Hi

 

Please see the below quote where the person explains that the Growatt TL (not ES) can be setup as a grid tied inverter

My understanding is that this is a pure off grid and can’t even be setup as a hybrid because it doesn’t blend Eskom and Solar 

 

Is this installer badly mistaken?

lets try a different tack on this never ending question scene.

Has a proper analysis been done ?

1. consider options for load reduction, solar geyser, heat pump, gas stove etc. recommendations can be made here. load reduction measures should be the first step, as they greatly reduce the size and cost of the system needed.

2. Then install a device that monitors and logs your power usage for a week or two, on the residual load requirements and size the system accordingly.

This is usually also the point where you need to decide on direction and/or compromises, keep in mind solar is an averages game on cost saving and oversizing to go off grid completely reduces roi. This is where the more difficult decisions start to come into play, striking that all important balance. 

removed due to not being relevant.

Have begun quitting smoking and tone isn't matching intent. Apologies to all that read it.

Edited February 7, 20223 yr by Nitrious

3 hours ago, MNK1234 said:

Hi

 

Please see the below quote where the person explains that the Growatt TL (not ES) can be setup as a grid tied inverter

My understanding is that this is a pure off grid and can’t even be setup as a hybrid because it doesn’t blend Eskom and Solar 

 

Is this installer badly mistaken?

Growatt SPF5000TL does not work without a battery. Maybe tell him that and he will understand. Grid tie, off grid and hybrid can be confusing at times 

3 hours ago, Nitrious said:

 

personal note : for future, I don't consider 1 page invoices a solution, if this is what you're getting, well its time to get installers with higher standards, and maybe you wont have so many questions. 

 

Thanks for the details

I find this post to be rude. The point of the forum is for people to come together and ask questions and help each other.

And from the responses I received I realised that lots of people had misconceptions about things so I wasn’t the only person who learnt.

And lastly having a cheap vs expensive option doesn’t answer my question nor does it help the average consumer make a decision. The two systems have very different capabilities and technology which explains the difference in price but isn’t explained in the post 

I'm (trying) quitting smoking, so tone likely needs a change, I apologize and will make the needed adjustments. Its the second day today.

Every piece of equipment chosen needs to work together as a harmonious whole, bringing you a solution that covers your needs. 

But have the initial important steps being taken, 1. and 2. in my first post. How sure are you a 5kw solution is what you need. Do you have a budget in mind? I notice there's no battery in the quote you showed? Do you want grid tie only? What are your goals regarding solar. 

load reduction measures brings your load base down, and thereby allows a smaller, cheaper system to be used. But have a cost and sometimes effectiveness all their own. 

Measuring your actual requirements ensures your system is sized correctly to your needs. This is very important otherwise everyone's guessing, and there's a fair chance it won't end well. 

Please don't take this the wrong way, but your answer suggests these haven't been attended to or even suggested to you yet, and is a part of the installers job to discuss and/or implement these needed steps before waving a quote/invoice around. 

There's usually a solution document, nice and detailed, and an itemized invoice, you should be receiving both. 

unless all you want is grid tie, in which case there's a whole new set of questions. Are you going to export, do you want to limit export, how many power units do you use a day/want to cover, do you want to cover peak loads or just inject at say 5kw and cover most of the day time load, or export enough units during the day to cover your night usage costs.

the answers to all these questions tend to have a filtering effect on the equipment selection until you wind up with the exact solution that ticks all the boxes you need, although sometimes its back to budget and what can fit in, so compromises can occur, but good planning should future proof the solution so additions can be made later.

Anyway, the quitting smoking is around a week or so, I'll post again once the process is complete (and add a few days to be sure) and thus avoid further issues. 

Hopefully the above info makes up for any past issues, it wasn't intentional. Good luck with it all, thanks for pointing out the tone issue. You'll have the system for a while, make sure its a  good fit for your needs.

Edited February 7, 20223 yr by Nitrious

@Nitrious, you truly are a gentleman

12 hours ago, MNK1234 said:

Thanks for the details

I find this post to be rude. The point of the forum is for people to come together and ask questions and help each other.

And from the responses I received I realised that lots of people had misconceptions about things so I wasn’t the only person who learnt.

And lastly having a cheap vs expensive option doesn’t answer my question nor does it help the average consumer make a decision. The two systems have very different capabilities and technology which explains the difference in price but isn’t explained in the post 

There will always be those that are rude, just ignore them and take from those that are genuinely trying to assist. Your question was short and clear but I see long answers which in all honesty, does not answer what you have asked. 

''Please see the below quote where the person explains that the Growatt TL (not ES) can be setup as a grid tied inverter

My understanding is that this is a pure off grid and can’t even be setup as a hybrid because it doesn’t blend Eskom and Solar'' 

Growatt SPF5000TL is not a grid tied inverter, it needs a battery to operate. The installer needs to quote you on SPF5000ES model  

7 hours ago, Nitrious said:

I'm (trying) quitting smoking, so tone likely needs a change, I apologize and will make the needed adjustments. Its the second day today.

