Moffat

Where can we get unboxing videos and "real-world" updates on the Solis? Would love to even do comparisons on it with other inverters like the Sunsynk and see how well they do on overcast days in terms of PV generation and UPS switchover during Eskom loadshedding.

Startup voltage is 150v according to the 5kW spec sheet, I think it's also the same on the 8kW. Am just wondering longterm (1-2years) if no additional panels are added if this will have any negative effect on the inverter or any balance within the Mppts. I also notice you did not put a battery disconnect on the system along the battery cables (though the battery does have an on/off switch on it), any reason for this? I know some will say it's an unnecessary duplication since you also have breakers up there... See diagram attached. Then my next question is about having PV cables running in the same trunking with AC cables... what's your thought on that? @Pauleywhat loads is your system running. Getting to the morning at 50% is fantastic and I'd be tempted to switch off Eskom for a wee while😃 unless you get a cloudy day with the rainy season.

Hi @Steve87 being 6 Solar Panels are they all going into 1-Mppt or you've split them for this installation?

Is it just my eyes or there's no Black Friday Specials on the Solar Systems and components in the Powerforum Store?

Pity just missed out on the year... Zimbabwe does not allow importing vehicles 10years or older anymore. What have you been using to charge this, PV or Eskom through your car charger?

Regarding the birds...a chat to people who normally rear chickens will guide you towards how to get wire mesh and to fully edge your panels so the birds do not nest under the panels at all. You could then do this yourself with a strong pair of pliers and wire cutters but just ensure you wear insulation gloves to safeguard against getting electrocuted should there be any power leaking onto the edge of the panels and this should then also be well grounded with your existing grounding. There's quite a lot of videos on youtube mostly for guys doing this in the UK, for instance. You could buy some on Amazon or just DIY ( )

My thoughts exactly... it's illogical to do a site visit or your employee (installer), they fail to list all materials or measure correctly cabling for instance and then want to charge the client for their error. They actually did a site visit for my neighbour and she shared with me her quote. With regards to maintenance they just mentioned solar panels cleaning... which I retorted, I can do myself and have always done periodically. Am just wondering if Sunsynk would not honour a warranty if installation is done by a non-certified person, but all protection systems having been included both on PV and AC side? Surely they'd have no basis for this nor a basis for not giving the full product warranty? Being in Zimbabwe, am finding that prices here are way overly inflated and it makes sense to buy from the PowerForum Store or in SA and ship to Zim and then get an installer to do the proper installation, rather than buy locally.

I got a horrendous from an Installer and one of their Terms was the following statement: NOTES: Site visit required to confirm quotation. Any necessary additional installation materials will be quoted separately. *All systems require annual maintenance to uphold system warranty and performance. If a site visit has been done, and installer fails to adequately quote for all materials, why should the client then be saddled with additional materials? Seems like potential daylight robbery to me. Has anyone experienced "Systems requiring annual maintenance to uphold warranty" with any installer and is this really necessary, seeing as installers normally can have access to the system via the cloud anyway or it's an Installer's way of trying to force a "maintenance contract" on clients?

Will do, thanks.

I'm suspecting 3S4P with the current panels as max I get is 102V. Definitely rewiring will need to be done in respect of the new inverter and setup. I just didn't want to discard those 12 x 250w panels together with the older 3kW inverter, which would be a shame and loss, unless I donate them that whole old system to someone which would be: Inverter 12 x 250w panels 100Ah Battery; and Battery disconnect breakers as well...

Those are the specs of my current inverter. I had to rewire my panels though because on some days my Vdc would be around 120Vdc so I'd get a PV overload warning on my inverter. Now it's set to maximum of about 102Vdc or thereabouts.

Am currently running 12 x 250w panels on a 24v System and have to wire them so my max is about 102V, any higher they were overloading the system, being that it is small. I ideally don't have the cashflow to just totally dump them and run with Jinkos and I should think having 4 x 550w Jinko on each MPPT may be too small for the 8kVA inverter as a start. The battery may end up not receiving enough charge during cloudy days as well with such an initial start position.

I totally agree hence why I was also thinking of not ever mixing the Jinko and the old Solar panels on the same MPPT. Would love to put the current 12 x 250w panels to use rather lose them and have to buy 12 x 555w Jinko which would be an expensive undertaking.

