I contacted The Sunpays and they have confirmed that it ones of their inverters and its a "Low Voltage Sacolar inverter"  They also have a dongle that I would need for the Wi-fi which I will get.

The screen below.  Does this mean that the solar panels are generating 395 watt into the battery

Screen below  Does this mean that the solar panels are sending the electricity to the system at 131 volts.

 

 

If my assumptions are correct, are they good, bad or cannot comment not enough info?

I dont know if the Inverter is connected to the battery but highly doubt do.  two pictures showing the wires connected to the battery and the inverter.   

Should  the battery be connected, and if so can I do it or must I get a professional to do it.

 

U can download the user manual at sacolar.com There is  lot of info you need in the manual. 

2 hours ago, RookieRod said:

I dont know if the Inverter is connected to the battery but highly doubt do.  two pictures showing the wires connected to the battery and the inverter.   

Should  the battery be connected, and if so can I do it or must I get a professional to do it.

 

The thick red and black cable are between battery and inverter and already connected. 

@RookieRod The PV imput is to high 131v . The mppt operating range is 60v to 115v. When going above 115v the mppt cuts back solar production. This is because your  panels is connected in 2 strings of 3 panels . Connecting  the the panels in 3 strings of 2 panels wil solve the problem and inprove PV input.

131v is very close  to the max input of the mppt of 145v. On a cold day this can exceed the 145v and blow the mppt.

The 395 W battery input is normal . The display also shows the amount of Amps going into or out the battery. U should get about 2400 Watt input at midday. 

Get the cable from Sunpays for inverter to battery communication.

 

 

Thanks very much for this.     I have downloaded the manual and extremely informative and got me spending a lot of time looking at YouTube and exploring the WWW.  I will have to get someone in to change the panels into 3 strings of 2 panels each.  

I am considering enhancing my solar hot water system of evacuated tubes with solar electricity and increasing the panels at the same time I change the string of panels.  Is there a topic on this on this forum, and if so how do I look for it?

 

Thanks again

 

On 2023/11/02 at 2:24 PM, Scorp007 said:

The thick red and black cable are between battery and inverter and already connected. 

Sorry for the error. I did not zoom to see these leads are going to the point marked PV. Took the grey box in front of the battery as the inverter. 

Need some new specs

Some feedback  Today (Sunday 2023/11/05) was a cloudless sunny day in Pretoria.  I am so chuffed.  Roasted a chicken and veg is Combo Microwave 50 minutes 180w and 180°C and had the dishwasher running at the same time.  Used solar and battery only.  All done and an hour later battery at 52V.    

Thanks guys, its all thanks to you

3 hours ago, RookieRod said:

Some feedback  Today (Sunday 2023/11/05) was a cloudless sunny day in Pretoria.  I am so chuffed.  Roasted a chicken and veg is Combo Microwave 50 minutes 180w and 180°C and had the dishwasher running at the same time.  Used solar and battery only.  All done and an hour later battery at 52V.    

Thanks guys, its all thanks to you

Good all worked fine. Yes today was a great sunshine day in Pta. I got my best all time yield today. 

Yield 16.8kwh. 1.32kW is flat on a car port and PV dips badly due to shade from 14h50. The 2nd string (N) of 1.62kW is producing the last few Watts for the day. With a bit of luck the yield might reach 16.9kWh. 

Edited November 5, 20232 yr by Scorp007

I have installed a dongle and PV Butler and attached are some screen shots. I have a few comments and questions and would like your comments and answers if applicable.  Note that the file 2023-11-11 is only a few hours of data from when the system went operational.

As I see it, during the day I have plenty of power and made no use of the grid at all.  This included boiling the kettle a few times, running the dishwasher and washing machine, watching TV in the day and evening and also use of the microwave around 18H30.. My battery is also fully charged during the day.  As I see it come about 22H00 or thereabouts, I usually make some tea and boil the kettle.  The battery at that stage is about 50% to 60% and then the inverter switches to the Grid and it appears that the battery is charged to full capacity.  Today at 00H00 the battery was at 90% and at 06H05 at 62%.  Sun came up and at 08H55 99%.  The wave is a saw tooth ranging from 99% down to 93% at 10H55 and 15H55 96%.  Today I ran the washing machine and dishwasher starting at about 09H00.

From what I see my SP's and battery is quite capable of running my home - in a normal daylight situation.  However just as I mahe a cup of tea at 22H00 the grid kicks in and I use, in my opinion anyway, 2KW of power for about 2 hours. That, as I see it is about 4KWH of electricity bought that if I had waited a few hours would have got for nothing.  Is my logic correct?

Next I realize the controller box only does what it is told to do.

• The setting number 12 on the inverter is "Setting SOC point back to utility source when selecting “SBU priority” or “Solar first” in program 01" is set at 50%
• The setting number 13 on the inverter is "Setting voltage point back to battery mode when selecting “SBU priority” or “Solar first” in program 01" is set at 95%
• The setting in setting number 1 is SBU

If I set number 12 to say 40% and number 13 to 60% would that be wise?  Right now we do not have load shedding in our area, but it will return.  Since 12th November we have had clear skies.   My opinion is to do the adjustments on settings 12 and 13 to 40% and 60% respectively and see what happens.  

