Hi all, hope one of you can assist.  I've taken delivery of a 14.3kWh SolarMD and an 8kW SunSynk Hybrid inverter today. What would be the recommendation as my best option to do a temporary installation to tie me over until I move into my own property in 11 months? I really don't need to use more than 3-4kW peak in the interim.

 

Edited October 12, 20223 yr by Sats Nkamoto

If I were in your position, I'd do an install anyway. 11 months is a long time to be exposed to load-shedding, and Eskom won't be fixed soon, not even in 5 years. There is nothing that I can recommend that you can do as a temporary install, the inverter and batteries are bulky and heavy and need a proper wall mount, and you also cannot skimp on the electrical install side, because you not only risk fire destroying your possessions, and your landlord's home insurance challenging a claim, but also the safety of your family. You have to either do it properly or not at all.

Have you discussed an installation with your landlord? He cannot reasonably refuse it, or reasonably withhold your right to install it, especially if it's only a battery and inverter. His concern may lay with the fact that the uninstall may leave unsightly holes and marks on the wall, and affect the electrical system. If you undertake to fill and paint afterwards, and restore it to its previous condition, as well as getting a CoC after uninstall, then he should have no issues. In fact he may even be open to discuss buying the system from you, because I predict that he will struggle to find a tenant in 11 months time if he doesn't have at least provision for an alternative power source. And in 11 months' time, there may be even better inverter options than the 8K Sunsynk for you to consider for your new home.

 

 

 

 

My perspective as a landlord is I would not allow this for three primary reasons:

1. As per the lease I do not permit drilling into the walls as it is difficult to restore to original condition incl. matching paints etc and it may necessitate repainting the entire unit and possibly even skimming the wall if enough holes were drilled as filler still leaves a trace to the discerning eye.

2. I would not allow messing with the electrical system COC or not. 

3. There are alternative products that do not require invasive installation techniques like a trolley inverter that may be used instead. The above configuration is the wrong system for a tenant. 

The exception to this would be for them to sign a multiple year lease upfront (which afaik is pipe dreams/worthless as a tenant only needs to give a months notice according to the CPA so as a landlord you have no protections or guarantees)

Ultimately I would tell them that if they not happy give a months notice and vacate and install it elsewhere.  I would also not want to buy the system after as they are hellishly expensive and landlording is not profitable enough to justify it (unbelievable at first but once you have paid levies, rates, taxes, agent fees, maintenance there is not much left over at all), higher rents will not be high enough to cover the risks, and it would present extra maintenance and hassle.

Edited October 13, 20223 yr by Lee2

5 hours ago, YellowTapemeasure said:

If I were in your position, I'd do an install anyway. 11 months is a long time to be exposed to load-shedding, and Eskom won't be fixed soon, not even in 5 years. There is nothing that I can recommend that you can do as a temporary install, the inverter and batteries are bulky and heavy and need a proper wall mount, and you also cannot skimp on the electrical install side, because you not only risk fire destroying your possessions, and your landlord's home insurance challenging a claim, but also the safety of your family. You have to either do it properly or not at all.

Have you discussed an installation with your landlord? He cannot reasonably refuse it, or reasonably withhold your right to install it, especially if it's only a battery and inverter. His concern may lay with the fact that the uninstall may leave unsightly holes and marks on the wall, and affect the electrical system. If you undertake to fill and paint afterwards, and restore it to its previous condition, as well as getting a CoC after uninstall, then he should have no issues. In fact he may even be open to discuss buying the system from you, because I predict that he will struggle to find a tenant in 11 months time if he doesn't have at least provision for an alternative power source. And in 11 months' time, there may be even better inverter options than the 8K Sunsynk for you to consider for your new home.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the insightful comments - I will open the conversation with the landlord.

1 hour ago, Lee2 said:

My perspective as a landlord is I would not allow this for three primary reasons:

1. As per the lease I do not permit drilling into the walls as it is difficult to restore to original condition incl. matching paints etc and it may necessitate repainting the entire unit and possibly even skimming the wall if enough holes were drilled as filler still leaves a trace to the discerning eye.

2. I would not allow messing with the electrical system COC or not. 

3. There are alternative products that do not require invasive installation techniques like a trolley inverter that may be used instead. The above configuration is the wrong system for a tenant. 

The exception to this would be for them to sign a multiple year lease upfront (which afaik is pipe dreams/worthless as a tenant only needs to give a months notice according to the CPA so as a landlord you have no protections or guarantees)

Ultimately I would tell them that if they not happy give a months notice and vacate and install it elsewhere.  I would also not want to buy the system after as they are hellishly expensive and landlording is not profitable enough to justify it (unbelievable at first but once you have paid levies, rates, taxes, agent fees, maintenance there is not much left over at all), higher rents will not be high enough to cover the risks, and it would present extra maintenance and hassle.

Thanks for the fresh angle - appreciated! The house has just been put on the market, so that adds another complication, I suppose. 

Hi Sats, where are you based?

Hi 

 

 I would like to help but when it comes to solar installations I get an installer as it’s not my strong point at all.

Aleks

On 2022/10/13 at 10:08 AM, Redge said:

Hi Sats, where are you based?

Stellenbosch