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Bloemfontein Install - Semi DIY

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  • Author

Installation completed. COC received. Insurance updated etc. 😀

Constant draw on household is 2.9kw due to the crypto miners running 24/7

PV produces an average of 20kwh per day. I switched off the miners yesterday at 17h00. I then set the System timers to only make use of Gen and not Grid. At 06h00 this morning the SOC was 39%. That's 13 hours. So load shedding won't be an issue and without the miners the system is enough to be off grid in summer. Will see the winter generation still. 

Very happy with all the components I got.

Last thing on the to do is the neutral earth bond relay. I already have it just need to wire in. 

Finally working on an auto switch over for the two 535w panels connected to the Geyserwise MPPT. When the Geyserwise controller of 75degrees is reached and the circuit opens, the PV input needs to be directed to string 2 on the inverter. This could add an addition 2 to 3kwh generation per day depending at what time the geyser reaches temp. Could bring temp down to 65 degrees as well to switch over earlier. 

Thanks to all advise and kind words here on the forum. Much appreciated. 

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  • I did an install for my parents recently.  Their business can't run without power and their area is unstable.  I took off a day and spent 3 days working every day 9am -> 10pm, no lunches or nothing

  • Panels and DC Disconnector arrived yesterday along with earth spikes and 6mm solar wire.

  • Installation completed. COC received. Insurance updated etc. 😀 Constant draw on household is 2.9kw due to the crypto miners running 24/7 PV produces an average of 20kwh per day. I switched o

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  • 3 weeks later...
2 hours ago, JoeSlow said:

Finally some load shedding!! 

Power went off from 2pm to 4pm today and system did not miss a beat. Battery handled everything the PV could not supply. After LS battery charged back its 3% lost and we are ready for tonight. Screenshot taken at 14:36

IMG_20220202_212554.thumb.jpg.c9eee1ae9d026ef56dcd0aeb61f529dd.jpg

 

Aha.. Load-shedding, whats that?   😂😂

You're now immune to it.:)👍

On 2022/01/12 at 8:25 PM, JoeSlow said:

So load shedding won't be an issue and without the miners the system is enough to be off grid in summer.

To be fair, load shedding is not a issue for a lot less money.  I don't care about load shedding and I have no PV and only 5.8kWh battery.  What you have is a tad bit more than that.  Eskom/Total grid blackout is not an issue for you (in summer).  Depending where you live it is super unlikely you'll make it 100% off grid in winter, but off-grid summer is damn good.

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Author

Seeing as the showcases are low and slow start of 2022 I'll provide a little update. 

System has not missed a beat. Batteries are just floating currently incase of load shedding. Might switch back to draining them during peak time if the no load shedding situation continues. 

Have not fitted the extractor fan to the power room yet. Currently running a normal household fan pointing at the inverters bottom which then pushes a the hot air out the top. The difference between fan and no fan is probably around 40 degrees C on the heatsinks and the fan internal fan running and not running at all. So the 40 odd watt the standalone fan pulls is very good for thermal diffusion of the inverters heat. 

Need an additional 1000watt of PV to be able to run loads and charge batteries if I run off batteries during peak times but that will still happen in future. 

The solar system aside. No leaks in roof which I drilled 21 X 20mm holes into and sealed with AapKak. 

Inverter tripped once when we overloaded it by running airfryer, 3kw of crypto miners, dishwasher, kettle and all lights and accessories as normal. Oops but it reset and said AC Overload error but all good after that. Really using house as normal with eskom pass through on the 5kw sunsynk and only tripped it once. If there's load shedding our oven, stove top and out buildings go off so can still pull between 2 to 3kw during load shedding off the battery apart from the crypto miners. 

In hindsight though... The 13k difference between 5kw and 8ke sunsynk. I'd have gone for 8kw but really only for the enhanced pass through amps. Once my friend removes his crypto miners from my house the 5kw will be more than enough. 

That's it for the update. Hang ten everyone. 

  • 5 months later...
  • 4 weeks later...
7 hours ago, JoeSlow said:

Added an EV Wallbox for my Mini SE and finally sorted out my pigeon problem. 

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I have a massive pigeon problem by me. I explored those reflecter triangle spinnning things but they are a bit expensive and a mission to get power to them. How did the fsckers affect your setup? Did they make nests on the top part of the panel between the panels and the roof or just an overall bird sh1te problem on the panels?

Does your solution work?

  • Author
On 2022/09/07 at 2:36 PM, WAP said:

I have a massive pigeon problem by me. I explored those reflecter triangle spinnning things but they are a bit expensive and a mission to get power to them. How did the fsckers affect your setup? Did they make nests on the top part of the panel between the panels and the roof or just an overall bird sh1te problem on the panels?

Does your solution work?

Bird poop problem. Not enough gap to make nest. 

The owl works absolutely amazing. 

  • 1 month later...

Hi

I looked at some mounting specs for installing solar panels and 115mm gap between the panels and roof was advised

for cooling of the panels.

Are you not going to have an issue with cooling of your panels being that close to your roof?

Other than that good work on your installation.

Cheers

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