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Slayer69

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Slayer69 last won the day on March 2 2015

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About Slayer69

  • Birthday 23/11/1982

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    Male
  • Location
    Durbanville, Cape Town

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  1. Hi DrLOLCat, My system uses a built in MPPT, so I can't comment too much on the MPPT side. However I have learn't alot from building my own solar panels and comparing them with factory produced panels. With my panels I did in a single string of solar cells. Downside to this in that covering just one cell means a drop in the entire panels output. However the manufacturers are quiet clever in this regard. I opened the junction box on the back on my Jinko 235w panels to see how they connect them all together. My findings are that they split the panels into 3/6 different sections. So basically it's 6 strings combined into one with diode bypasses connecting them all together. This means that shading of on cell effects only that string, so only a 6th of the output is effected. The panel will just bypass the string that is suffering from shading. How the MPPT's use this to produce max power is a bit above my pay grade I'll attach a pic of the back of a junction box so it makes better sense.
  2. Hi Steggo, Though I don't sell any renewable energy equipment. I just wanted to comment on you "too many simultaneous items". I recommend reducing before producing! Like you mentioned a kettle! I've just embarked on my producing stage of energy, but before I did I made the following changes to my household. 1. Installed a solar geyser (though my geyser does use a 22w cycle pump between my flat panel and geyser) 2. Installed a gas hob (Started using my 9kg lp gas bottle on the 15th decemeber 2014 and so far I have used about 1/4 of the bottle) 3. throw away your electric kettle and get one for your new gas hob. (can recommend le cruset kettle) I've been keeping rough track on my household usage and during the day when I'm not there (when I would be benefiting from my panels) my house uses roughly 0.9kwh. The cost now becomes less to generate that amount and I still have 2.1kwh of usage that I could potentially use before I exceed my newly bought 3kw GTI. Regards, Slayer
  3. My thoughts on CoCT's implementation of net meter is one focused only on their coffers. If everyone went solar at home they would lose out big time. They have already stated that they have put up water, refuse and sewerage as a result of people saving water and electricity. So by saying you can only consume more than you generate and pay the R400 a month "connection" fee, they are still guaranteed an income every month. The only exception I can see is households that have huge R5000 to R10000 elec bills. They will benefit the most out of this. I'm trying to generate for an average R900 bill a month. So if I generate half my power and cut R450 off my bill, I will still end up with a R850 bill a month. CoCT, going backwards slowly! If electricity was treated as a service in this country and not seen as a potential profit maker then things might change. I would be so willing to buy a net meter and pump elec back into the grid for free, if it meant my elec bill was R0 a month. That free elec can go to the previously disadvantage folks that apartheid apparently forgot to make provision for in the growing national gird.
  4. HI Blackhole, I found one for sale for about R15 246 ex from JHB. Pm me and I will send you the link. Never bought from this supplier so I'm not sure how reliable they might be. Regards
  5. Hi All, I'm new to the forum and slowly learning of the benefits of solar in our modern day South Africa. I've been busy with a home project already, building my own panels (2 so far) and testing them on some old batteries in different configurations with the charge controller. Very recently I came across micro inverters and have been doing some research on them. Unfortunately they seem to be higher priced in total than just buying a big inverter (3KV or 5KV). Currently my project has come to a stop as I don't have an inverter. I've been scouting out two so far, both mentioned in another post, but which one do I go for? The two are the infini 3000W and the axpert 5000W. But then what about micro inverters? This option really interests me as I can grow my system one panel at a time and the panels don't need to be stringed together. One can also use different types of panels and sizes as they all operate independently from each other. They also allow for shading and having panels on different pole facing sides of the roof without effecting the overall performance. Has anyone had a chance to play with some? They are advertised as a grid tie system, but no where does anyone show you the "end" connection where it actually ties to your home grid. Any extra info someone has will be most welcome! Attached are my two panels I built from scratch.
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