The most impressive battery in terms of space I've ever worked with...9cm thickness footprint. 1C rated & just a beautiful specimen. Will Install another of these in a living room area next week & will share once done. 

There was space in the main DB so no New AC DB required. It's all fitted into one. 

This is my installation. It is running like a dream. Haven't used the grid since early last night.

Battery was only at 50% this morning before the sun took charge. Geyser just kicked on(Timer) and is using PV and Battery to warm up. Simply lovely.

Just want to thank @Steve87 and his team for an amazing experience. It was honestly effortless. 10/10 would recommend!

Hi Pauley, thank you for the opportunity & for your patience while we were making lots of mess...Glad it turned out great!!!

Hi @Steve87 being 6 Solar Panels are they all going into 1-Mppt or you've split them for this installation?

Hi @Moffati only used a Single MPPT. 6 in series works out +- 300V. Which is a good Voc to have. Not sure but need to check because the wake up Voltage is quite high. Not sure if 3 in series can do the trick...

 Manual will reveal all. 

35 minutes ago, Steve87 said:

Hi @Moffati only used a Single MPPT. 6 in series works out +- 300V. Which is a good Voc to have. Not sure but need to check because the wake up Voltage is quite high. Not sure if 3 in series can do the trick...

 Manual will reveal all. 

Startup voltage is 150v according to the 5kW spec sheet, I think it's also the same on the 8kW. Am just wondering longterm (1-2years) if no additional panels are added if this will have any negative effect on the inverter or any balance within the Mppts. I also notice you did not put a battery disconnect on the system along the battery cables (though the battery does have an on/off switch on it), any reason for this? I know some will say it's an unnecessary duplication since you also have breakers up there... See diagram attached. Then my next question is about having PV cables running in the same trunking with AC cables... what's your thought on that?

 

@Pauleywhat loads is your system running. Getting to the morning at 50% is fantastic and I'd be tempted to switch off Eskom for a wee while😃 unless you get a cloudy day with the rainy season.

Edited November 23, 20232 yr by Moffat
Grammar edit

13 hours ago, Pauley said:

This is my installation. It is running like a dream. Haven't used the grid since early last night.

Battery was only at 50% this morning before the sun took charge. Geyser just kicked on(Timer) and is using PV and Battery to warm up. Simply lovely.

Just want to thank @Steve87 and his team for an amazing experience. It was honestly effortless. 10/10 would recommend!

@Pauley Welcome to the forum, and the enjoyment of your own power "station". Sure you will have many happy years of no load-shedding.

 

@Moffatthere is a DC100A MCB in that DC combiner box, there is over current protection, it doesn't have to be a Fuse doing the work as an only option. You have a choice of either. The MCB in my opinion looks much neater for this application instead of a massive fuse & holder box. The DC & AC cables are isolated within that trunking using Spague. No physical way for them to touch. One can use double trunking again but the trunking is made of plastic & so is Sprague so it serves the exact same purpose as isolation & protection & once again I install this way for the sake of a clean neat look. So many DC cables in that trunking & only a single 6mm2 4 core AC Surfix cable to insulate so that the cable that is spragued and kept separate from the DC cables. 

With only 6 panels that's the problem, if you split to 3 the startup Voltage is not reached. Not using both MPPTs will not have a damaging effect over time at all. The MPPTs work when needed. We only have a choice of 6 panels on this site, unfortunately, we don't have specs for the extra 4 to use the other MPPT. Using both MPPts is not compulsory, you size according to the power requirement. 

Edited November 24, 20232 yr by Steve87

29 minutes ago, Steve87 said:

Using both MPPts is not compulsory, you size according to the power requirement. 

I have came across quite a few installers that believe in any machine with 2 MPPT's that it needs to be balanced to achieve better efficiency, but that is not the case the power generated between the 2 MPPT's is accumulative and they are completely seperate.

 

@TaliaByes I also have heard many guys believe that one MPPT used will somehow drag efficiency down. Quite the misconception.

@Moffat Our household does not require a whole lot of power at night.

We have Lights, TV, Fridge, 2x Fans, 2x Wi-Fi cameras, Router & ONT Box running at night. Kettle in the morning for some coffee.

