Good day, I live in Cape Town and need some advise please 🤓

I currently have a 1000 watt inverter with two 105Ah lead calcium batteries and a dedicated DB Board (Main switch, Earth leakage, 6A circuit breaker for lights and 10A circuit breaker for plugs/appliances), the batteries worked OK for about 2 years, but they are dead now and I don't want to be in the same situation 2 years down the line.

So I have been doing some research, including CoCT approved PV inverters, battery technology, Inverter technology and terminology.

Resulting in:

What the System needs to do/have/be able:

• Use solar while grid is off
• Use solar while grid is on (even if load is greater than what PV supply)
• Accurate state of charge (not only voltage, but also including % charged, time to full charge, duration battery left, etc)
• Reserve power for evening and power failures
• Modular and Scalable
• Remote monitoring / control / software/firmware upgrades

I need to phase the installation, to start off with "not being impacted by load shedding" and progressively generating my own power to rely less on Eskom.

The System will be in my garage, where I have multiple tropical fish tanks with industrial Metal Halide lights (2000W total), water pumps and water heaters. So the inverter and batteries need to be able to handle heat and humidity.

I do not want the industrial MH lights, water heaters, geyser, tumble dryer or stove on the System, but would like to be able to supply any excess PV to these appliances to reduce my electricity bill.

Detailed appliances that need to be on the System:

Lights (Inside and outside), (CFL or LED, busy replacing CFL with LED) 

Computer/Work room (PC + Work Laptop + 2 x Monitors, internet, alarm, fan)

Garage door, water and air pumps, electric gate

Lounge - TV, surround sound system, fan, android tv box and heating pad (for my super tiny chihuahua that gets cold on 30+ degree days)

Bedroom - bedside lights + chargers, heating pad, fan and wifi camera to monitor my chihuahua (as he has seizures)

Borehole irrigation

 

Regarding Inverters, I need 8kW for future additions, I am looking at:

• SunSynk 8kW Hybrid (https://powerforum-store.co.za/collections/inverters/products/copy-of-sunsynk-8kw-1p-hybrid-pv-inverter-48v)
• DEYE 8kW Hybrid (https://www.deyeinverter.com/product/hybrid-inverter-1/hybrid-inverter-sun5-6ksg01lp1us-sun7-6-8ksg01lp1us-eu.html)
• Axpert MAX II (https://voltronicpower.com/en-US/Product/Detail/Axpert-MAX-II)

Some questions,

re Axpert MAX II:

Would I run in to problems given the heat and humidity and only 1 - 2 years warrantee?

Don't think it supports feeding excess PV to appliances not on the System, kindly confirm?

any personal experience or things to be aware of?

 

re SunSynk and DEYE:

Would I run in to problems given the heat and humidity?

I like them both but not sure which one is better and why? 

any personal experience or things to be aware of?

 

Regarding batteries, I prefer Cylindrical over Prismatic (https://blog.epectec.com/lithium-batteries-cylindrical-versus-prismatic), they need to be LiFePO4, have a 10 year warrantee, >5000 designed cycle life, be compatible with the above inverters, be able to last at least 2.5 hours, 80 - 90% DOD, and recharge before the next 2.5 hours.

I am looking at getting 2 or 3 of the following:

• REVOV 2nd LiFe R100 ,51.2V 100Ah 5.1kWh (https://revov.co.za/2ndlife/r100-2ndlife-battery/)
• Shoto 5.12kWh (https://sp-energy.co.za/product/shoto-5-12kwh-lithium-ion-battery/)

Some questions,

Both the batteries have a 10 year warrantee, 16 cell configuration, designed cycle life of 7000+.

But they vary in price 25k vs 22k each.

Would I run in to problems given the heat and humidity?

Which one is more reliable? 

any personal experience or things to be aware of?

 

Regarding solar panels, I will be Incrementally adding them as budget allows and I am looking at:

• Mecer - Solar 445W PV Modules MONO (https://www.geewiz.co.za/new-items/160048-mecer-solar-445w-pv-modules-mono.html)
• JA Solar 540W Mono PERC Half-Cell MBB (https://powerforum-store.co.za/collections/solar-panels/products/copy-of-solar-panel-ja-solar-490w-mono-perc-half-cell-mbb-silver-frame)

Which one is more reliable? 

any personal experience or things to be aware of?

 

Many thanks for taking the time to read this and your advise would be greatly appreciated! 

Get in touch with Steve at @Powerforum Store, he will be able to scope a system according to your needs.

Thanks pdswardt, will do so