Paul.Chari

Yes, the numbers are on rotation. The moment authority starts calling, number is changed. If it is just a victim, you get blocked.
The pages are not hosted in SA, and oak even has cloudfare protection. I see he has moved hosting from Singapore to Indonesia at the moment.
The company is registered with two Chinese directors, but these directors also show up in same company in Nigeria running the same scheme. If you trace the opened cases in that region, they are looking for these non existent directors.
Its just a matter of time ...

Sadly a Sinogy victim here.
Reporting is very hard on google where they are active. On facebook at least people indicate Sinogy is a scam but on google they seemed ok, same as instagram. Am not on facebook, only checked after the guy went silent. However guys, please file a police case each time otherwise the guy keeps getting on. I see some comments on this forum that Sinogy installed for them but I suspect those guys are accomplices. They have also suddenly started selling EV chargers, same page and all.

Hi everyone, so I had the need to get daily, weekly and monthly solar statistics emailed to me but after requesting this directly from the Solar-Assistant team for months, I decided to create it myself. I have made it available to all if you can find the use for it and can be found here - https://github.com/Stef1986/email_scheduler_solar_assistant
Once you have cloned the repo locally, you simply edit the .env file with your Solar Assistant's MQTT details as well as your reporting preferences and run the docker-compose up.
Just have a look at the README.md, it should be detailed enough to get you going.
As a quick overview, basically what will happen is on the host of your choosing, you will run the docker container that will subscribe to the MQTT topic created in Solar-Assistant and will ingest all the data. It will then (based on your choosing) schedule daily, weekly and/or monthly statistic reports to be emailed to your inbox.

The body of the email will contain a nice table with statistics (configurable in the .env file) with min/max/avg values as well as a csv attachment (also configurable) containing the totals for daily, weekly and monthly for stats like PV generated, Battery in, Battery out, etc etc

Hope you guys enjoy and if this helped you, consider supporting my efforts with a beer or two 😁🍻

Thank you Kevin
I do have an open case. The guys are struggling to track him down, which I suppose is based on the MO. I am extremely patient however, that same investment that was lost was prepared over a long period of time. I do not know what the final outcome is going to be for the investigation but, the projects must go on!

Hi Paul
The person behind this is Bradley Mbifi, various of these scam sites are linked to him, and cases have been opened. I would recommend you do this as well.

Sadly a Sinogy victim here.
Reporting is very hard on google where they are active. On facebook at least people indicate Sinogy is a scam but on google they seemed ok, same as instagram. Am not on facebook, only checked after the guy went silent. However guys, please file a police case each time otherwise the guy keeps getting on. I see some comments on this forum that Sinogy installed for them but I suspect those guys are accomplices. They have also suddenly started selling EV chargers, same page and all.

Stick with reputable known good suppliers.
https://powerforum-store.co.za
https://www.diygeek.co.za My 2x Narada batteries and and 1st growatt spf5000es and Sunsynk 5k inverter came from DIYGEEK running more than 5 years now with zero issues
https://segensolar.co.za Need an installer account to buy, some bargains but mostly a bit pricey
https://www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za I buy my panels and mounting systems from them, best prices online open to public
https://acdc.co.za Expensive, but can go there in emergency if desperate for something.
https://www.liteglo.co.za Electrical supplies online - nationwide delivery quick and their prices are really good, they based in JHB and I am in Cpt often get supplies from them cheaper than suppliers in cape town even after adding their courier fees.

Off grid 3 phase system. 3 x 8 kW Multiplus II, with a 3 ph 6 kW Fronius on AC couple, 3 victron charge controllers. Total 36 x 545 Wp ja solar panels. Old lister 3 phase gen on multi ac input. 4 x eTower 5000 batteries.
If anyone has done an AVR on old generator it would help this old Kit. Hoffberg alternator, 7 kVA. Excitation 12 V 5 Amp.

I think your friends are taking the micky out of you. The panels will only extract what is needed until they max out. I would like to say stay out your neighbours business..... but that's a topic for another day.
Only real comparison you could ever do is connect your DB to his inverter output and check if the behaviour is the same. Your system is performing royally, sit back and enjoy it.

If you've set the solar power setting to 4000W, but you've only got 8x460W panels attached (3680W max), then you'll never see the AUX activated. Nevermind the fact that you've got East and West-facing panels that are sub-optimal, but in total your panels can normally never generate 4000W.
The AUX depends on excess solar AND sufficient battery.
Try to see the logic as follows (and I'm not saying I'm 100% right, but just at least try it out):
1. The AUX functionality lies somewhere between essential load and non-essential load.
1.1 - If the grid goes down the non-essentials go down, but the essentials will still be feeding from the solar and battery systems.
1.2  The point of the AUX or Smart load is, if the grid goes down, you can still get useful power for some of your nice-to-have loads, but ONLY IF there is enough battery AND solar power available.
1.3 If you don't have enough of either solar or battery resource as per your settings, then the AUX will switch off, and only the essentials will remain, if the grid has gone down.
2. In your case I would try to set the AUX solar power setting to around 3000W (at least below your mid-day peak generation, whatever that is) and run the geyser on AUX at mid-day in the event that the grid goes down. It would have helped if you had more solar available, say 5000W peak, to give you a better chance, a longer time in the day when your solar production is well above the geyser load of 3000W. But in any case set the work mode for "zero export to CT" so that you can blend some solar power on most days if the grid is on, even if you don't get enough solar to run solely on AUX.
A bit long-winded, and partially based on Deye menu settings, but the ideas should be the same. Hope it makes sense. I'm not discussing the on/off scenario for when the grid is present, but menu option should exist also.

