spotity

They are a nightmare to deal with & try at every corner to tell you: you are dumb you blew the thing up. What a mess. 

Absolutely, I am running home assistant on a Pi4 - eWelink integration via SonoffLan and then I make use of @Gary Waterworth's integration to Sunsynk using Nodered. Another option is to use Solar Assistant and the native integration between solar assistant and home assistant, but this obviously requires more PI's and config. 
From here you have endless possibilities including controlling your inverter. Home assistant gives you a dashboard which is very customizable.  I use the Sunsynk card from @slipx on my dashboard, with a lot of automation to control what turns on and when (Geyserwise, Sonoffs, Appliances etc)
Home assistants has steep learning curve initially, but there is a massive community that are willing to help -  also considering the above, you are not an average user -  you'll be more than okay 😅
Shout if you want to find out any other info and I'll be happy to answer. 

When considering solar power efficiency, multi-zone air conditioning systems generally have the edge over large single-unit systems. Multi-zone setups allow for more precise temperature control, letting you cool only the areas that need it, thus reducing overall energy consumption. This efficiency aligns well with solar power, maximizing the utilization of renewable energy.

I do have a few answers: My solar journey began with the primary goal of gradually reducing dependence on a faltering power infrastructure and addressing the persistent issues with Eskom. The focus was not necessarily to combat load shedding, as I already had a sizable generator in my setup before aquiring solar. My system comprises of a 16kW Sunsynk inverter, solar panels, and 20kWh batteries. It is integrated with Home Assistant (HA) through SolarSynk. My Home Assistant setup includes a solar forecast/weather model, load shedding schedules, and the management of numerous Sonoff devices, controlling power-consuming devices such as pumps, heaters, fans, geysers, irrigation systems, misting systems, plugs, lights, and the generator.
However, a significant limitation arises in the event of a Sunsynk cloud failure, leaving no alternative means of inverter control beyond manual configuration. To address this and enhance load user profiles, I explored SunShift as a solution instead of e.g. an EDGE-type HA Raspberry Pi.
I specifically requested a Wi-Fi-enabled SunShift, in addition to GSM, due to the unreliability of my GSM/LTE during prolonged load shedding periods. I also requested a Modbus interface for interfacing directly to the inverter Modbus port. The inclusion of a Modbus interface was crucial to retain my Sunsynk Wi-Fi dongle, providing access to both Sunsynk and SunShift data.
After switch-on, SunShift went through my inverter settings and changed them and they are now NRS 097 compliant. A week later I observed far more dynamic adjustments to State of Charge (SoC) values based on my user load profile. The effect of Solar Forecast and Load Shedding schedules changes are far easier to detect. Notably, SunShift strictly manages the Depth of Discharge (DoD) within battery warranty specifications—an aspect often overlooked by many installers.
The daily E-mail reporting from SunShift has proven beneficial, offering valuable metrics and cost-saving calculations ably supported by the mobile app. Encouraged by my early successes, I expanded my system by acquiring a temperature sensor to monitor the batteries (the warranty requirement is 25°C for the specified charge and discharge cycles) and a Kinetic Control Device. The Xemote devices were seamlessly integrated with SunShift, requiring no complicated pairing or configuration whatsoever. The KCD device was connected to one of the geysers, with increased current capability facilitated by a contactor.
So far, I have received excellent service from Xemote, and I have good reason to believe that SunShift will prove to be a worthwhile investment, paying for itself over time while optimising energy availability and protecting the batteries, without my intervention.

Second to that who is paying for the upgrades ?? The horse left the barn way before there as a line in the sand. 
 
Albeit with the Sans regs and how I read it I did relays, however had to CoC properties sold that had a perm bridge and other forums AiA have stated to use a perm wire. 
It's like a religion this industry, one side or the other haha.

Unfortunately not, ended up chatting with Freedom Won, they updated the batteries firmware, couldn't test though as the batteries were already full. Big props to Freedom Won for their support. It was lighting fast and the gent that helped me was knowledgeable.

I initially logged it with Sunsynk, the agent logged in, he changed all my SOC to 90% and enabled grid charge for all slots then told me it's "fixed"... 🤦‍♂️ 

I also changed my aux back to an output as I had it as a gen input, either that resolved the issue or the battery firmware upgrade fixed it. Rock solid again 😃

This article is so wishy-washy. Sounds like a butt-hurt supplier who's sitting with stock. 

