me red around the cheeks for a while. 
And like always the forum did what it alway does with members replying almost immediately. Thanks guys. You rock! 

Hi guys, 
Everything solved. I contacted victron's sales manager (if i'm correct), Gerrit Tromp, and he sorted everything out in a matter of days. I sent the Multiplus back to my supplier and no more than a week later it was repaired (actually repaired this time), under warranty and is now working perfectly. 
In the time i was without an inverter and had to use my generator more often i decided to automate it completely. I ordered a Linixe generator controll module from Aliexpress and less than 14 days later, at a total cost of R927, it was delivered to my door. I also acquired a proper 63A automatic transfer switch and installed everything when the Multiplus came back last week.
Now, when grid power fails, the Multiplus takes over the loads (system is used as UPS with no solar and small 200Ah battery bank). 
What's lekker now, without any user intervention, the Multiplus starts the generator as soon as one of the conditions are met (battery SOC, AC loads) and the transfer switch switches over to auxilary power (generator in this case)
As soon as grid power returns, the transfer switch goes back to normal mode and the Multi stops the generator after the set delay time is met. 
Setting are different for "silent hours" so if grid supply should fail through the night, the generator will only start if it's really needed. 
This is a really great function and i wanted to utilize it for a long time. Glad it's done now. 
Thanks Victron. I now realize again why i've converted to blue, even while you (or rather a supplier) made me red around the cheeks for a while. 
And like always the forum did what it alway does with members replying almost immediately. Thanks guys. You rock! 

Hi guys, 
Everything solved. I contacted victron's sales manager (if i'm correct), Gerrit Tromp, and he sorted everything out in a matter of days. I sent the Multiplus back to my supplier and no more than a week later it was repaired (actually repaired this time), under warranty and is now working perfectly. 
In the time i was without an inverter and had to use my generator more often i decided to automate it completely. I ordered a Linixe generator controll module from Aliexpress and less than 14 days later, at a total cost of R927, it was delivered to my door. I also acquired a proper 63A automatic transfer switch and installed everything when the Multiplus came back last week.
Now, when grid power fails, the Multiplus takes over the loads (system is used as UPS with no solar and small 200Ah battery bank). 
What's lekker now, without any user intervention, the Multiplus starts the generator as soon as one of the conditions are met (battery SOC, AC loads) and the transfer switch switches over to auxilary power (generator in this case)
As soon as grid power returns, the transfer switch goes back to normal mode and the Multi stops the generator after the set delay time is met. 
Setting are different for "silent hours" so if grid supply should fail through the night, the generator will only start if it's really needed. 
This is a really great function and i wanted to utilize it for a long time. Glad it's done now. 
Thanks Victron. I now realize again why i've converted to blue, even while you (or rather a supplier) made me red around the cheeks for a while. 
And like always the forum did what it alway does with members replying almost immediately. Thanks guys. You rock! 

Yes! You need a special tool to remove the clutch pulley. Most Modern diesel engines have got them. Fit a solid pulley and the Crankshaft damper pulley WILL fail. Make the crankshaft pulley solid (like any old diesel engines had for years) and you will have endless belt noises and failures. Sometimes it seems technology is only "improved" to improve the turnover of parts suppliers. Have you ever had such K@K with an old Toyota 2.4d/2.8d or an Isuzu KB250/KB280? NO! I guess Technology needs to take us somewhere......not always in a positive direction though😂

I've been an Indy for 22 years and believe me, you already need an IT degree to repair simple stuff these days. Good example. I've got an 2012 Audi A3 Tsi in the shop. Came in with a complaint that some lights were blown. Client when he brought it in "Hie's soe paar liggies doed. Druk gou da a paar nuwe globes in toe" Well, the few lights that was dead included: 
LH front foglight, LH low beam, LH High beam, LH front indicator, LH rear indicator, LH number plate light, LH front parklight, LH rear parklights, LH brakelight. Great! Took out all globes and tested, none was blown and worked perfectly. Diagnostic scan shows open/short circuit on positive on all the mentioned lights. Seems that they tried to fit LED replacements bulbs at home and fried the central convenience module. No problem, replace with a new one and program it, Cost for a new one is only R5900. Luckily I don't have all thos K@K on my Jimny and Pajero Sport..............BUT, I don't know where it's going to end up. Diagnostic machines are getting more expensive by the day, everything is going online these days. Not a problem at the big dealerships but down here in the platteland we're starting to feel the pain. If I have to buy a R120k diagnostic machine, when in hope's hell am I going to get a ROI if I only use it maybe once a week.........

