Limpopoboy

@rectangularBuilding 0 of that is A/C currently. We turn the geyser on and off as we need to, only have gas hob and electrical over currently for cook plus a few appliance like halogen cooker and air fryer. In addition in the new property would be pool pump and 1 x A/C probably

I understand that the peakload is where you draw most power. But this is seasonal isnt it with big draws like pool pump, fans and air cons not working in the winter. How would you account or should you account for that in the calcs?

@achmat thanks

@Brani We have a Tellumatt meter and all I have is a digital readout of 4 figures ie. Its currently currently reading 204.5 and we use on average 15 units a day. Whatever that will be? You say KW/h though correct?

@JaseZA You assume correct. I can take a meter reading but what would that tell me? I use 10 or 30 units a day how does that relate to KW/h or watts or something usable in a calculation? Nothing on the meter tells me anything except a arbitrary figure reducing each day until we buy more electricity.

@Achmat Thanks for the information. I am currently in a rental property with prepaid meter and no pool for example, (no Eskom bills to advise usage and usage will surely change once the house is built) and I am about to build our own house, hence the whole solar questions. I simply followed the advice here and across the internet, to get my supposed 'peak load' which I admit I am still confused about as to what 'peak load' means as many things we do, we do not use daily, but maybe every other day like a dish washer or washing machine or seasonally like fans and or Air Conditioning etc.. I was thinking about total solar off grid for the whole house but now thinking about cooking and hot water using LPG and the rest solar. I was a little concerned about putting all my eggs in a solar basket.

@rectangularBuilding Pool means swimming pool pump on each day for 5 hrs ( estimated). Cooking AC, comma missed out so Cooking, AC, No we have no electricity bills from Eskom as we are on a pay meter and consume about R900 per month currently without pool, and A/C working. I have no way of telling how many KW/H or units we have used only a Rand figure. I have made some diversification as I said on things like fridges, etc.. what about seasonal things like, A/C , Fans only really running in the summer month hence not daily. What would you consider your peak daily load should or should not include then? I list everything we have and use. daily or not with some diversification on times. But still came up with that large figure something is not right somewhere.

Hi Guys After working out my usage based on appliances lights etc and some diversification on things like fridge freezers, I totalled 78kWh per 24 hours (some further diversification is possible but not that much as I can see) which seems huge. Its just the 2 of us but that's what it came to, does that seem a lot is my first question? Pool, Cooking AC, Fridge Freezers, Washing machine and dishwasher all included Based on the above how would you calculate battery requirements based on 48v battery system Thanks in advance Limpopoboy

@rectangularBuildingNever come across them. Do you have a link for them?

@bobster I was seriously thinking of going to live in Askham. Love that place and the Transfrontier Park

@Bobster Great information many thanks, So in the lowveld we are above halfway on the scale with about 1900

@Chris LouwYes, that would make sense we have been looking at the dual tops.

@ErastusThanks for the feedback. Our intention for sure is NOT to have an Eishkom connection. We have an empty stand and no connection currently. The dilemma is the how we heat the hot water and cook LPG or solar. It would seem there will be enough from the PV panels during the day to give a us a tank full for showering and washing up right through the day and early evening. I suspect even with double blankets warm enough for the mornings. As there is only two of us LPG would make sense

@rectangularBuildingHave you had any experience with or know about Geyserwise set ups? This is with dedicated PV panels. When I enquired about can I switch over and add the panels to my solar array when and if needed I was told no?

@Kalahari Meerkatthanks for the input. We currently time shift many things with our Eishcom supply (when its on) so don't see it as a problem. I am not really a fan of solar geysers just purely on an aesthetic look if nothing else. Our hot water needs (bathroom, scullery) are only a few meters apart so no issue with water draw. I really would like to go full solar but... I must decide soon

Thanks again.. I live in the lowveld so sun is normally plentiful I just need to decide which way to jump fully solar off grid or 75/25 Solar/LPG as I cant afford to make a costly mistake. Thanks again for your insight

Rectangular Building Wow awesome dude... I will surely be getting back to you. I am still unsure if I will put all my eggs in one basket (totally solar) or HW & cooking via LPG and the rest solar.

Hi Guys Is there a current energy cost comparison table for SA? KWH Eskom v Solar v Wind, etc... Regards Limpopoboy

Chris, Thank you a very good insight into a similar installation and food for serious thought. Regards Limpopoboy

Hi Thanks, but I mean before you install anything. I am talking about the load calculations for appliances etc.. to size batteries and panels

Hey Guys I forgot to ask in my 1st post is their some diversification factors or formula's you apply in load calculations to things like fridges and or freezers or anything really with a thermostat in them that turn on and off. Even an AC I suppose. As when you add the watts for a fridge freezer for example I have put down xx watts x 24hrs is that correct? Thanks in advance. Regards Limpopoboy

I guess the experts will have heard this a 1000 times already but as a total noobie I have to ask as I start on my solar journey. I must start by saying I have a 'clean slate' and no house or equipment to talk of yet, but I will start in the coming month to build in the Lowveld. I have thought a little in the 'house design' as far as 'solar' was concerned but only by having allowed for 60m2 of roof @18° (garage and carports) these can face within reason in any direction I will just have to look at trees and things. Is it best to face all panels North? or I read these perhaps should be split in different directions to get morning and afternoon sun. Batteries and inverter will sit in the garage which will be about 6m from the main house DB. I plan to be totally off grid. That's it as far as planning is concerned. Certainly to start my solar quest I have a several questions that I would be grateful for an answer to please, to assist me in going forward. I really cant afford to make mistakes that will be costly for me in the long run. So.. 1. I intend to have 2 geysers. The main geyser to run off a 'Geyserwise' set up with separate PV panels and controller. Should I have a similar set up for the guest bathroom which will only be used for the occasional guest? Or should I account for this additional geyser power requirement in my batteries sizing (see question 2) with an additional geyserwise? The other option I thought, would be to go for an LPG set up for HW and forget the geysers altogether. I have a costing of around 30K for the LPG installation. Of course 30k will go a long way towards my solar costs if it would be more cost effective to be totally solar. The LPG of course would also give me ongoing gas costs as well. We could cook with a gas hob and remove that electrical hob element from the total watts usage to make things even smaller. What do you guys think? 2. When I start listing down the appliances and lights, TV, computers etc.. (total watts) I am al little confused as to what I should allow for in the final figure as a 'load' requirement. As I see it I have 3 scenarios. Things we use everyday like lights and computers, fridge/freezer, TV, geysers, microwave, hob for example, then there are things we would switch on once and while like oven, dishwasher, washing machine, covered patio lighting, garage lighting so not everyday. Then we have things we would switch on only during summer/winter months like fans, humidifier, small electrical heater (2kw) or AC's. What about AC's can they run off a solar system efficiently? and for how long? Is it practical? what do you guys advise about AC's? So what should I include in my calculations to establish load for panels and battery sizing and quantity? Day usage only? Winter summer use and or occasional use? So what is my peak load? I think I can start from there and I am sure more questions will be forth coming as I move forward Regards and thanks in advance. Limpopoboy