Johan Helberg

Their is unhappy Farmer paid 350 K for Solar System batteries not charging got 3 Inverter Two Are Schneider One Victron 48 volt Quantum not linked to system two companies involved no help from them. 180 Ah x 8 in system after 3 years not fully charged. When Escom cut power the whole system go dead. This farmer said their no MPPT no monitor controls after 350 k. He does not see his power savings at Municipality. Their is also 40 panels on roof 4 strings 250 watt each panel. This was a Grid tie system. What was big problem here and what could be done for this farmer. He does not want to spent a cent furthher and he very well known farmer. Please give advice.

This system is of a very unhappy farmer and he want answers after 3 years 350 K for a 10 kva system 10 kva panels 4 series Two Schneider Inverters One Victron 48 v Quantum grid tie system. Two Schneider was in Grid tie but Victron not helping charging when grid went of 180 Ah batteries x 8 did not stay charged. Two companies was involved and their service was poor. No MPPT to charge batteries no coular code to watch system. Power Generation: 10kW single Phase Grid Tied Inverter System (2 x Schneider Electric RL5000s) 10kWp Solar Array (40Panels, Sloped-roof Mounting Structure) Back-up Power: 10kW Single Phase Inverter (1 x Victron Quattro 48V) 8.8kWh Battery Kit (8 x 180Ah Batteries, Cabinets & Monitor) The 40 panels are connected together 10 at a time to form 4 incoming lines. I have the following concerns that I would like addressed: 1. The system is configured so that the batteries are charged from Eskom power. When the Eskom power goes off the panels do not charge the batteries at all. This is a major problem for me as my backup hours could be greatly extended if the panels were charging the batteries when Eskom is down. There is currently no charge controller for the batteries. 2. There is no monitoring system of any sort. I have no idea of generation VS consumption. I need to have some form of monitoring system installed on the Schneider as well as on the Victron. 3. The system is grid tied and I sell back to the Municipality. The rates that they buy from me is very low compared to the rates that I buy from them. I would like a solution where at night when the sun goes down that I use my batteries as opposed to paying for peak period rates. When the batteries go lower than a certain % then the system should switch back to Eskom power and also charge the batteries. In a nutshell that is what I am looking for plus any other advice that will give me better performance from the investment. What was supposed to be done why two Schneider inverter first place with 10 Kva Victron 48? Is this not over kill and batteries is not charging when grid go off.

People must go to Alt E calculations of panels and inverters then that calculation will throw out what you must install I will say they must take 3 x 5 kva parallel and 3 sets of batteries 4 and 4 and 4 series and parallel with build in MPPT and do 3 strings of panels with their own combiner boxes boom your system is working. Always do it on save side find out if it will work or not.