We have the geyser on a timer, during the day the geyser uses Solar and Battery to keep warm. I switch the geyser off at half past 4 in the afternoon. I switch it on in the morning at 6AM for an hour, this uses battery. This morning was the first time I tried it and the battery went down to 32%. The battery is already at 70% again via Solar power.

We haven't utilized the grid in the last 36 hours. I am more than happy with the equipment and the performance.

Edited November 24, 20232 yr by Pauley

2 hours ago, Pauley said:

@Moffat Our household does not require a whole lot of power at night.

We have Lights, TV, Fridge, 2x Fans, 2x Wi-Fi cameras, Router & ONT Box running at night. Kettle in the morning for some coffee.

We have the geyser on a timer, during the day the geyser uses Solar and Battery to keep warm. I switch the geyser off at half past 4 in the afternoon. I switch it on in the morning at 6AM for an hour, this uses battery. This morning was the first time I tried it and the battery went down to 32%. The battery is already at 70% again via Solar power.

We haven't utilized the grid in the last 36 hours. I am more than happy with the equipment and the performance.

Sounds sweet @Pauley maybe also considered an automatic on/off switch for your geyser. I have one which switches off my chest freezer at 10pm and switches on at 6am since I have a small battery bank for now.

4 hours ago, Steve87 said:

@Moffatthere is a DC100A MCB in that DC combiner box, there is over current protection, it doesn't have to be a Fuse doing the work as an only option. You have a choice of either. The MCB in my opinion looks much neater for this application instead of a massive fuse & holder box. The DC & AC cables are isolated within that trunking using Spague. No physical way for them to touch. One can use double trunking again but the trunking is made of plastic & so is Sprague so it serves the exact same purpose as isolation & protection & once again I install this way for the sake of a clean neat look. So many DC cables in that trunking & only a single 6mm2 4 core AC Surfix cable to insulate so that the cable that is spragued and kept separate from the DC cables. 

With only 6 panels that's the problem, if you split to 3 the startup Voltage is not reached. Not using both MPPTs will not have a damaging effect over time at all. The MPPTs work when needed. We only have a choice of 6 panels on this site, unfortunately, we don't have specs for the extra 4 to use the other MPPT. Using both MPPts is not compulsory, you size according to the power requirement. 

Yeah I also figured splitting the 6 panels would not have enough voltage to start the inverter... I hear you about having a neat looking install and also saving costs. Looking good.

@Moffat I forgot to mention Steve did install a CBI Astute Smart Controller for the Geyser. I have schedules via an app to control the on/off state of the Geyser. Works really lekker.

1 hour ago, Pauley said:

@Moffat I forgot to mention Steve did install a CBI Astute Smart Controller for the Geyser. I have schedules via an app to control the on/off state of the Geyser. Works really lekker.

How often are you monitoring the performance via the apps at the moment... I figure, first days should have some excitement and how quickly do the updates appear on the app? I know the one challenge with a lot of systems is they first go to the cloud and then down to a mobile app for instance, which may contribute to delays, hence the question.

38 minutes ago, Moffat said:

How often are you monitoring the performance via the apps at the moment... I figure, first days should have some excitement and how quickly do the updates appear on the app? I know the one challenge with a lot of systems is they first go to the cloud and then down to a mobile app for instance, which may contribute to delays, hence the question.

Why do you worry about the 3 seconds delay? 

I monitor it probably about every 1-2 hours or so. The app is about 5 min delayed. Not ideal if you ask me, but I am receiving Solar Assistant device and app next week. Then the reading is near real time.

2 minutes ago, Scorp007 said:

Why do you worry about the 3 seconds delay? 

Mine is definitely longer than 3 second delay.

10 minutes ago, Pauley said:

Mine is definitely longer than 3 second delay.

Just want to check are we talking of switching devices like a Sonoff, Astude? 

Edited November 24, 20232 yr by Scorp007

I am not sure now hahaha

Sunsynk app = 5 min delay

Astude app = 3 second delay

Solar Assistant Monitoring = 3 second delay

Think that will clear things up.