TheJoker

Most places are sold out atm, I got one delivered to me in Cape Town yesterday from Sonop Solar in Citrusdal. They might still have some left of the stock they received yesterday. Paid them and received 9 x in total, delivered to my door. (Delivery charged for)

Panels are up, busy doing the wiring into the garage to pv combiner box. 🤩

The wiring and panel installation is being done by Cape Solar, really nice guys to deal with and part of Power Forum.

😬, thank's. Took some time to make and had to learn Arduino coding to get my light show. Still need to add the motion sensor.

Solar panel frame was mounted yesterday.... almost there.... panels going up today

Been running for about 2 weeks using my blue wall as UPS, all going well. Been putting my OCD to work on making the panel look less boring, still going to change some and plaster and paint once all done.

Panel painted and all items mounted. Got an installer to do the wiring and board mounted on the wall. I will ask him if I can add his details here.

And for some updates.... Allu plate mounted.

Thanks Seant, all AC in it's own trunking left and all DC right. I know that AC and DC may not share the same trunking. I will post when I get to the wiring part

All is mounted on the 3mm aluminium plate, should ensure good heat dissipation. The panel is going to be on the wall in the garage, nice and open. I have not mounted that yet, still playing around, only battery bracket and inverter has been mounted I was going to look at other installs to get an idea of space

Going slow, but going nevertheless... Self made stainless battery bracket for 3 x batteries mounted as well as the inverter, playing with the layout atm I only have 2 x batteries, if not enough, I will add another or if enough I will shorten the brackets I used 20mm marine ply and 44x44mm pine frame 3mm Aluminium top sheet to be fitted once all holes are done All wires are going to be in trunking at the rear Still need to buy some odds to complete, but don't have a lot of free time to do so

The sad part of the 5/6 sparky's not pitching, is that they were all referrals...? Thanks Jaco

I am finally back, to continue my project. After 6 x sparky's, and only one that pitched, but hasn't sent a quote in 3 weeks, I have moved forward by myself. The DB board replacement is done and will only be plastered and painted when all is connected. I have almost finished the backboard for the solar install that I need seeing that my garage wall is not nice and flush. With the lack of interest from electricians, I am going to do all the wiring myself and get a sparky to do the connection to the db.

It's a double brick wall in the garage. About 1 1/2 bricks to remove from the bottom.

Update, I have everything that is on my list (for almost 2 weeks) as well as a PV combiner box and fuses with disconnect and battery disconnects. I will update the list before I start the install. I am at my 4th sparky that I contacted today and he said that he would sort me out this week with my DB box replacement. The previous 3 sparkys that I contacted and sent pics to, do not want to do the job. I could do this myself, and then get a sparky for the COC, but I do not want to. This is what I sent all 4, and I do not understand why it is such a mission to find someone to do the work... New DB box, all new breakers, just disconnect and reconnect after casing install.

and for people like me that want solar and see it on a house roof and think "That isn't so big, I have lots of space..." I was surprised when I saw how big these panels are Canadian Solar 350w KuMax Almost the same height as a std door and slightly wider.

Found this online while doing homework http://www.electrahertz.co.za/download-catalogue/renewable-energy/energy-storage-system-g1-2017.pdf

I have bought all the LED bulbs, various types, for the last 8 years from a company in Paarden Eiland called ISD International. The brand is SMARTGLO. I did my parents whole house, as well as mine, 8 years ago and have not replaced one single one at their place and only one downlight in mine. Also started off at just over R 100 a pop, but now they are priced at about R 30.

Thanks, but my amp rating is 60A, and I live in the fairest of COCT, I wanted it, but am not allowed to have it.

Ok, we are getting on track now.... I would like to itemise as I go along with my build so that others would have an idea what is in store for them. So far I have spent R100k and do not even have 1 item in my possession. I will add all inclusive prices to avoid confusion 1 x Victron Multiplus II 48/3000/35-32 1 x Victron Smart Solar MPPT250/100-TR 1 x Victron VE.Direct cable 1.8m 1 x Victron Interface MK3-USB 1 x Victron Smart Solar Pluggable Display 1 x Victron AC Current Sensor 1 x Victron Venus GX = R 30 500.00 – Bought from Current Automation Montague Gardens 12 x Canadian Solar KuMax CS3U-350 Panels ( The Terrible Triplett helped with this ) = R 24 000.00 2 x Pylon US3000 1 x Pylon Cable Pack = R 45 000.00 – Bought from Solar Solved Montague Gardens (They have 12 x left in stock) Total so far = R 99 500.00 All Victron parts I will get on Monday except for the Multiplus II, end of the month. Canadian Solar panels I will receive on Friday. Pylon items will be collected tomorrow.

I believe together we all can save the planet or at least SA. - Off topic - When the water crisis hit Cape Town and you couldn't get an borehole installer to even answer your call, I dug my own borehole 9m deep with an auger that I made myself. We are still using it to this day and use less than 800 liters municipal water a month. Me, myself and I, can get 3000 liters a day out but only using 500 liters a day. 9000 liters of cleaned, filtered, drinkable water in storage.

I have settled with 4 in series with 3 strings in parallel, Canadian solar 350w KuMax as per TTT's advice. I would rather play it safe and listen to the people that know, rather than an qualified audit and fail with my luck !

Good morning, If you are looking for a way to turn on down lights automatically, I bought JQ-25 for our garage. Works much better than the IR type, as this is microwave and can work through doors and walls. You can set lux, range and duration. As we walk into the garage, the led lights come on and stay on as long as there is movement or off in 30 sec (changeable) without further movement Works well, and nobody "forgets" to put the lights off

Thank you, I am sure with all the knowledge here, it's going to be a breeze 😃