Those panels are from 2012 it may mean getting an installer to lift a couple up to try and ascertain that info.🤦‍♂️

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Thanks for that. Last time I had my panels rewired, the labels were absolutely unreadable, so I guess a test meter would be the way to go in getting readings of each.

I have limited space on my roof and was wondering if anyone with information would assist with what the minimum number of solar panels that one can have to be able to run with: a 8kVA Sunsynk Inverter. MPPT Input Voltage - 150Vd.c ~ 425Vd.c Max. PV Input Power - 10,400W PV Input Voltage - 370Vd.c (125Vd.c ~ 500Vd.c) Am looking at the Jinko 555w panels in particular and am thinking having 16 (8 per MPPT) would be my maximum given space limitations but is it possible to begin with: 6 x 555w on one mppt for a total of about 3,330w and; 12 x 250w on the other mppt for a total of 3,000w (these already exist) Would appreciate some wisdom.

Well it's not literally running continuously though. My office is from home and there's 3 people around on average so whenever someone flushes the loo or takes a bath, that's when it runs. We only have water once a week which goes directly into the water tank from the water tank, which is on the ground, it's pumped into the house whenever it's required if pressure drops from the pressure tank. The 3kVA system I'm running has been fairly good as my whole house is on the solar inverter essential side except the stove. So my only challenge is that my "chinese knock-off" lithium battery at 100Ah doesn't get to 2am if power doesn't come back. During the day, am mostly running of panels (12 x 250w), which also is charging the batteries and with the rainy season upon us, the pv isn't as efficient now but it's served me well since circa 2012.

Nice, I have 2 similar ones as well. As mentioned earlier, it seems solar is a never ending rabbit hole of getting new appliances, batteries, rewiring etc etc. The other thing I may advise is to look at getting a Jojo water tank with a 0.5Hp pump, which means in the dry season or when there's ever water issues you use stored water than you can either just use for the garden or for the whole house. We have council water roughly once a week, so I've invested in a 5000litre water tank that suppliers water to the house via the pump which runs off the solar system meaning I have some measure of water security. Only problem is you'll again go through yet another cost of plumbing and needing a water pressure tank to save your water pump so that when someone opens a tap, the pump does not immediately begin working thereby giving the water pump a longer lease of life... Alternatively you could have the tank on a stand (mine is on the ground) and on the stand this means that you only get to feed the tank till it's full and then it gravity feeds to wherever you need the water. Sadly another costly exercise to ensure you get correct size steel stand and securing the tank and piping🤦‍♂️ Was just looking at Hob ovens but have not seen any that gives the power ratings of them. This would help to see if they can be used with a solar set up and what size.

If you think along the lines of redundancy and replacement, I would say it's best to look at 3 x 5kW. It's cheaper to replace smaller size inverters than larger size ones. However, the other important question is do you have any equipment that has a huge startup draw, if you do, this means the 8kW option is better as equipment is not as strained at startup. The other issue to look at is the PV side requirements of both systems. 8kW would require more panels and if space is not a challenge for you, then 8kW. You seem to have quite a huge energy load from just this description, what plans do you have for excess generation storage, which will also increase your costs for expanding your system plus rewiring or recabling and breakers...

What are you using for cooking your meals? An induction cooktop say 3000w size will enable you to make all your meals efficiently, without also straining your system on startup or have a huge battery draw. Have a look at stuff on "Takealot.com", that's where I bought my cookware, which also came with compatible cooking pots and pans and kettle.

Let me organise to rent the brewery🤣😂 apart from getting myself organised with upgrading my system. I have a 0.5hp water pump which runs all day as we have water shortages so have to rely on my 5000litre tank for water for the loo, laundry and most other household stuff so that's my biggest consumer so just thinking about that having to run almost 12-18hrs daily means 5kva may not be enough...

That's exactly the video I saw. Would've been great to have this guy in Zim and also have integration using a Mac.

I have a 200L Solar geyser but in winter it's a struggle as the very cold nights mean I need grid power to get it up to about 50degrees to have a decent bath after "some members of the family" have enjoyed their bath.

Indeed here comes the kicker of this being a rabbit hole... am sure the Missus wants to back or grill so you have to keep the stove. Consider and induction cooktop, which is what I have invested in, though unfortunately they don't come with ovens or going 50% gas-50% electricity on the stove, which unfortunately means investing in new devices... and the rabbit hole continues...