New poster but been reading up a lot on this forum for insight into solar.

One thing I can say is that solar is extremely complex. Initially I thought I would give it a DIY go because I am a very handy person and do a lot of things around the house myself through self education, trial, error and eventually success. However, solar has proven to be on another level for me and a very expensive "experiment" for a DIY enthusiast, so I would rather leave it to the experts.

A little bit of background: Single, small simplex unit of 88sqm, work from home full time, very low electricity usage (My bill is usually around R350 - R400 pm). What I basically need is a system to power all of my essentials which would include:

Full time

• One PC or a TV/Sound system (not run simultaneously)
• A ceiling fan
• Fridge
• Router + ONT for internet
• Charge a phone or something similar

Occasionally:

• At night it will be 2x 10w LED flood lights
• On the odd occasion switch on an airfryer/microwave/washing machine/dishwasher/kettle for a limited time

Non-essentials like the geyser/oven/stove will not be connected to the inverter/solar system.

After a lot of research I have decided to go with a 5kw solar system (Initially I looked at a 3kw system, but many guys who I spoke to advised against it saying the components are sub par etc - better spending more and going 5kw). I received two quotes at around the R88,000 mark which will include the following:

• 5kw Deye/Sunsynk inverter
• 5kw Shoto/Dyness battery (Dependent on what stock is available)
• 5x455w Longi/JA/Canadian solar panels (Dependent on what stock is available)
• All accessories, installation and COC included

It might be slightly overkill for what I want to use it for, but the area where I live has had 2 days of electricity in the last week. With stage 6, COJ are unable to keep up with the amount of calls, break downs, cable theft etc, so we sit for around 2 days without electricity, and one day with electricity. So the cycle continues on and on.

My questions:

1. Will the 5x455w panels be sufficient to power the system for non-essentials throughout winter/summer if we experience prolonged periods of breakdowns from COJ/Eskom? My roof is ideal and has sunlight most of the day on sunny days.
2. I can get the same system with a Luxpower SNA5000 for R11,000 cheaper. I feel that it is worth it going for Sunsynk/Deye based on what I have read, but I would like to know if it is not overkill for what I am looking for and potentially worth it to save the R11,000?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

That system as you have it will run your essentials and some of your non-essentials (provided they are scheduled) - Your baseload based on those items should be about 300-500w so you will have quite a bit of headroom. We installed a similar system but with the Luxpower for my mom in law and she gets through 4hr LS sessions with no issues, she is also a low usage homeowner. In summer you will be more than fine - in winter - depending where you are in the country - it MIGHT be a bit tight but you should still be ok

If you on CoJ prepaid, R350 - R400 gets you to 167-190 kWh a month which is roughly around 5.6-6.3 kWh a day. Depending on your geyser size, it is probably using around 3kWh a day. Less occasional stove, microwave, stove, kettle, etc., your base/standing loads are around 100-150w if not less.

The proposed system will be more than adequate to run your essentials as well as non-essentials (providing they staggered as mentioned by mzezman) on a day to day basis. On a good day that array it is capable of producing well in excess of your requirements, your problem will be trying to coordinate yours loads to take advantage of the production.  I would hazard a guess that this could be covered even with a 3,6kw Sunsync/Deye. The problem comes in when you have to factor in extended outages combined with bad weather. The only way to cater for this is by adding extra battery which is the lions share of any install.

On 2/23/2023 at 9:56 PM, Wimmas said:

New poster but been reading up a lot on this forum for insight into solar.

One thing I can say is that solar is extremely complex. Initially I thought I would give it a DIY go because I am a very handy person and do a lot of things around the house myself through self education, trial, error and eventually success. However, solar has proven to be on another level for me and a very expensive "experiment" for a DIY enthusiast, so I would rather leave it to the experts.

A little bit of background: Single, small simplex unit of 88sqm, work from home full time, very low electricity usage (My bill is usually around R350 - R400 pm). What I basically need is a system to power all of my essentials which would include:

Full time

• One PC or a TV/Sound system (not run simultaneously)
• A ceiling fan
• Fridge
• Router + ONT for internet
• Charge a phone or something similar

Occasionally:

• At night it will be 2x 10w LED flood lights
• On the odd occasion switch on an airfryer/microwave/washing machine/dishwasher/kettle for a limited time

Non-essentials like the geyser/oven/stove will not be connected to the inverter/solar system.

After a lot of research I have decided to go with a 5kw solar system (Initially I looked at a 3kw system, but many guys who I spoke to advised against it saying the components are sub par etc - better spending more and going 5kw). I received two quotes at around the R88,000 mark which will include the following:

• 5kw Deye/Sunsynk inverter
• 5kw Shoto/Dyness battery (Dependent on what stock is available)
• 5x455w Longi/JA/Canadian solar panels (Dependent on what stock is available)
• All accessories, installation and COC included

It might be slightly overkill for what I want to use it for, but the area where I live has had 2 days of electricity in the last week. With stage 6, COJ are unable to keep up with the amount of calls, break downs, cable theft etc, so we sit for around 2 days without electricity, and one day with electricity. So the cycle continues on and on.

My questions:

1. Will the 5x455w panels be sufficient to power the system for non-essentials throughout winter/summer if we experience prolonged periods of breakdowns from COJ/Eskom? My roof is ideal and has sunlight most of the day on sunny days.
2. I can get the same system with a Luxpower SNA5000 for R11,000 cheaper. I feel that it is worth it going for Sunsynk/Deye based on what I have read, but I would like to know if it is not overkill for what I am looking for and potentially worth it to save the R11,000?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

It sounds like you've done a lot of research and have a good understanding of your energy needs. Here are some answers to your questions:

1) Will the 5x455w panels be sufficient to power the system for non-essentials throughout winter/summer if we experience prolonged periods of breakdowns from COJ/Eskom?

It's hard to give a definitive answer without knowing more about your energy usage patterns, but in general, a 5kW solar system should be sufficient to power the essentials you listed as well as some non-essentials during periods of extended power outages. The number of panels you have should provide enough energy to recharge your batteries during the day and power your loads at night, as long as you are mindful of your energy usage. Keep in mind that during the winter months, when there is less sunlight, you may need to conserve energy more carefully.

2) Is it worth it to go for the more expensive Sunsynk/Deye inverter, or is the Luxpower SNA5000 a better value?

The Sunsynk/Deye inverter is generally considered to be a higher quality product than the Luxpower SNA5000. However, if you're on a budget and don't need all the features of the Sunsynk/Deye, the Luxpower may be a good choice. It's important to evaluate the specific features and capabilities of each inverter to determine which one is the best fit for your needs. If you have concerns about the cost of the system, you might also consider getting additional quotes to compare prices and features from different suppliers.

Overall, it seems like you've done your homework and are on the right track to a successful solar installation. Good luck with your project!