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Squonk

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    Squonk reacted to Chris Hobson in Planning a new installation   
    First decision is whether you are going grid-tie or hybrid? I have purposely left off-grid off the list as the most popular off grid system namely the Axpert. I cannot recommend an Axpert to anyone who is going to connect to either municipal or Eskom supply. I have two Axperts that I would not part with but I am wholly off-grid and they suit 98% of my needs and when I add 1500W of panels I will be able to run the house and workshops off solar.
    Go hybrid and then all your bases are covered. You will split your DB into essential and non-essential loads and still be able to power the non-essential loads with solar if there is more energy being generated than the essential loads can consume. This option makes sense to me an if I found myself in an urban environment this is the way I would go.
    There are several hybrid inverters that could easily generate 10kWh/day.  3kW of panels could do that easily. In fact except in really shitty weather 2.5 kW PV would be sufficient.
    If I was in your shoes I would choose between a Goodwe 3.6kW, an Infinisolar 3.6kW and a Victron  Multigrid. The Infinisolar is the cheapest of the three and has a versatile setup that should cover your needs (has a 2 year warranty). The Goodwe is mid-priced it setup is Plug and Play with you setting the inverter up using an app on your cellphone. Both the Goodwe and the Victron  have a 5 year warranty. The Victron is marginally more expensive but with it you have access to Victron's ESS which means you can fine tune your system tailoring it to your exact needs.
    All three systems are approved to be partnered with Pylontechs. The Goodwe and Victron  inverters communicate with the Pylontech BMS. The Infinisolar does not but that would not be to my mind a major consideration. Integration of the BMS helps with end of charge and signalling back to grid and other niceties. The Pylontech's BMS is robust and hence it ability to operate in a stand-alone mode.
     

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