Hi guys,
I decided to share my installation with you so here goes......
I was born and been living in Beaufort West all my life. In 2012 I bought a 4 bedroom house close to the middle of town, a few hundred meters from schools, shops, etc. I bought the house without even seeing it for R380k. The main reason for this was this was the 2275m2 plot it was situated on. Even better was the fact that it had entrances from 2 different streets, and the main building was build quite close to the front street. Seeing that rental space is a problem here I immediately saw a vision of a workshop in the backyard. House in front, workshop with separate entrance at the back. I moved in and started working from the small little garage that was in the backyard.
Well 4 years later it looks like this
Anyhow. Still a lot to do. I can proudly say that I've done everything myself. I've built the swimming pool, built the carports, designed and built the steel structures, done the roofing, cladding, bricklaying and eve the painting myself. Gosh I even mow the lawn myself.
But this is about my solar project so here goes. I already started about 3 years ago to become as efficient as possible. LED lights, Low energy rating fridge, etc. The main problem as we all know was the 150ltr geyser and my stove. I decided to go LPG on those about 6 months ago. (still using the 48kg bottle I got when I installed it) Voila!! My electricity usage decreased by half. Now I could start planning for a solar system. At first I only had a Mecer 2440Va Ups running off 2 120Ah Shoto deepcycles. This worked fine through the loadshedding but you know how it is with men and their toys. I WANTED MORE!! 
Last year November I bought 6 x new Dreamquest 250W panels and 2 second hand PowerStocc 3000MV grid tied inverters. I immediately built a temporary frame for the panels and fitted it to my roof the next day.
Mmmm. Quite happy. The inverter was saying I was producing an average of 10Kwh per day. Nice!! BUT.......why was my prepaid meter still going like hell? Don't laugh. I didn't know
So....I found out what a bi-directional meter was going to cost me...The meter and installation by the municipality, R7800. To do that they first had to change my connection from overhead to underground. Another R5800. Let's see.....R13600. Almost what I paid for the panels and both inverters so I thought, screw this. Off to Gumtree the inverters went and both was sold within a few days. I made a small profit and ordered an Axpert 5Kva MKS from Geewiz. Great service with it being delivered within 2 days. I bought 4 Energizer 105Ah sealed lead acid batteries "just to get going". 
I installed the Watchpower program included to see what was happening. Sooo...not very happy with that. Google, here I come. One of the few monitoring software I found was AICC. I installed the Windows version. Ahhh! this is more like I want to see. Okay, so it's not being developed anymore. What the fcuk is a Raspberry Pi?? I did some more Googling and ordered a Canakit Raspberry Pi startert kit. This was for a Pi3 B, Power supply, Hdmi cable, breadboard, jumper wires, led's, resistors, etc, etc, etc. I started playing with the Pi and liked it. Time to use it for what it was bought for. Well, long story short, had some issues with the Pi and the dashboard (mostly Network I suppose) and in the end decided to use the old AICC software again on my laptop. I sourced a BMV-700 and everything is going well. I know my battery bank is way too small so that would be my next investment, before I add more panels. I'm also busy designing a 2 axis solar tracker frame. The linear actuators and controllers are available on Ebay for just over R2000 as a kit. 

Oh yes, Highbay lights. Cheapest LED ones I could find was R2000+ for a 150W one with 3500lumens. 85w CFL, E40 lamp holder and a mixing bowl from the local Chines R5 shop. Highbay lights with 7000 lumens each (85watts) for less than R300 a piece.
The rest of my floodlights have been replaced by 10watt MajorTech Led units. I found them a builders recently for R89 a piece and bought 10. The light is almost double that of a 50W unit I bought on Bidorbuy a while ago so I'm more that happy. My floodlights is connected to a Day&night switch so I had to go more efficient with them. Consumption at night when everybody goes to sleep, average 320W.  
Lighting inside the house is covered by 18W panel lights. This is my old office (becoming a store room now).
Seeing that there was no outside light coming in I fitted 2 of the panel lights. Plenty of light for 36Watts.
So that's my current installation. Watch this space........

Funny how everyone immediately noticed "jackal" but nobody noticed the enclosure I made from PVC trunking for my Pi (next to the BMV-700) You know how long it took me to cut out the Raspberry Pi logo with a small pencil grinder............

The guy where I saw this said his was $8000.That was a ZBM2 10Kwh unit. The thing cleans itself once a week. Me, coming from the Karoo where we still use lemons as batteries, was quite amazed with the unit. It seems however their prices have dropped by 50% in 6 months. 
http://redflow.com/products/redflow-zbm-2/
If it was $8000, price dropped by 50%, let's see (counting on fingers), We'll be able to get it free by April 2017. Free would mean it's a gift and you'll also not be liable for import duties......
 

