McWidowmaker

I cannot see the first post in this thread. The forum keeps cutting it to two lines. Clicking go to this post just reload the thread and then cut it to the first two lines again...

I am using 2 x MPPT controllers on the system, but I have been considering to drop those and replace it with a 5kva grid tie. Then I can make something like that work. Cost though is *eek*

Hi Paul, would love to be able to do that with my system, feels ideal to me. I have a full victron setup with the CCGX. I think it is possible to check all that and switched based on it, but I'n not quite sure how.

I have 2 solar geysers in series and my first geyser, that preheats the water runs a geyserwise controller and pump with 24 evac tubes in line. I'm on my 3rd controller and / or pump in 18 months and this thing is driving me nuts. I have tried running a small solar panel and pump only, but with the continuous circulation when the sun shines, heating is really crap. Currently the controller / pump setup is giving trouble again and I'm at wits end with the damn thing. I have an option of an SCR8 controller and 220v pump, but meh, I really dont want to spend R5500 and end up with much of the

I am using this setup at the moment. One 150 litre geyser is pre heating the water with a geyserwise / EV pump unit. Its element is disabled and it doesn't use electricity. My second geyser (200l) has an element with a controller, with the EV pipes running straight into the geyser. It only turns on if the water temperature drops below 55 degrees and it receives warm water from the 1st geyser. Benefits: Your main using geyser is the only one with an element. It doesn't get cold water in, the water it receives is usually 55 degrees or more, which means the primary geyser water

City power Johannesburg have an interesting setup. They do not buy back per se, but if you have any own generation, grid tie or batteries and they pick it up, they charge you what they call a capacity availability fee (ouch). It is a fee, based on the size of your connection 40A / 60A / 80A etc. for them to have the capacity available to you when cloudy days force you back onto the grid. I am generating a fair amount of power in Ekurhuleni grid tied at my business and at my house (off grid), where I haven't bought power in the last 18 months. The house I haven't had any issues with Ekurhu

So, if you have 3 x 200ah 48V battery bank you need 9 balancers? And if you have 24 x 2v cells that you wish to balance you are going to need how many? Wondering if this is really worth while. By how much would it really extend your battery life by and what would the cost vs benefit be? Anyone made some sums regarding this?

Thanks for the info. It may be something to consider when I need to replace my bank i 8 years or so. Lithium is a better option I think, but the price difference had been a deterrent when I purchased my current bank.

I see they are very well priced. Anyone have some experience with them? Looks like I will be able to replace my 48v 600ah bank with one of those for less than 100k, which is awesome for Lithium. 51V bank as well, so it will just slip in where the old one come out. http://www.freedomwon.co.za/home-battery/price-list Looks like its locally manufactured. Thoughts / ideas?

I have to replace 2 airconditioning units that was hail damaged and I am looking for something that won't hurt my solar system. Does anyone have suggestions as to what to look at to replace them with? It is 12 000 and 24000BTU units.

In Ekurhuleni, business tariff, we are currently paying 1.75/kwh. That's about 31k a month if it was here. Awesome setup.

Small business complex with 7 shops.

I have installed a 60kva Kaco Powador Grid tie inverter. I am impressed with the inverter this far. It is a neat unit and works very well. Kaco have excellent local support. The unit I have, have been commissioned by Kaco themselves on site. They come and check everything and make sure that the installation is done correctly and everything work as planned. If the unit goes faulty, they repair the unit on-site. They carry the spares in South Africa and offers a 48hr turn around time, which I think is fantastic. The unit is well priced for what it is offering.

The bulk of the PV panels are east facing. I have about 30% of them facing west at the moment. The system is running 60% capacity. Once Nersa shakes the bull droppings from their socks, I hope to get a proper reversible meter and exp[and it to full capacity and add some more west facing panels. A system of this size is a no brainer. It will repay itself in just over 5 years at current electricity prices.

It has been 28 days since we turned on the inverter. We have generated a total of 6293kwh or an average of 224.75kwh per day from 39040W worth of panels.This generated about R11 000 worth of electricity so far. For sure a worthwhile investment, although I expect to generate at least 30% less middle of next year.