Please let me have your comments

 

4 hours ago, RookieRod said:

I have installed a dongle and PV Butler and attached are some screen shots. I have a few comments and questions and would like your comments and answers if applicable.  Note that the file 2023-11-11 is only a few hours of data from when the system went operational.

As I see it, during the day I have plenty of power and made no use of the grid at all.  This included boiling the kettle a few times, running the dishwasher and washing machine, watching TV in the day and evening and also use of the microwave around 18H30.. My battery is also fully charged during the day.  As I see it come about 22H00 or thereabouts, I usually make some tea and boil the kettle.  The battery at that stage is about 50% to 60% and then the inverter switches to the Grid and it appears that the battery is charged to full capacity.  Today at 00H00 the battery was at 90% and at 06H05 at 62%.  Sun came up and at 08H55 99%.  The wave is a saw tooth ranging from 99% down to 93% at 10H55 and 15H55 96%.  Today I ran the washing machine and dishwasher starting at about 09H00.

From what I see my SP's and battery is quite capable of running my home - in a normal daylight situation.  However just as I mahe a cup of tea at 22H00 the grid kicks in and I use, in my opinion anyway, 2KW of power for about 2 hours. That, as I see it is about 4KWH of electricity bought that if I had waited a few hours would have got for nothing.  Is my logic correct?

Next I realize the controller box only does what it is told to do.

• The setting number 12 on the inverter is "Setting SOC point back to utility source when selecting “SBU priority” or “Solar first” in program 01" is set at 50%
• The setting number 13 on the inverter is "Setting voltage point back to battery mode when selecting “SBU priority” or “Solar first” in program 01" is set at 95%
• The setting in setting number 1 is SBU

If I set number 12 to say 40% and number 13 to 60% would that be wise?  Right now we do not have load shedding in our area, but it will return.  Since 12th November we have had clear skies.   My opinion is to do the adjustments on settings 12 and 13 to 40% and 60% respectively and see what happens.  

Please let me have your comments

 

No problem reducing setting 12 and 13. You can even bring the back to UTIL to 35% as you don't need a big reserve for LS as you never have LS. This way you can charge using PV the next day. 

Save your PV's and Battery for doing what they were MEANT to do, generate Electricity, not so much Heat

MUCH cheaper to heat the Geyser with Solar Heat Collectors, more efficient (unless overcast days!!!). Got 10 Heat collectors heating 900l Geysers and 10 PV's using Micro Inverters (Grid Tied). 

A 200l Geyser IS ALREADY basically a 8kW-10kWa battery - storing Energy, but in the form of HEAT! Not worth heating water with PV's, especially in South Africa, at least not until PV's reach 65% conversion (vs. current 21% for good panels...slowly rising, in anticipation of Perovskites!)

Look at Israel, 94% of all Household/ roofs/flats have Heat COLLECTORS for Hot Water - talk about a country that knows how to use resources efficiently - next topic -water!

@Charl Yazbek the geyser being a 10kw battery is exactly why it's such a good option to use excess pv. The geyser is already there. A new solar geyser or a pv conversion means additional investment which is not necessary since most people already have excess pv production.

If grid feed in was more incentivized then it would make sense to invest solar geysers and feed into the grid all day. Currently the geyser is the best place to dump pv when the batteries are full.

32 minutes ago, Buyeye said:

@Charl Yazbek the geyser being a 10kw battery is exactly why it's such a good option to use excess pv. The geyser is already there. A new solar geyser or a pv conversion means additional investment which is not necessary since most people already have excess pv production.

If grid feed in was more incentivized then it would make sense to invest solar geysers and feed into the grid all day. Currently the geyser is the best place to dump pv when the batteries are full.

I have to agree here. 

What is the point in storing 10kW of hot water via a solar geyser if your need is perhaps 2 showers and dishes that uses less than 3 kWh a day for a couple if using a heat pump which in any case can run for free for 300 days of the year from the inverter. 

Once water is hot then no further savings via a solar geyser. Wasted capital. 

Not a single answer that fits all. That's why solar is so great as you can adapt it to your own needs. 

Edited November 22, 20232 yr by Scorp007

2 hours ago, Scorp007 said:

I have to agree here. 

What is the point in storing 10kW of hot water via a solar geyser if your need is perhaps 2 showers and dishes that uses less than 3 kWh a day for a couple if using a heat pump which in any case can run for free for 300 days of the year from the inverter. 

Once water is hot then no further savings via a solar geyser. Wasted capital. 

Not a single answer that fits all. That's why solar is so great as you can adapt it to your own needs. 