Every piece of equipment chosen needs to work together as a harmonious whole, bringing you a solution that covers your needs. 

But have the initial important steps being taken, 1. and 2. in my first post. How sure are you a 5kw solution is what you need. Do you have a budget in mind? I notice there's no battery in the quote you showed? Do you want grid tie only? What are your goals regarding solar. 

load reduction measures brings your load base down, and thereby allows a smaller, cheaper system to be used. But have a cost and sometimes effectiveness all their own. 

Measuring your actual requirements ensures your system is sized correctly to your needs. This is very important otherwise everyone's guessing, and there's a fair chance it won't end well. 

Please don't take this the wrong way, but your answer suggests these haven't been attended to or even suggested to you yet, and is a part of the installers job to discuss and/or implement these needed steps before waving a quote/invoice around. 

There's usually a solution document, nice and detailed, and an itemized invoice, you should be receiving both. 

unless all you want is grid tie, in which case there's a whole new set of questions. Are you going to export, do you want to limit export, how many power units do you use a day/want to cover, do you want to cover peak loads or just inject at say 5kw and cover most of the day time load, or export enough units during the day to cover your night usage costs.

the answers to all these questions tend to have a filtering effect on the equipment selection until you wind up with the exact solution that ticks all the boxes you need, although sometimes its back to budget and what can fit in, so compromises can occur, but good planning should future proof the solution so additions can be made later.

Anyway, the quitting smoking is around a week or so, I'll post again once the process is complete (and add a few days to be sure) and thus avoid further issues. 

Hopefully the above info makes up for any past issues, it wasn't intentional. Good luck with it all, thanks for pointing out the tone issue. You'll have the system for a while, make sure its a  good fit for your needs.

I have done the calculations myself but every so often I get an installer who claims to do something that I have understood to be impossible. 

 

My issue is finding a reliable installer that won't charge me the earth 

@MNK1234 hi the SPF range are mostly offgrid inverters similar to Axpert inverters. They are priced similarly. 

The growatt spf range does one thing better than axperts is direct communication with lithiums battery bms which means once it's working you don't have to tinker except maybe on overcast days to top up the battery from the grid. 

Now you might be asking from the grid? But you said they are offgrid? Yes they are but they an input can be used for a generator or as a grid input.

A True grid tie inverter usually does not have battery back up which is preferred by people who don't mind reading a book during 2 hour load shedding or live in an area where grid feed-in is possible.

Hybrid inverters are the best of all worlds being able to power loads before(not directly connected to the inverter) and work without a battery and feed into the grid.

Older hybrids had very low power on the ups(essential loads powered by the battery)side but they were quite expensive. Whereas offgrid inverters have good ups power.

Then came the deye/sunsynk offering good ups power, bells and whistles at an affordable price so it's understandable that it became very popular. 

 

Edited February 7, 20223 yr by Buyeye

On 2022/02/07 at 10:14 AM, MNK1234 said:

I have done the calculations myself but every so often I get an installer who claims to do something that I have understood to be impossible. 

 

My issue is finding a reliable installer that won't charge me the earth 

Word of advise to the wise, somehow quit smoking privately, its much easier to admit than publicly. 

@mnk1234 message me directly if need be, I make friends easily and on continents. Nothings to big or to small., You're welcome to contact me as needed.

<read with due caution, smoker quitting habit, no offense intended, otherwise close your eyelids now>

truer words never spoken and welcome to the club btw, I'm sure there's a name for it, but its a club all the same. 

this is possibly what caused my outburst (due to quitting smoking, even without such, it just gets my emotions rolling), I have been brought into installs on many occasions to fix a/the situation that were never mine to begin with, issues that really could have been avoided in the beginning, with a good solid comprehensive solution. 

and by the time I get there, everything is just installed and mismatched, and just so so many times. (and of course the invoice is so inflated, there's no room to fix anything)

<end possible caution to eyes/mind>

Instead I present my current way of  dealing with <smoking/people//smoking./other/smoking/etc.> such for the moment ( I'm sure it'll be a few more days though)

I give you the Horsehead and Flame Nebula, if there any part of the galaxy you want imaged, pls let me know. (Don't be silly obviously)

 

Edited February 8, 20223 yr by Nitrious

an image of comet leonard, perspective is all it takes

(yes the science to get this image is impressive)

Edited February 8, 20223 yr by Nitrious

I find the PV the various installs interesting. You never hear inputs around retaining say a off grid system and adding a pure grid tied or vice versa.

A paid inverter is a good inverter. I was in the OP position I would just add the grid tied unit and let each unit do it's job. Lowest cost. If no inverter was installed I would also settle for a hybrid.