GVC

Just a update. He went through a Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy. He got some of his colour back but still in ICU. He is now off from ECMO but still on high flow oxygen.
We will keep him in our thoughts. 🙏🙏

True. I bought 2 x 1000W trolleys for my Mom for backup 2 years ago. First thing I did was remove the Gel batteries and replace them with 8 x Lithium cells each (200Ah). Both running on cheap Daly BMS.

Not true at all. A LA charger can charge lithium batteries. There is a whole thread with hundreds of comments on MBB with people replacing their LA batteries with Lithium with no issues.
as long as the Float is not significantly higher than the resting voltage of the lithium battery it will charge it just fine.
The story of La chargers not working on Lithium is a myth and has been disproven time and time again.

I'm another long time heat pump owner (so my pump is not as efficient as those you buy now) and I disagree with this. It is true that the pump is slower in the winter BUT I can run on it the backed-up side of my PV system. Because of that I think it's a good option. I am not using grid electricity to run my pump.

Also I checked the data from my PV system for July. In the morning the pump runs for an hour - that's what I allocated it on it's own timer. I don't check the temperature every time, but I don't recall getting into the shower and thinking that it's a bit cold. The second run starts at 12:00 and the timer will let it run until 15:00, but actually and in the winter, it runs for about 45 minutes

Hi everyone
I've been working on a side project called Ask Sparky to help with quick electrical and/or solar PV questions on site.
Just to be clear, I am not trying to sell anything here, it’s 100% free to use.
How it works: The bot uses general AI knowledge (via Gemini) to answer questions about South African electrical and solar regulations. I have spent the last few weeks testing it and curating the responses to ensure they align with SANS, NRS and SSEG standards and regulations.

Voice Notes: You don't have to type. Just send a voice note and it will reply with the text.
Multilingual: It understands and replies in most SA languages (Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, etc.), so you can chat in whatever language is most comfortable.

But AI can still be unpredictable, so I need experienced guys to test it out. I want to see if it’s consistently accurate in the real world or if there are gaps I haven't caught yet.
If you think the response is wrong or poor, just give it a thumbs down in the WhatsApp options menu that will be in the chat, and it will flag the response for me to take a look at.

To make things interesting, I have a brand new Sonoff 20A Smart Power Meter Switch that I'd like to give away & courier to the member who provides the most valuable feedback or finds the biggest/scariest error in the bot's answers over the next two weeks.



I really want to make sure this tool is safe and accurate for us to use.

Important: It is not a replacement for the standards, but rather it's a helper tool intended to save time.
Try it here: https://asksparky.co.za

Morning guys and ladies on the forum. I am feeling much better this morning due to the fact that I am in the medical ward instead of Icu or high care. I just want to take a moment to thank each and everyone for the well wishes and especially @Scorp007 my friend that passed the message on. It is very scary when it happens, can't breath and your heart start racing and you are overcome with anxiety, it goes through your mind is it a heart attack but I thought when it happened it felt like a blood clot same symptom as in Mauritius until I became unconscious. Later semi conscious with all these pipes and monitors. The physician and pulmanologist want to change my blood thinning regime from Xarelto to Warfarin.
Again thanks to all for your support.
God bless

Update from @TaliaB is great news. The blood clot got dissolved a lot quicker than in Mauritius by administering via a drip. He is currently in the high care ward and if all goes well tonight he will be moved to a general ward tomorrow. 🙏🙏🙏

Morning members and friends. It is with sadness that I have to inform you that @TaliaB had another big blood clot in his right lung. He is in the Netcare Christian Barnard Memorial hospital ICU. Let's us be with him in prayers and thoughts
As and when news is received I will share it here
🙏🙏🙏🙏

Yeah, thats why I said in the last sentence that it seems the people who registered are getting the letters of conversion. Does beg the question that once they take care of converting the registered people like you, how will they deal with the unregistered people? Because at the moment they are not getting any notices. Otherwise this is from the councillor:
Dear Residents,

*STATEMENT BY CLLR NICOLENE JONKER – WARD 88*

I have formally sought clarity on City Power’s recent actions to convert prepaid electricity meters, including those used by solar-equipped households, to post-paid billing.

