Lucang

@rourke There seem to be only 2 MPPT controllers ( both around R3500 ) The Elon Smart and then Pi2RC ). Both are more or less the same, DIY friendly and very easy ( apart from getting on the roof and the COC part that I guess needs to be done to avoid insurance issues but that you can pay someone around R1000 afterwards to sign off ) . Solar Panels are around R1400 minimum and you need 3. Then there are brackets ( I estimate it to be atleast R600 ) and some wiring which is atleast R200 and lastly a fusebox for the panels which is a must (around R800 ) . This project is minimum R11k. My next concern is how long will it take to recover this. I estimate that this will save about 4 to 5 units per day of electricity in my casse, lets say 4, that is R13.50 on a good day so lets avg it out to R7.5 per day due to winter etc. That is 4 years if all else is equal. I am therefore also thinking of a grid invertor but I have a feeling if I do the math it will take even longer to break even and once you add batteries to the equation and expensive inverters something will definitely require replacing along the line. Tough decision to make if you look at it purely from a financial point of view like I do ( I work in Finance so it needs to make sense to me as well since loadshedding is no longer a factor )

@zsde Thank you very much. This option looks very easy actually, I can easily DIY this and get the Compliance Certificate sorted. I already have a timer as well. Thanks again, Im going to shop around for panels etc. I still need to work out feasibility but atleast I can have some sort or solar even if it takes 5 years to make up the 10k cost of this atleast it is not a waste and I can be proud of it. Nothing can really break that easily with a simple set up like this.

@zsde Thank you so much. I am actually going to delete my question now as you have answered it so wonderfully and efficiently by adressing the feasibility concern as well as the pitfalls of the collector plate. It is amazing how your respond adressed my concerns. Atleast now I got closure and will go back to the drawing board ( which is the SOLAR PV option and the controller etc, basically the option your friend has ) . I need to look into that option again, the feasibility part is key, if I save for example R150 a month it will take forever to make up the money. I dont mind if it takes more then 5 years, I would have had fun installing it but I also need to be sensible as it is a pretty big project to undertake especially for someone like my with no experience in any of this plus I am also not willing to work on top of the roof myself so I would need to get labourers from the street and guide them. I guess I will be stressing myself out for nothing but I still want to have some sort of solar option, been a dream of mine for a few years now. If you can send me a pic of what he has that would be great. I know what option you talking about and I have been pricing those inverters but they also seem to require alot of 'stuff' and that adds to the cost/complexity but I am comfy at R10k and a 5 year ROI

Hi Members, warm greetings. I have explored solar panels and the mppt controller option to help generate electricity but the cost does not seem feasible and it is not really DIY friendly. I am therfore exploring the Flat Plate Collector option. I want to DIY as much as possible. I dont really want to move the geyser to the roof even though I have a Kwikot Dual High Pressure which is suitable since that would involve lots of plumbing and I won't be able to DIY ( it needs to make financial sense so any option over R10 000 wont be feasible ) . Our bill is only around R1200 a month so this project is more about just doing something for fun and as long as I make up the cost after a few years im happy ) The question is : Do I really need a pump to send the water from inside the roof to the top of the roof ( inlet of collector is in the bottom I believe ). I dont like the idea of a pump as it sounds like a failure point and even if it lasts 2 years for example it will mean I will never recover my money if I keep changing pumps. I can easily get a cold water feed to the bottom of the collector plate. I will postion the plate on the roof directly above the geyser ( geyser is in roof ofcourse, not on ontop ). I will make a hole through the roof for the outlet of the collector pipe on top to feed back into the inlet of they geyser. Will the physics work without the pump ? I will get a plumber to come and check my work afterwards and to install the correct valves on the geyser etc but I want to do as much as I can myself. Initially my plan was to get atleast 3 X 550 watt panels, the MPPT controller, change to a dual geyser element etc but the amount of stuff required and cost does not sound feasible but. I dont want to go over R10k simply for heating water since I dnt spend a whole lot on electricity but I really want to have some sort of renewalble option that is feasible. Maybe once the bug bites I will look at spending more. DIY is important to me as it is my passion and cost ofcourse. Thank you, any advice most welcomed as I know I still got a whole lot to learn as I have not implemented anything yet.

