grapgat

Well spotted :), I should've actually said it's 6 x 550w panels. (and using a Victron 150/85 mppt) I installed 8, but 2 of the panels hadn't been connected yet. They were connected today so I'll see what my yield looks like with all 8 going. But i figured i'd still want to add panels at some stage and wanted to sense check what the best way forward would be.

Just to clarify, you mean a 0.5C battery can only discharge at a max of half its capacity per hour? Not that it can only go down to 50% of its capacity. (as in State of Charge)? So a 2.5kWh 0.5C battery can only give you 1.25kW in an hour. But in two hours it can give you the full 2.5kW, although you should only run it down to 10% or 20% of its SoC, depending on what's recommended?

Need some advice from the more seasoned folk please... I recently had a solar system installed. I’m using 3 x Freedom Won etower batteries (5kWh each), with a Victron MPII 48/5000 inverter, and 8 x 550w panels. System runs off PV first, then batteries, then grid. I included some screenshots below showing the Solar generation, and 1 showing my typical consumption profile. Typically, I generate enough from solar to run all the loads in the morning till midday, but not enough to put much back into the batteries that are sitting at 40% from the night's usage. Which means when i start using from batteries again, they batteries are only at around 60-75% charged. Which means I'm using grid again from from early the evening already. My solar yield also drops quite a bit after 2pm. So I also have to dip into the batteries a few times during the late afternoon, before being fully on batteries in the evening, till they run down to 40% again. My question is: - Do I add more panels to the current North facing roof to beef up the early morning-midday yield, making more available from morning till after lunch-ish, which will allow the batteries to recharge and last longer into the night before switching to grid? - Or do i add panels to a west facing roof, which will give me a more even yield into the late afternoon. This roof facing nicely into the direction of where the sun is from around 3pm-ish. Thanks! Solar yield profile (yellow = direct usage from solar, blue = recharging batteries) Load profile (yellow - using solar, blue, using battery, red using grid)

I've tried finding posts that cover this, but couldn't find one, but if there is, please point me in that direction. Apologies if i'm asking something that's been covered before (i'm surprised if it hasn't) I recently had my system installed. I’m running 3 x Freedom Won etower batteries (5kWh each), with a Victron MPII 48/5000 inverter, and 8 x 550w panels. I’m busy optimizing my setup, and have some questions regarding best practice to ensure optimal battery life, but also balance optimal cost saving, so using as little grid power as possible. The system runs using PV first, then batteries, then grid. Which means at night the batteries run down to 40% SOC, and then switches to grid. (40% SOC is in case I get loadshedding during the night). In the morning it uses PV to run the house, and excess PV then recharges the battery. The battery typically doesn’t go up to 100% then, it gets to around 70 or 80% by late afternoon, depending on the load and solar being generated. It then discharges again that evening It also means the battery switches between charging and discharging a bit during the day as PV yield goes up and down, and as the usage goes up and down. (washing machine comes on etc) Questions What is the impact of this setup, is it an issue if it doesn’t get fully charged every day? Should I set up a scheduled charge to take it to 100% at least once a week? Does the switching between charging and discharging often have an impact on battery life? Does this impact the expected nr of cycles on the batteries? thanks a lot for any help!

I'm trying to find suppliers in SA that have slimline lithium batteries (+- 100Ah - 12v) There are a number of options available overseas, but my searches havent turned anything up locally. I'm busy redoing my battery setup in my 4x4, and a slimline battery is just so much easier to fit in that the traditional car battery shape. I'm hoping someone on the forum can point me in the right direction?

thanks plonkster. I've ordered an Efergy energy meter, so i'll be able to monitor for exactly how long my usage peaks past the inverter's capability. If it is short enough periods, then I'll just draw from the grid as you suggest. If it's longer periods, then I'll see if the municipality will allow the software limit and go the parallel inverter route to get the most of my investment.

*first off, apologies in advance if i ask a question that's been asked before, but i really have spent a ton of time reading as much as i can on the topic but i'm still unsure of a few questions that i have. This forum is amazing, i'm really impressed with the amount of knowledge people have, and the helpful advice given here and the amount i've learned just reading the posts here, so i'm hoping i can get some of that advice to make sure i don't go down the wrong path. I'm looking to install a system that allows me to give Eskom the boot, as much as is practically possible. So a hybrid system, PV array, with battery system to keep the lights (and other toys) on when the sun isn't shining, and most importantly, when Eskom's coal is wet / conveyer belt breaks / maintenance happens / <insert random reason for being loadshat> Im looking at going the Victron route for the inverter and MPPT, with some Pylontech lithium batteries to store the little rays of sunshine in. (I've got the Victron MultiPlus-II 48/5000/70-50 in mind.) I'd like to start with a medium-ish system, and expand a bit later on till i'm eventually fully (or 90%) off Eskom. Turns out i use a lot of electricity. Around 40 kWh per day (based on my meter reading), and around 7000w at peak time. But this is theoretical, I don't have an electricity / power consumption meter, so I'm not a 100% sure of my peak usage, i worked it out theoretically based on the appliances power consumption, and which appliances run simultaneously. So i'm concerned about the inverter. I can't go bigger on the inverter though, it seems that Durban (Ethekwini) has a limit on a 4.6kva inverter if you go grid tied. So my questions are: What are the options if i do need to be able to cater for more power than this inverter can provide? E.g. If you run two inverters in parallel , I'm guessing that's not compliant anymore then, or is it? thanks in advance!