SolarIoT

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.

I share a similar sentiment. In the South African context, solar installations have predominantly been tailored to address the challenges posed by load shedding, often overlooking the meticulous adherence to battery warranty conditions and Return on Investment (ROI) considerations. Given the lucrative nature of the energy market, manufacturers may find it more expedient to focus on selling energy solutions rather than allocating resources to develop sophisticated solar management solutions. The complexity of this issue, coupled with the ease of making profits through conventional means, may indeed deter extensive investment in innovative solutions. However, the potential repercussions of neglecting proper solar energy management, such as the premature replacement of panels and batteries due to misuse and degradation, could pose significant costly challenges down the line. While manufacturers may not currently prioritise this aspect, it remains crucial for homeowners to consider the long-term implications from the outset. SunShift seems appealing, especially if it can control loads (E.g. Geysers), as mentioned in the article, as I preferred it over a split load configurations.