Gremlin

So to introduce myself, I’ve been registered on this forum since 2018, but this is my first post! I’ve been an avid reader of the posts around going solar (who in SA isn’t!!) for a while but since I have built a cottage in a reserve with no electricity whatsoever (the closest Eskom line is 5km away!), its now time to take the step. As an absolute neophyte in solar, I will welcome as much comment and advice as possible. My first foray into solar is quite modest, but even such a small system comes with not insignificant costs!! I recently had a stay in the Tankwa Karoo National Park, and was very impressed by the system they had installed in the cottages. Since the size and usage requirements so closely mirrored my own it seemed to be ideal for my own needs. The Tankwa cottage had a standard fridge, ceiling fans, LED lighting, microwave and pool pump all running off an Victron Easysolar Inverter 24V/1600W/50 with 3 PV panels (unknown size) and unknown battery storage. So when I saw a new Easysolar 24V/1600W/50 on sale for R14K the impulse buy was almost inevitable! Having now read a little more around this inverter I realise that there are some limitations, but in the greater scheme of things I am happy with the purchase and confident given the reputation of the brand. My approx power usage of 220W will include the following: Fridge (120W) Celling fan (75W) Lighting (40W) It gets hot behind Picketberg so I expect the fridge to run 24/7! My anticipated Solar setup will include and cost the following (The reserve limits PV panels to a max of 4m2 so quite constrained): Victron Easysolar 24V/1600W/50 (R14 000) (Already purchased) 2 X Oliter 200ah 12 Gel batteries (R4 500 each) Victron Battery Balancer (R1200) 2 X Canadian Solar HiKu CS3W-405 405W Super Power Solar Panel (R2 700 each) Mounting clamps and channels (R1 500) 6mm Cabling and Lugs (12m from PVs to inverter) (R400) DC Breaker 63A dipole (R850) KETO Battery Disconnector and 125A fuse link (R1500) TOTAL R33 850 I haven't put the suppliers from which I got the costs and most were online, but if any seem high I would appreciate some pointers to alternatives. I am suggesting the highest wattage panels available due to the 4m2 restriction. As a push I will add a third panel (The Easysolar can manage 1400W PVs) and risk the wrath of the reserve rules! They will be mounted on a flat section of the roof, also due to rules. The panels are rated Voc 47.4V but the Victron calculator advises that it will exceed the MPPT max of 100V in temperatures below 10C so they will be in parallel not series (not sure what the relative merits are of this?). The PVs are quite expensive and I could save some cash using Chinese manufactured 330W panels but not sure if this is sensible. My main concern is that there is sufficient battery storage for the fridge in overcast weather, say 2 days running. I’m also not sure if I need all the breakers and disconnectors as this may be incorporated in the EasySolar unit, but there we are. I would really welcome advice, criticism, pitfalls as I am new to this and learning as I go along!