At present, there is no evidence of a City of Johannesburg Council resolution authorising this shift. Council has not debated, approved, or adopted any policy that mandates the blanket conversion of prepaid customers to post-paid accounts, nor has it adopted any policy specifically targeting solar users.

That absence matters, and it raises serious legal concerns.

City Power is a municipal entity. Its role is to implement Council-approved policy, not to invent new policy on its own. Introducing a change of this magnitude, without Council approval, directly affects household finances, consumer risk, and the fundamental terms under which residents receive electricity.

A forced move from prepaid to post-paid billing:
• fundamentally changes the nature of electricity supply,
• exposes households to billing errors, disputes, and credit control measures,
• and, if imposed without proper notice or consultation, may amount to procedurally unfair administrative action under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA).

Many residents have lawfully invested in solar systems, often in response to ongoing service instability. Where the City has failed to provide a clear, functional, and accessible registration framework, it is neither reasonable nor defensible to penalise those households through sudden billing changes.

Until City Power can produce:
• a valid Council resolution,
• a clear legal basis in law or by-law,
• and proof of fair, lawful, and transparent implementation,

This action remains legally questionable and open to challenge.

Residents deserve transparency, lawful governance, and decisions taken through the proper democratic process — not policy introduced by press release or administrative fiat.

I will continue to pursue this matter formally and will keep residents informed as verified information becomes available.

*Cllr Nicolene Jonker*
Ward 88

I thought I’d share a real-world example of SOC drift on the upper end when a lithium battery is operated for long periods with shallow cycling and little to no absorption time, and how a full bottom–top recalibration resolves it.
System behaviour (last ±30 days):
Battery mostly cycled between ~80–100% SOC
No regular sustained absorption phase
Loads relatively light during the day
Result: gradual SOC drift upward, visible as the “compressed” upper band on the graph
This is typical behaviour for coulomb counting:
Small measurement errors accumulate
Without a true reference point (bottom or top), SOC slowly loses alignment with actual capacity
Corrective action taken:
Disabled MPPTs and grid charging
Set ESS minimum SOC to 0%
Discharged the battery under a controlled resistive load (~0.15C)
Allowed the BMS to reach low cut-off (~2% SOC) → bottom calibration
Left battery at rest
Re-enabled MPPTs and charged with no AC load
Allowed battery to reach 100% SOC with low tail current top calibration
Result (visible on the graph):
Clear SOC reset at the bottom (≈2%)
Clean reset again at 100%
SOC once again tracks voltage and real capacity correctly
Cell balance after charge: within ~10 mV
Temperatures uniform
Takeaway:
Lithium batteries do not need frequent deep cycling but occasional full bottom–top calibration is essential when: Cycling is shallow, absorption is rarely reached,SOC starts behaving “optimistically”
This isn’t a battery fault — it’s normal coulomb counter behaviour and easy to correct with a controlled recalibration cycle.
Graph attached shows the effect clearly.