Hey guys.
I've got the Remote control panel working. I was running an older version of @Manie's ICC which only had an USB connection option. I did however upgraded to the latest ICC version after I replaced the laptop it was running on and realised that @Manie Inserte the option to run either serial or USB. Problem solved. I removed the USB cable, ran the supplied cable from the Axpert to the remote panel's "COM in" port and from there installed the serial cable with a RS232 to USB converter between the panel's "COM out" port and the laptop. I changed the setting on ICC to Serial and setup the COM ports for the inverter and BMV and Voila!! Panel and ICC working great.
Let's not ignore the fact that the panel is an identical extension of the Axperts control panel but It's nice to have it next to my laptop.
Thanks for all the advice guys.

Hey guys.
I've got the Remote control panel working. I was running an older version of @Manie's ICC which only had an USB connection option. I did however upgraded to the latest ICC version after I replaced the laptop it was running on and realised that @Manie Inserte the option to run either serial or USB. Problem solved. I removed the USB cable, ran the supplied cable from the Axpert to the remote panel's "COM in" port and from there installed the serial cable with a RS232 to USB converter between the panel's "COM out" port and the laptop. I changed the setting on ICC to Serial and setup the COM ports for the inverter and BMV and Voila!! Panel and ICC working great.
Let's not ignore the fact that the panel is an identical extension of the Axperts control panel but It's nice to have it next to my laptop.
Thanks for all the advice guys.

Hi Frits, sorry for only replying now but I only received the tapatalk notification.

I also ordered a pi after first hearing about it on the old aicc website. I installed it, got it working, but it just didn't do it for me.

Manie was so kind to go ahead and develop a new ICC for windows in record time and i must tell you, it's been running for more than a week now without any issues. On a windows machine you download, extract and run, that's it. No hassles whatsoever.

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

Last winter I realised that my UPS was transferring every now and then in peak times (6pm-10pm) This was before my Axpert installation so I had no monitoring software or anything to check any historic data. I installed a Volt/Ammeter between my prepaid meter and DB and after confirming readings with a digital multimeter realised that my Grid supply voltage was sometimes as low as 192V. Well that was the lowest I've tested it seeing that there was no other means of monitoring. One night I went nextdoor to my neighbor one night and tested his supply and got the same low voltage as mine (both supplies from the same electricity pole) I complained at the council's electricity dept and not sure what they did to remedy the problem but it seems stable now. One should never assume Grid supply to be stable, never.
Today, just as I was setting up the pressure washer to clean a client's engine, my neighbor shoved his head over the wall and told me that it was not going to work because apparently the whole town's electricity has been off for more than two hours. I looked him straight in the eyes with a very smug smile on my face and started pressure washing the engine. I watched in the corner of my eye as he turned around and went inside. After about two minutes of pressure washing I started drying the engine and my 200ltr, 2.2Kw compressor started. By this time neighbor was outside again watching very confused. After I finished I closed the bonnet and he asks me "buurman nou hoekom werk jou goed en myne nie?" I just pointed my eyes up to my panels and said nothing. Is there any pleasure better than to hear generators start and people complaining about blackouts and all your unnecessary, expensive "shit" (sorry for that) just works like everyday.
In the end we had a blackout for more than three hours and I had no disruption at all on this sunny day. SOC didn't even go below 98%.
Sort of like the Visa ad.
Axpert 5Kva = R10800, PV array = R12000, Batteries = R14000, Look on neighbor's face when there's a blackout at HIS side of the fence and not yours? PRICELESS!!

Hi @pilotfish,
I used laptops to run ICC windows and occasionally had the same problem. I tried everything but nothing solved the problem. When I eventually got the hanging problem sorted by installing it on a new(ish) windows7 laptop, the bloody harddrive crashed and I just gave up. Manie showed me this though. https://www.robotics.org.za/Z83-V2?search=mini pc
I ordered one and it arrived within 2 days (Now remember, I'm in Beaufort West, everything takes a week to get here) @Manie gave me a fresh key (once more) and this little machine immediately did what is was intended to do, and that at an consumption of 4.5Watts, not much more than a Raspberry Pi. (I actually have a Pi3 gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere)
I was so happy with this little machine that I eventually replaced all my laptops with it. This is being typed from one used in my office, running my invoicing software, Microsoft office, CCTV monitoring, etc. I've connected mine each to a 19" LED monitor which is set to go off if not used in 5 mins.
Stability wise. The best running time I saw was 937hours before I restarted the machine after a windows update (Oh yes, it comes with a licensed copy of Windows10) All my minipc's is accessible through teamviewer, even from my cellphone so I can checkup on my CCTV, Alarm monitoring, Solar monitoring, etc from wherever I am. 
Heck my system has been running so flawlessly that I started other projects (like building a V8 into my Colt Rodeo. There goes the money I saved on solar )
If you want reliability and stability and don't like the PI route, this is the way to go. Roughly the same price, with roughly the same power consumption.