Thanks guys, I really do appreciate what you are doing for me.  I have been dealt an hand of cards and now have to play this hand of poker.  Problem is I don't know how to play poker.  I was ripped off by the solar installer (electricity and water) and busy suing him. You name it he broke the rules.  AC 4 core wire from panels to Inverter; et al.  In short I overpaid for, what I thought, a topnotch system but that was not delivered.  I have been speaking to the techincal dept at The SunPays (suppliers of the equipment, not installers) and they have really bent over backwards and gone the extra 200 miles in helping me.  Effectively i am having the existing equipment "reinstalled"   I have 6 x 550w panels currently connected 2 strings of 3.  Will be changed to 3 strings of 2.  I converter box will be added..  I have a 5kw Sacolar low voltage inverter and a Deichmann Model YL-R48100 Li-ion battery.  I want to install another battery the same as I have, so that will mean about 9.6KWH (2 * 4.8) of power.  This should see me thru the night.  I do have medical equipment running 24/7; 2 fridges (1 inverter, 1 A+), 1 freezer A++, wifi and a few other small electrical items - clocks, monitors but I don't think anything major. 

The hot water is a 16 tube collector  and an old type (pre 2008) 150l Kwikot geyser.  I now realize that it should have been at least 21 tubes.  I have had a Geyserwise monitor/controller fitted.

While I am about it can I send some of that wasted sun I have into the geyser to boost the solar collector?  Any suggestions how to do this so I can pass it on?

If only I had known about this forum before I went solar!!!!!!!

The house occupants are my wife and I, both late 70's a full time carer for my wife, she is paralysed from chest down, and a domestic 5 times a week.  I have a gas hob/oven. When possible I shower at about midday to try and help the solar collector.

 

 

On 2023/11/01 at 4:25 PM, Bobster. said:

OK.... so as far as I can see, your inverter is an axpert clone. 

Correction,these are (likely) Growatt clones,my Sacolar's equivalent model is Growatt SPF5000ES

On 2023/11/21 at 4:37 PM, Charl Yazbek said:

Save your PV's and Battery for doing what they were MEANT to do, generate Electricity, not so much Heat

MUCH cheaper to heat the Geyser with Solar Heat Collectors, more efficient (unless overcast days!!!). Got 10 Heat collectors heating 900l Geysers and 10 PV's using Micro Inverters (Grid Tied). 

A 200l Geyser IS ALREADY basically a 8kW-10kWa battery - storing Energy, but in the form of HEAT! Not worth heating water with PV's, especially in South Africa, at least not until PV's reach 65% conversion (vs. current 21% for good panels...slowly rising, in anticipation of Perovskites!)

Look at Israel, 94% of all Household/ roofs/flats have Heat COLLECTORS for Hot Water - talk about a country that knows how to use resources efficiently - next topic -water!

If you already have Solar PV, much cheaper to just install a timer on the geyser feed to "load shift" to daytime heating.

 

I have excess PV, so I use a timer to heat the geyser from midday to 16:00pm.

I have a Evacuated Tube Thermosiphon Solar Geyser that was installed 10 years prior.

I have a 2nd normal geyser in the guest house that is on a timer (sonoff). On 11:30, off 16:30pm

Edited November 24, 20232 yr by system32

Sorry about delay in replying, but wheels fell off the wagon.

 

 

 

My geyser is not on the inverter and that is definitely the Grid charging the battery.  Lots of developments since then.  Had an independent inspect everything and found major issues.  Effectively the whole system has been reinstalled.  Original wiring from panels to inverter was AC wiring, DB board wired with wrong gauged wires; DB to inverter wired with wrong gauged wires; 6 x 550w panels now 3 strings of 2 panels and not 2 strings of 3 panels; installed a 2nd 4.8KWH battery.  So as you can imagine a whole new ballgame.  To cap it all I insisted that a final COC be issue by an independent 3rd party of my choice.   The sweetness of the whole thing is that the tab was picked up by the original installer, after a bit of :hereby", "Notwithstanding", "without prejudice", etc.  

So my monitoring and records I kept are out the window and I'm starting on a clean slate.

Again, thanks to you guys, I got to thinking and did what I did.

If only,   ...........................  I had known of this site before I decided to go solar!!!!!!!

8 minutes ago, RookieRod said:

Sorry about delay in replying, but wheels fell off the wagon.

 

 

 

My geyser is not on the inverter and that is definitely the Grid charging the battery.  Lots of developments since then.  Had an independent inspect everything and found major issues.  Effectively the whole system has been reinstalled.  Original wiring from panels to inverter was AC wiring, DB board wired with wrong gauged wires; DB to inverter wired with wrong gauged wires; 6 x 550w panels now 3 strings of 2 panels and not 2 strings of 3 panels; installed a 2nd 4.8KWH battery.  So as you can imagine a whole new ballgame.  To cap it all I insisted that a final COC be issue by an independent 3rd party of my choice.   The sweetness of the whole thing is that the tab was picked up by the original installer, after a bit of :hereby", "Notwithstanding", "without prejudice", etc.  

So my monitoring and records I kept are out the window and I'm starting on a clean slate.

Again, thanks to you guys, I got to thinking and did what I did.

If only,   ...........................  I had known of this site before I decided to go solar!!!!!!!

Good to see a happy ending.......