This article is so wishy-washy. Sounds like a butt-hurt supplier who's sitting with stock. 

This article is so wishy-washy. Sounds like a butt-hurt supplier who's sitting with stock. 

I just don't appreciate these crude appeals to my emotions. If the product is that great, just post a link to the specification sheet and give the price.
My panels have been doing fine for almost 9 years now, and if they last 12-15 years having paid for themselves years before, I'm okay with that.
I don't realistically expect any manufacturer to honour a warranty 12 years later because so much can happen in that time. Heck, the maker of my panels isn't even in business any longer, and my installer has retired and shut his business.

This article is so wishy-washy. Sounds like a butt-hurt supplier who's sitting with stock. 

This article is so wishy-washy. Sounds like a butt-hurt supplier who's sitting with stock. 

Name the so called "inferior" panels in the market,
I have no doubt that there are bad and better panels, but I regard this as a marketing video of a product that no doubt was engineered to overcome some of the shortcomings of the mainstream industry,
But just with all products, there are cost considerations and not everyone can afford to live in a millionaire's estate or finance that illusive AMG63.
 
 

Powerline adapters are a waste of money.  Use that money to buy a networking toolkit and a roll of cable and make your own cable.  May work out cheaper than powerline and guaranteed to work much better.

Please note that the max PV on your inverter is 3200 W, if you are only using one tracker you are very close to max.

I use Solar-Assistant -> MQTT -> PostgreSQL database to record data once per minute.
Once the data is in a database, it's relatively easy to use SQL to get the statistics or use Grafana to display charts.
Eg if grid frequency is 0Hz, then we load shedding.
SELECT tm AS "time", inverter_1_grid_frequency as "Grid Frequency", inverter_1_ac_output_frequency as "Output Frequency" FROM solar_assistant_v WHERE $__timeFilter(tm)


The most important part is to store the sensor / inverter / meter data in a database.
I use PostgreSQL as it's a great database (use it at work).
Home-Assistant uses SQLite.
Solar-Assistant uses InfluxDB.
In my case, the sensor data is stored in jsonb and I use a view to access the columns.
CREATE OR REPLACE VIEW public.solar_assistant_v AS SELECT solar_assistant.tm, solar_assistant.payload['total']['grid_energy_in']::numeric AS total_grid_energy_in, solar_assistant.payload['total']['pv_energy']::numeric AS total_pv_energy, solar_assistant.payload['total']['load_energy']::numeric AS total_load_energy, solar_assistant.payload['inverter_1']['grid_power']::numeric AS inverter_1_grid_power, solar_assistant.payload['inverter_1']['grid_frequency']::numeric AS inverter_1_grid_frequency, solar_assistant.payload['inverter_1']['grid_frequency']::numeric < 45.0 AS grid_off, solar_assistant.payload['inverter_1']['grid_voltage']::numeric AS inverter_1_grid_voltage, solar_assistant.payload['inverter_1']['pv_power']::numeric AS inverter_1_pv_power, -- SNIP - there are many columns solar_assistant.payload['grid']['stage']::numeric AS grid_stage FROM solar_assistant; GRANT SELECT ON TABLE public.solar_assistant_v TO grafanareader;  

From 22 Nov 2022 to 21 Nov 2023:
658 outages (load shedding + power fails + me messing around) 1327 hours of darkness = 55 days and 7 hours of darkness for my neighbors but none for me The real number of outages (658) is probably closer to 550, as any period that goes past midnight counts as an additional outage in my logs.
We were down once or twice during the year for a few minutes when we overloaded the 8kW inverter during load shedding (stove + geyser + Kettle...), just had to reduce the load.
Longest Outages:
32h30m - 2022-12-05 - problem with substation - not affected 10h6m - 2023-10-22 - substation outage - not affected 7h12m - 2022-12-15 - substation outage - not affected Overall very happy to be load shedding free.