Thanks, Yes it did take longer than a single 48KW unit, fortunately roof repairs and painting was also done and gave me some extra time inbetween string installations. The amount of cables and other materials were also more than for a single unit, I absolutely loved doing this install and switching on one by one string makes it all worth it.

If you suspect the CT phase polarity is wrong,  switch off the inverter and swop the two CT wires at the inverter terminals. Its ok, because the CT output is ac and therefore there is no notion of dc polarity. 
Switch back on. 
 

@Nexuss is correct.
The screenshot looks like an older firmware. Newer ones have the wording better laid out, but in short, from the user manual


For the original user, in order to have the inverter supply the non-essential items whilst Eskom is on, Zero export needs to be ticked, and Limit to load needs to be unticked. Solar export should only be ticked if surplus solar power should be exported to the grid. 
Even the manual description for priority load box is confusing. When priority load is ticked the order of priority for distribution of solar power is: First supply essential load (and non-essential if allowed). If additional solar power is available, use it to charge the batteries. Example - Panels are generating 1000W, essential load needs 500W, remaining 500W is pushed to batteries.
If you untick priority load, all solar power is first used to charge batteries until they reach the level configured under the timer. During this time, if the grid is on, any required load (essential and non-essential) will still be taken from the grid. Only when batteries have been charged to the level required in your timer settings, will solar power be used to supplement load requirement.
 

Done

Look forward to the giveaway!!!

This forum should have a dedicated debating section for certain members. 

Retrofit solar geyser kit alone saved and paid back the quickest for me.  The extra cash you invest in getting an even better inverter 8kw and add panels as the money comes in as people are suggesting.  Sunsynk will work without batteries and this you can expand battery bank last.

Forget batteries, way too expensive and with your load you'll deplete them in no time a few times a day.. 
Solar panels and a large inverter, but then a large inverter say 10kw is around your entire budget.. this excludes panels, mounting, wiring, installation etc.
Make 100% sure both your geysers are wrapped up in blankets and set to around 50 degrees or so, you can tweak it. Geysers account for around 60% of electricity usage. Maybe look at retrofitting your geyser to be solar, that is glass tubes on the roof, they work amazingly well. I just read a 200L electric geyser uses 14kwh per day on a household of 4 people. So you're using 28kwh a day = R56 give or take a day or R1680 per month to heat those puppies. Now you can't get that to zero, but you could chop that down by half at least with tubes. 750w pool motor, its winter so you can literally run it once a week for an hour to turn the water over. Summer depending on your pool size, once a day for an hour is fine. 1.1kw borehole, not sure if that is your drinking water or how often you use it to water the garden. Do you really need 4 fridges? Each fridge can consume between 150w-500w each depending on size. Maybe look at selling the 4 fridges and buying 1 or 2 inverter energy efficient fridges. 2x front loading washing machines, all depends on how often you use them and if they are also tumble dryers? If so, they chow through electricity like an Ethiopian cow at a buffet, that and they are never that great.  I know load shedding is a pain in the rear end, but what are you wanting to achieve during the load shedding? If it's just to watch some tv and use the internet at night then I would also look at a small trolley type inverter or a fancy lithium battery pack, they are the same just more expensive. That covers load shedding and tv watching for a few hours until the power comes on. I have a little camping 150w inverter and a small 40ah battery, I made a little box and that powers my fibre internet during load shedding, I then just play on my phone, cost like R1500 and I've used it for years.
Food for thought  

I should have mentioned: you need to have the inverter's rocker switch OFF to change setting 28; it's the only setting like that. If the switch is on, you can't change it from what it is set to right now. Have a charging source available (either AC-in or PV) so the inverter doesn't actually power down and go black as you are trying to change the setting.
 
My instinct says no, logically it should make no difference, but that setting is checked quite a lot, so I guess it's possible. Certainly, try and change that setting to see if it fixes the problem.