You can take it all for R3000

I am for the moment back from La Réunion until Feb 2026 and have a few outstanding solar system upgrades i want to focus on the first one in Gauteng. In recent years, the solar industry has shifted rapidly toward higher-capacity photovoltaic (PV) modules, often in the range of 550 W to 700 W and beyond. While these advancements improve energy density and reduce installation costs for new systems, they also create a significant challenge for existing solar owners who invested in earlier-generation panels—particularly 250 W to 350 W modules, which are now considered commercially “obsolete.” Despite this label, many of these older panels still produce excellent power, maintain stable electrical characteristics, and have substantial remaining service life.
As homeowners and small commercial solar operators expand their energy requirements—whether due to increased appliance loads, electric water heating, electric vehicles, or general lifestyle changes—they often find themselves in a difficult position. Upgrading an entire solar array to modern high-wattage panels requires a considerable capital outlay, and the majority of small-scale PV owners cannot simply replace functioning equipment for the sake of higher nameplate ratings. At the same time, shortages of roof space, changes in panel dimensions, and compatibility concerns between old and new modules create additional barriers.
This situation has led to a growing need for practical, technically sound solutions that allow the integration of older PV modules with newer, higher-power panels within a single system. With careful electrical design, appropriate string configuration, and proper MPPT selection, it is entirely feasible to combine mixed-generation solar panels while maintaining safe operation and achieving excellent real-world performance. Solutions of this nature can directly extend the useful life of existing solar investments, reduce electronic waste, and make system expansion far more affordable for everyday users.
The following will demonstrates how mixed-format solar modules can be combined effectively, outlines the technical considerations to ensure compatibility, and illustrates performance outcomes when older 330 W modules are paired with modern higher-wattage panels. This approach aims to help solar owners, installers, and system designers overcome compatibility barriers and maximize the value of both legacy and contemporary PV hardware.
This post will be frequently updated as progress is made on 1. Theoretical calculations 2. Performance analysis. 3. Positive financial approach.
Solar system parameters and hardware.
• Victron MultiPlus-II 8000va with GX device
• 2 x 150/35 Victron MPPT'S
• 2 x Freedom Won etower/ parallel with Bms comms.
• 9 x 330W Afri Solar ZPM 330 solar panels in total, 1 string 3S2P and another string 3S1P. All 9 North facing 26° Tilt.
The only change to the system will be to upgrade the 3S1P array by adding 2 x Canadian CS6-1-72TB 620w solar panels 2S1P in parallel with the 3 x 330w 3S1P array giving you a total output of 2230W on Mppt 2 150/35.
ZPM330 (AfriSolar) — per module
Vmp = 30.0 V, Imp = 11.00 A, Voc = 35.83 V, Isc = 12.28 A
》 3 in series (String A): Vmp_A = 90.0 V, Imp_A = 11.00 A, Voc_A = 107.49 V
CS6.1-72TB-620 (CSI) — per module
Vmp = 44.8 V, Imp = 13.84 A, Voc = 52.6 V, Isc = 14.78 A
》 2 in series (String B): Vmp_B = 89.6 V, Imp_B = 13.84 A, Voc_B = 105.2 V
Combined ideal STC power (each string at own MPP): P array ≈ 2 230.06 W
Total MPP current if paralleled: Imp_total = 11.00 + 13.84 = 24.84 A
Total Isc if paralleled: Isc_total = 12.28 + 14.78 = 27.06 A
Array ideal STC power = 2 230.06 W.
Combined MPP current (paralleled strings) = 24.84 A.
Combined Isc (paralleled strings) = 27.06 A.
MPPT (Victron 150/35) hard limits: Charge current limit = 35 A. Max power into battery at 52.6 V = 52.6 V × 35 A = 1 841 W.
Clipping at peak sun
Array STC = 2 230.06 W 》 MPPT can accept 1 841 W 》 excess = 389.06 W.
Percent of STC power clipped ≈ 389.06 / 2 230.06 = 17.46%. Combined Imp (24.84 A) < 35 A. Combined Isc (27.06 A) < 35 A.
I am in the process of procuring the 2 x 620w panels after completion i will post before and after output graphs from Victron VRM to ensure effiecient pairing. Watch this space

I had a similar issue with my newest purchased Leoch 48100-S pack. From the beginning cell 15 showed significantly higher voltage at charge and lower at discharge. This being a brand-new pack I contacted the official importer and seller, Averge, with a guarantee claim. But they didn't want to do anything about it. I asked to allow me to open the pack without voiding the guarantee to check the cells connections. They wrote me the permission and so I did. I tightened all M4 hexagon bolts of the cell bridges with a socket wrench. Some allowed up to a half turn. After reassembly and re-connection the issue with cell 15 no longer persists. It looks like all cells run the same voltage within a few mV. This proves to me that all cells are in good health.

Have you tried to discharge it to shut off on it's own and then recharge it to full? Could be a calibration issue as well.

I purchased the Pace RS232 USB to RJ11 cable from SolarAssistant, Loaded BMS Tools HS2.03 (Any PBMS Tools software works)
The ethernet cable used for master and slave is a normal straight-through network cable.

