Bernardf

I had a Freedom Won Lite Home 10/8 installed in May 2021. Towards the end of 2025 I noticed that it discharges normally until about 48%, and then the SoC suddenly drops to 10%. And then it will charge normally until about 55%, stay there for a while, and suddenly jump to 100%. So I basically had half of the original capacity. In January 2026 I contacted the original installer, who logged a call with Freedom Won. The installer came to my house with his laptop and the Freedom Won guy connected remotely to diagnose. He said there were 3 cells at a lower voltage. He updated the firmware and said I should monitor it for a week or so. There was no improvement, so at the beginning of February the installer took the battery to Freedom Won's offices (no small feat because the battery weighs almost 100kg and is mounted on a wall). Freedom Won had it for 4 weeks, and they replaced all the cells and the BMS. So now I basically have a new battery in the old box. The only cost to me was the installer's fees. So I think Freedom Won's support is pretty good (albeit a bit slow). They responded each time the installer asked for an update.

You can download an app called "Energy Ease", and login with your existing Solarman details. It is from the same app developer as Solarman. Much the same info, but I like the graphs better.

Thanks. I'm not on Facebook though, so I can't see the posts. Through a bit of googling it looks like there's a company in Mozambique that facilitates the import and subscription. I have been waiting for Starlink to become available here ever since I signed up on their website and paid my $100 deposit in March 2021...

How does one go about acquiring a Starlink dish & service?

I have exactly the same problem, with a huge oak tree behind the house. My roof, gutters and paving all have a black residue build-up. The solar panels are far enough from the tree that they don't get dirty very quickly, but over time they develop a black film that doesn't come off with rain or a garden hose. I clean them every 6 months or so with a microfibre mop (the type with the flat mop pad that sticks on with velcro) and water with sunlight liquid.

It must be made in China. After all, in the Netherlands they call an orange (Afrikaans word Lemoen) a Sinaasappel, which literally means Chinese Apple.

Maybe replacing it with a CR1220 instead of a CR1225 caused a loose fit with poor contact?

The diode's function is to block the flow of current in one direction. In an AC circuit this direction alternates 50 times per second. So your geyser alternates between using 4kW and 0kW, at a rate of 50 times per second, effectively halving the power usage. Your inverter might struggle to measure this, because it is only logging a data point once every couple of minutes.

From my experience I can confirm the following: 1. When Eskom is on, the voltage and frequency output on the essentials side of the inverter will equal that of Eskom. Only during load shedding will the inverter give out that voltage that you set in the settings. 2. Yes it is normal for the lights to dip for an instant when certain loads kick in, especially during load shedding. I see it when my fridge compressor kicks in, when my washing machine is running, and when my gardener uses the lawnmower during load shedding. 3. You shouldn't have a permanent earth-neutral bond, you should have a relay installed that only does the bond when the inverter goes off-grid. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what exactly the dangers are though...

And it will still be cheaper than Victron or SMA...

If the 'use timer' box is unticked, the inverter will always try to keep the battery at 100%.

My prepaid meter is also connected through the inverter (because all the plugs are on the essential load). When loading prepaid electricity it works about 60% of the time. I could go out and switch the changeover switch to bypass the inverter, but I find it easier to just wait a couple of minutes and try loading again.

Will this be fixed by earthing the panel frames?

No the panel frames are not earthed.

I have the same thing when it rains. My panels are on a zinc roof, and when it rains I can feel a small shocking sensation when touching the gutters while barefoot. It is a continuous sensation like alternating current. And when it rains in the night, I can see on my inverter's data graphs that the panels' DC voltage goes up to about 90V even though there is no sunshine.

It would depend on the inverter type. I had my Sunsynk inverter moved outside due to noise, with the battery remaining inside. The inverter is IP65 rated, so I don't have an enclosure outside.

I went for 20 x 365W panels instead of 16 x 455W panels because it was easier to fit them in due to their smaller size.

Maybe read this thread before buying something from Tesup: https://powerforum.co.za/topic/7804-tesup-atlas20-review/

That is definitely not normal. They should spin up once and then settle down at a constant speed for a couple of minutes, then turn off.

Yes there is no power to non critical items during load shedding.

No, as far as I know it will have to be another 3.7kW SolarMD battery.

We should have scheduled dark mode in predetermined 2.5 hour slots to show solidarity to the poor souls who do not yet have a solar or backup power system.

I see my solar system in the same way that I see my car. Yes it will be cheaper to walk/take a taxi or bus/bum lifts, but it will be less convenient. So I decide to spend a lot of money up front to get my own car and be independent, even though it is a depreciating asset that will be worth nothing in 20 years. Similarly, I might not save myself rich with my solar system, but I decide to spend a lot of money on it because it is more convenient than to have load shedding.

It's just a matter of priorities. I know a guy that tells me he can't afford solar, yet he drives a Ford Everest. I prefer driving my Toyota Yaris and not worrying about load shedding.

Nice neat install.