The High Voltage 50kW Commercial machine also has some very peculiar behaviour. The most unfortunate of that machine is that because a lot of installers got good confidence with the other models that they think that this HV model is the same old piece of takkie. Stand alone also not bad. But when you start to parallel units with not the same battery Bus then this is where I get lost. 
So they in parallel & get Comms but they don't share the same Battery DC bus. 
Further to the mess, there are 2 Battery ports. Each takes 50A & they need battery cables in both ports to unlock the 100A rating. With 2 BMS ports in case you have 2 different batteries. 
Now that is a mouth full & a mess. What could possibly go wrong here with this arrangement....
@WannabeSolarSparkyI have to agree with you, they should stick to what they know well: LV 48V Hybrid inverters. Leave the Lithium battery manufacturers & HV commercial manufacturing to manufactures that have that as their core business. 
Not to mention the idea that these are HF in architecture. So transformerless. That works very well in the residential market. But when you start playing with heavy Capacitive, Inductive & Resistive loads found in the Commercial gamespace & don't have a LF Transformer design, then you are taking risks. 
Victron is so robust & rugged for that very reason: Transformer based. Only draw back they never evolved to HV. 
ATESS has taken that big step forward. Transformer based, HV & built like an antique toaster. Serviceable in the field. Not a box that needs to be taken in & wait for 6 weeks while they decide on what is wrong. 

Guys I'm really sorry to admit that this sort of sour treatment is becoming more & more common. I belong to a Sunsynk support group and there is endless issues with their batteries. Stand alone battery no problems because you only have single firmware. However, when you have more than 1 you have the fun and games. It's easy to flash new firmware on an inverter, there is Logger that can do that & remotely so. The batteries & now that's a whole can of worms. 
So many ppl jumping at the warranty extension...great but what's the point when they cant even support in the way of a miserly firmware update. 
A recent visit to their facility for an RMA totally unrelated had me asking the question once again: Are these guys really worth the hype? The honeymoon is over...

If I turn off the fence, the tripping stops, so it is the fence, I could hear it shorting to the stay. Thought it was potentially one of the wall lights has a neutral that was touching either the wall, or the mounting point - which was getting a little current back and causing the earth leakage to trip. Hard to determine though. There are a lot of lights and they are daisy-chained along the wall. 

After reaching out to Phylontech in China, it looks like my warranty will be honoured. Thank you to all for the feedback and insight into this issue. Below is the email reply from China. 
Hi Quintus,
 
After rechecking your case, I agree that overcharging is not the main cause of battery damage. After inspection, although the battery has been impacted by large currents, the current alone should not cause damage to the cells.
 
Sorry for the wrong judgment I gave before, I will contact Segensolar to prepare a new battery for you. Please note that when using a Victron inverter, it is best to set the charging voltage to 52.5V.
 
Best regards,
Chris

@Kilowattsorry to hear of your battery & BMS problem. Very fascinating that so many Pylontechs are showing up with these issues. It's a problem across inverter equipment. The BMS should really be able to take the punch & not allow higher than required voltage/ amps. It's called a Battery management system. Not battery reporting system. Seems the Pylontech has a BRS. 
Once the damage is done It reports the problem & keeps a log. If only Pylontech invested as much time & effort into what the device should actually do. Protect the dam cells. 
 

I know how it is with family.
Just today I spent two hours at the wife's grave.
She thinks I am digging a pond, poor thing.

Sounds like in repairs they have defaulted all setting so best is post the float , bulk and low cut of volts . Also what battery type has been set in. 
Gel and lead acid need to soak for hours on float charge to fully charge.  It does not mean it's on bulk or float  volts  that the battery is fully charged .
Some inverter depending on what battery type is set in will stop charging the moment it reaches float charge leaving the battery at say  around 60% this percentage will also depends on charging amps as to high charge amps will force the volts to bulk volts to quick but leave the battery at a low charge level so also charging with low amps is better for gel and lead battery . 

Sorry to hear this Leshen. The Lithium battery space is looking narrow at the moment. Looks like Hubble are also dipping their toes in the HV battery market. These batteries are usually in the Hundreds of thousands of rands. Don't think I would trust them in HV based on their poor show in your experience with them. 
I have also written off a local supplier that sells the Seplos battery quite a while ago for the same reasons. There is a direct feeling that they are trying their best to not entertain any warranty & repair. 
Out of interest what does Hubble want to charge to fix the battery outside of warranty? Can a new BMS be fitted or what exactly is the problem? I think repairing Lithium batteries & supporting the warrantyless batteries in this market is going to really take pace because of poor business ethics like these guys have. 
Depending on the issue, pretty sure the battery can be repaired. Usually a cell or a BMS needs to be replaced. Bunch of bandits!!!
Looks like their BMS is rubbish also just like Pylontech. If a BMS cannot stop an overcurrent or Over voltage then it's not a decent BMS. It's a bloody inferior part chosen to do a key job it's not able to do. Then they blame a stupid R50 fuse & you sit with a hole in your pocket & a very upset customer.