What you saying though is that these cheap ones dnt work that way? In other words I must get a battery to take full advantage?

@Scorp007 thank you, that is very reassuring, especially the figures you provided yesterday. I think I will just get 2x 545watt panels to start the experiment thus weekend. Do you think those cheap hybrid 3kva inverters are ok to start off with? I can get them for 2.5 almost new snd around 3.5k new. Im really trying to do all for 10k for nw and once I can see the feasibility I will consider batteries

Thank you, I am leaning towards this @Bobster. now that you suggested it as it could supplement other items running during the day like the fridge etc. I am buying panels so long this weekend just to get started and then will start the process of looking for an inverter. I am getting mixed views regarding hybrid inverters working without a battery ( if I see savings I will definitely buy batteries later on ) . According to your understanding they should work without batteries right ? Dont worry I wont hold you to anything lol but that is how I understand it too since the grid will power the inverter and they solar feeds to the inverter /grid to supplement . Last question since you know what you talking about. What do you think about geyser only options like vacuum tubes / plates. I can only do one option as in solar or geyser so I need to choose wisely and I dont want to go over R15k. It looks like solar heating will avoid messing with the DB and just need a plumber to certify so more simpler but solar/inverter can power the geyser and possibly other stuff as well ( even if I get hypothetically / hopefully get 2kw per day from 3 panels that is about R2500 per year so it will take many years to recoup the outlay. I am just assuming 2Kw in savings since I dont have batteries. The cost of batteries changes the calculation and makes the ROI even worse. Your thoughts?

Hi everyone It seems like 3kw / 5 kw new and used hybrid inverters are fairly cheap ( around R3500 new ) . The batteries though are way to expensive for my objective. The plan is to only connect a 3kw geyser to one of these hybrid inverters with 4 panels ( 4 X 545W panels ) . No batteries involved due to the cost. I am willing to swop out the geyser element to 2kw if required as that is a cheap DIY. The main question on my mind before buying any equipment is since the geyser draws 3KW and the solar will obviosuly not come anywhere close to this on an average day will this system : A) purely only draw from the mains and ignore whatever the PVs are outputting or B) draw from the PVs and then take the balance required from the mains at the same time - if this is even possible. So if my PVSs give 1KW for argument sake it takes the other 2KW from the mains or C) use the 1KW of solar PV energy and slowly heat up the geyser N.B - no battery will be connected to the inverter ! I need the geyser to use hot water from 5.30 to 6.30 AM and then again for another 2 hours or so from 5 to 7. ( this is currently done using a geyser timer but since solar has come down in price I thought let me give this a go if I can set up something for 10 to 12K ). I have done research already on Geysertech, Gas and vacuum/collector plates so this is the last option before deciding what route to go. Thank you

Hi everyone I have never had any type of solar before but I am familar with the technology and inverters etc. I am also very hands on and can DIY with a very good understanding of electronics, electricity, safety, fixing things so with that out of the way here it goes : obejective is to save money long term ( I dont mind if it takes 4 years or so to make up my initial outlay but I want to save ) and keep myself busy for a few days as I am abit bored weekends I am not doing this to save the environment, the goal is to save money long term, even if is is R200 a month or whatever after a few years Family of 4, we use around R1200 elec per month, based in CT. Already have a geyser timer set for an hour in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. My wife will really crap me out if the water is cold in the morning so this is a big/major concern. She is the only one who showers in the morning hence the 1 hour in the morning Connecting to the DB box is out of the quesion ( since I am going to DIY and Compliance issues etc ) I have read up converting the exisitng geyser to one of those that uses solar panels to generate the power to heat the water. It seems like you need to take out your old element and thermostat and replace it with the stuff in the kit. I am open to this but I am not sure if my current geyser will work with this. I am sure I can do this job including the solar panels myself with some help with a labourer to get on the roof to install panels. I also have 2 spare 105A batteries lying around from loadshedding days but not sure how healthly they are. Any suggestions would be welcome ( tell my if you think I should just abandon this project. ) Remember the goal is to save money long term and I will be really mad at myself I dont make up the 15k ( lets say 10k for now ) after a couple of years. I am very conscious about saving money and really enjoy DIY. I am not really willing to risk more money alot of money since load shedding is no longer a factor. Thank you