My take on this is as follows. If it is the same 2 cells lagging the BMS balances at such a low current that while the cells are being charged/discharged at high current it does not have enough time to balance. When keeping them grid charged then the balancing could be done day and night and also the discharge could be low - depending on actual timer settings.
The XY-SK80 is also charging much faster than what the BMS would be able to balance.

No, it must be true! Because:
😉🤔

I haven't dealt with Ecohub, but be very very careful that what you think you're buying is in fact what you're getting.
I say this because even though they call it a 6kW inverter in the linked webpage, the technical specifications are in fact for the 3.6kW Sunsynk hybrid.
Note the Three-Comma-Six kiloWatt (3.6kW), and not Six kiloWatt (6kW).
The Ecohub web page is inaccurate in matching the product description to the specs, which can be misleading, but I cannot say whether that is accidental or intentional.

Technical Specifications:
Product Type: Hybrid Inverter
Enclosure: IP65
Ambient Temperature: 45ºC ~ 60ºC (>45ºC derating)
Protection Level: Class I
Battery Voltage: 48Vd.c (40Vd.c ~ 60Vd.c)
Battery Current: 90Ad.c (max.)
AC Input Voltage: L/N/PE 220/230Va.c
AC Input Frequency: 50/60Hz
AC Input Rated Current: 16.4Aa.c
Max. AC Input Power 3960W
Max. Apparent Output Power: 3960VA
Max. PV Input Power: 4680W

Adding the link here to a different supplier that gives the specs of the 3.6kW Sunsynk on their wegpage, just as a comparative reference.
Sunsynk 3.6kW 1P Hybrid PV inverter 48v C/W Wifi Dongle IP65 for Sale Online

You don't understand the level of bad luck I have experienced in the last couple of years so therefore I would not dare attempt to do anything myself despite the fact that I would love to DIY.
If it wasn't for bad luck I would not have any luck at all😢

Maybe all solar owners must switch off their systems for a couple of days and see what will happen? 🖕

And today it is back with a Stage 6 bang.....

If I had decent roof space at my house, I would go almost-off-grid:
council supply goes to a new small DB that has a plug for just in case next to it and the only other breaker is a battery charger that can be managed by data signal relay.    This council connection is 20A, so carries the smallest basic fee if any at all.    That gives you about 2kWdc charge capacity if ever needed.
entirely separate from council is the old DB running off battery inverter.    In effect the battery is pure isolation from grid.   It normally charges from solar input to battery inverter but if needed a relay allows the grid connected charger to also charge the battery.    All your house loads sit on this DB.
Because impossible to export, the NRS size limit on solar does no apply.
Obviously must still comply with electrical and building safety rules & regulations, but none of the other stuff.
Why not completely off-grid?    Most council bylaws allow them to charge you for there being a connection available, even if you don’t use it.   This way you get some benefit from the small connection - that 2kW charge can help a lot in bad solar times.
When I sell my house I will build a single floor home with the right roof to put up a LOT of solar.    My current house has awkward roofs and is too big for my 8kW of solar.

It will scream at you NO BATTERY and then drop the load, safer option would be to switch to grid to service the load while you work on the addition.
I saw that happen when they were installing my system, battery was shutdown...gave the on screen message is green NO BATTERY and then it dropped the load.
Probably also just safer to shutdown the system, do your changes and then start everything up again.

This happened to me about 2 years ago. One MC4 also melted like that. Turns out the cable was not crimped on properly.

The Guy Wire bases are 120 Degrees appart and 6 meters from the central base each Guy wire base is 1000 x 1000 x 800 and the central base is 1000 x 1000 x 410 mm 
One Guy base diagonal with the direction of swivel on the base this allowed us to assemble the turbine and tower on the ground. 
Total estimated 27 Mpa Concrete used was close to 3 Cubes in total all the rebar and steel mesh we had to supply the manufacturer supplied the base plate and threaded rod and the eyelet rods for the Guy bases.
More to follow...