Beautiful system, and install. Just in time for Eskom to test it. 😂

Let me explain to you that I understand that a heat pump is "better" than geyser and let me take on the battery systems as well.
Something you have to understand I agree there is a place for heat pumps and there is a place for batteries I am not arguing that.  What I am saying not in my home I do not like expensive white elephants that keeps on demanding attention.  A frien of mine installed a power wall and all.  Over the R200K and they all ready have fancy battery issues....
These systems ask more money and attention than "skelmpie.".
The cost of a heat pump:

R 15 000 AND HOW LONG DES IT LAST and what is the cost to fix it?
In my case my electricity bill was more than R3K not sure how much it will be today and my water bill was > R 2000.
Today my water is 0 and my electricity is < R 0.00
That is a tax free savings of more than R5500 per month.
Some facts:
My computer is on 24/7 I have a 60 000l koi pond/reservoir I have +/- 17 000l swimming pool. 4 fridges 3 large size TV's A geyser and ... In this winter I was building stuff and used only +/- 50% of my solar system .
Let me also mention this that for all practical purposes its two families and the most my electricity was R884 for July.
Two  families each pays R440 if you wish.  And I give my neighbor free water.  All from my solar system
You must understand I do not do this "digging" I will die of boredom.  So I dig and scratch my hobby is my work and my work is my hobby. So I play.  I listen what people say do a test bed and then see what is the most "COST EFFECTIVE" solution.
Therefor my statement if you can afford R 100 000 for batteries then obviously don't listen to me.  The question is how many live in A > R 6M house and wants to save on a few Rand's of electricity.
Some one very dear and close to me install one of these fancy products and by luck his geyser was set correctly and there was no change.  This person listen to a salesman and at the end there was no savings.  Trust me it was far more than R1000 the cost.
Therefore my main aim for these debates are to show people you can start small expand and then start using the councils money to build your system.
You do not have to spend R 40 000 to start saving.

Therefore it would be far better for a person to install a solar geyser with some sort of collector than to buy a heat pump at a huge cost.  The reality is for +/- R 2000 and a bit of labor you can convert your own geyser and have an immediate impact.
Or even better take the R 900 as payment towards a gas hob and immediate you will see the difference.
Telling people you need R 50 K batteries, R 30 K heat pump and then R15 K fancy electronics to sound and look smart put it out of reach of +/- 90% in SA.  But a gas hob of R 2000 is in reach and its an immediate saving. That is then the first brick of the power saving lego blocks.  The next is to do the geyser and will cost +/- R3000 and all of a sudden for R5000 and no fancy electronics the savings are noticeable.  I saw a advert on gumtree for R1000 as the person wanted to upgrade.  It is a vacuum tube system ...

It is this what I thought this article is about.  Not to spend money that a lot of people can never reach.  But once you spend it on the right stuff then for sure in 4/5 years you will be able to afford batteries and what ever and then you get either the council or the sun to pay.

I am sure that this person who asked the question is looking at a better priced system or solutions rather than spending R150K on equipment that you will never have a ROI with an account of R 1500.

Therefore my "aggression" towards fancy electronics and gimmicks that makes sale people look smart.  Remember I live and eat electronics so I am not anti that stuff.
We should be realistic and help people to start get out of the grip of those that steel from us and that is my aim.

Do I have anything against a heat pump no.  I just can't see how on earth am I going to get R20K back in 3 years on R 1500 electricity account.

I assure you this person if he installs a gas hob he will immediately see the difference then he will be exited for the next step and then before long he will have his own solar and ...
 
Once people realize you can by a starter and expand more will go this way.
 
But how on earth do you tell some one start by spending R20K on a heat pump, R 50K on batteries and you have not saved a single penny?  There is absolutely no logic in it. Does this mean I am anti some of these devices no not at all.

Therefore what I am trying to achieve is to have a path from where a person can see the end goal and achieve step by step success with out hurting monthly expenses.

PLEASE I DO NOT THINK YOU CAN'T AFFORD FANCY STUFF.  I am only trying to lay out a basic plan from where the most money get wasted and then you can build on with other blocks and pieces and listen to those and then waste money on geyser wize, batteries and heat pumps.  But first get the basics in place that you waste council money and not your own.
 
Yes batteries has it place, heat pumps to  but only for those who can afford it and who wants to waste their hard earned money.

Decided to expand my PV by taking advantage of a north-facing wall. This called for some creativity on the mounting structure. The 6x JA Solar array turned out very nicely and well ventilated compared to the East-facing roof mounted Canadians.

For the support structure weilded some 50x50mm angle iron and fixed to the wall with some robots. 6m mounting rails with aluminium end clamps and mid-clamps hold the panels together neatly I think. The mid clamps leave nice spaces for ventilation

10x 370w ArtSolar panels

You have sp.Open commented out as well.
 
I've put a simple C# command line utility on my github which lets you send a command and prints out the response.
It handles all the CRC stuff. It might also be useful for anyone wanting to use it from scripts etc.
 
Eg:
console>AxpertTest -p COM3 QPI(PI30console>AxpertTest -p COM3 QPIGS(244.2 49.9 244.2 49.9 0024 0015 000 435 54.00 001 100 0019 0000 000.0 00.00 00000 00010101 00 00 00000 110 You can also set the baud (- and the timeout in milliseconds (-t)
 
Here'e the .exe binary
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8CTDo4cVxUlYzFZWnYtYlVETFE/view?usp=sharing
 
Here's the sourcecode
https://github.com/scottwday/AxpertTest/blob/master/Program.cs
 
I've tested it works on my inverter (~2014 model) and with my emulator

ALL 69 PAGES?
😆 Agreed that it's good doc, but that's why The Powerforum exists, ain't nobody got no time for that.😁