Hi Everyone, 
So we, like most of those lucky enough to be able to afford it, have invested in a solar system. We have installed:

Sunsynk 5kw Inverter
1 x 5.12kwh Lithium battery (I can't remember the brand)
6 x 445w panels

There has been a bit of a learning process with the coil being installed incorrectly initially but we are all up and running now. I know zip about these sorts of things so this forum has been very helpful. Everything with the exception of the geyser and the oven runs through the inverter. The stove top is gas. We have gradually switched all lights to LEDs. We have 1 fridge, 1 freezer, microwave, toaster, a pool pump and the usual TV/laptop etc. I don't think we are especially heavy users.

I'm looking for advice on how best to configure our system so that we use as little Eskom as possible. I imagine using primarily solar during the day + charging the battery, then running off the battery for as long as possible overnight before using Eskom until the PV takes over. I realise that 6 panels isn't quite enough but that's as far as the budget stretched for now!

Your biggest ROI and savings is using as much sun power as possible,dumping excess to battery and then using that battery when sun power isn't available

Shuffle all the big loads to the daytime to use that solar,pool pump/washing machines/geysers

If you have to choose between battery charging or usage during the day,usage should take precedent as you're not losing any power to conversion to/from battery and a battery cycle. Decide on a % of battery that's your minimum to save for outages/load shedding,and use anything above that after hours

Some management systems can be configured to change settings based on Time of Day+Battery SOC to reserve a margin % and use the rest like Solar Asssistant

 

 

I have a similar system and your power needs sounds similar to our family home. 
 

Sunsynk 5kva 

I have East and west facing panels, capacity 5kw, 

2x 2.4 Pylontech lithiums 

have split DB board essentials and non essentials, 

Non is Stove and geyser 

my current kw usage is 3 kw a day. 
CT coil connected in the right place, 

Sun starts powering up at 6am,diahwasher, and washing machine etc is prioritized first in load setting. battery full by 9am, pool pump on from 9:30 -10:30 , geyser 3kw element goes on 10:30 -12 pm. Geyser at 70 degrees (also using 20 tubes and a solar pump to circulate) pool pump on at 12pm - 3 pm. Then we float batteries and base load.  battery between 5pm and 9pm keep at 90%, in case of loadshedding or the missus smashes the batteries with microwave, kettle etc  then from 9pm I let the batteries run down to 30%  ( if loadshedding I keep the battery to 50%) works for me 

 

My bill is R6 a day , but I can export excess PV in our estate . So I have not paid for electricity for a while now. 
cheers 

 

 

 

Edited October 9, 20223 yr by BryanOC6