January 12, 20242 yr Hi Guys I have a 5kw (Infinisolar Inverter) + 2 Hubble AM-2 Battery setup. It works superbly and I have enough battery power to last until morning. The batteries are normally fully charged around 12pm on a sunny day. I then have access solar power that I'm not using. My geyser is on the non-essential side of things. Is there a switch that exists (transfer switch of sorts) where I can switch the geyser from non-essential to essential so I can take advantage of the sun. This would allow me to get it completely hot which would be enough hot water for 2 people to shower in the evening and morning (I've tested this). Just wondering. Any thoughts? Edited January 12, 20242 yr by Zweli
January 12, 20242 yr Probably a neater solution would be to put your geyser on the essential side with a CBI Astute Timer Switch. With this switch you can then set the geyser to only operate during the day and you also have remote access via the app to manually switch on and off the geyser as and when you want. https://www.builders.co.za/Electrical-and-Electronics/Plugs-Sockets-and-Switches/Smart-Electrical/CBI-Astute-Smart-Controller---Grey-Black/p/000000000000744335?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA44OtBhAOEiwAj4gpOYjE_oEiP4O6pmk28Bj3Y8HSXiR_JkZZpkmG4rypK9gQVNFuE1FNAxoCkSIQAvD_BwE
January 12, 20242 yr If you happy to Manuel switch when need be an change over switch will help to switch between non and essential power with an smart timer so if you not home through the day and see weathers not good to switch of geyser off if it's running from the essential line
January 12, 20242 yr 16 minutes ago, GMAC said: If you happy to Manuel switch when need be an change over switch will help to switch between non and essential power with an smart timer so if you not home through the day and see weathers not good to switch of geyser off if it's running from the essential line Are smart change over timers freely available?
January 12, 20242 yr Author 43 minutes ago, GMAC said: If you happy to Manuel switch when need be an change over switch will help to switch between non and essential power with an smart timer so if you not home through the day and see weathers not good to switch of geyser off if it's running from the essential line This sounds like a plan. I think I can go this route actually. I'll Google to see if there's any smart/wifi changeover switches.
January 12, 20242 yr Yes just a normal change over switch we have one installed but basically leave it on essentials most of the time.. Plus CBI Astute isolators and Geyserwise on the Geysers Edited January 12, 20242 yr by BigBear
January 12, 20242 yr Author Here's an interesting thread I just read: https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php/359185-Wifi-Changeover-Switch
January 12, 20242 yr Author 6 minutes ago, BigBear said: Yes just a normal change over switch we have one installed but basically leave it on essentials most of the time.. Plus CBI Astute isolators and Geyserwise on the Geysers Thank you. I already have a geyser switch, so I'll get a simple transfer switch.
January 12, 20242 yr Check out this link I have over the years made a lot of electrical units using wifi smart switched using similar setups is really not that hard . This is just an example of how smart timer switch can be used on say contactors , relays and in this case transfer switch . SA is limited to what we can get over the counter but do see there is smart switched with multi channels with interlocking on the net Edited January 12, 20242 yr by GMAC
January 12, 20242 yr 3 hours ago, Zweli said: Thank you. I already have a geyser switch, so I'll get a simple transfer switch. As you have a Infini inverter it is already using all PV to charge battery and the rest goes to the non essential side where your geyser is connected. Unles I missed how it operates but that is how most other grid tied inverters work. There would then be no need for any form of transfer. You may as well retain the timer/switch you have on the geyser at the moment. I am just not sure how the Infini prevents export to the grid. Any info regarding the operation is most welcome.
January 12, 20242 yr Author 8 minutes ago, Scorp007 said: As you have a Infini inverter it is already using all PV to charge battery and the rest goes to the non essential side where your geyser is connected. Unles I missed how it operates but that is how most other grid tied inverters work. There would then be no need for any form of transfer. You may as well retain the timer/switch you have on the geyser at the moment. I am just not sure how the Infini prevents export to the grid. Any info regarding the operation is most welcome. I'm not entirely sure about that either. I have a Deye installed at my warehouse and it does have the CT coil (think that's the name) and that works perfectly. I'm not sure if the Infinisolar inverters have the same or not. It is a hybrid inverter.
January 12, 20242 yr 7 minutes ago, Zweli said: I'm not entirely sure about that either. I have a Deye installed at my warehouse and it does have the CT coil (think that's the name) and that works perfectly. I'm not sure if the Infinisolar inverters have the same or not. It is a hybrid inverter. Yes all the Solis grid tieds use a CT coil as well as the Suns/Deye. Also the Luxpower LXP. Some designs can also use a power module to do the CT measurement and send a signal to the inverter to prevent export.
January 12, 20242 yr Author 1 minute ago, Scorp007 said: Yes all the Solis grid tieds use a CT coil as well as the Suns/Deye. Also the Luxpower LXP. Some designs can also use a power module to do the CT measurement and send a signal to the inverter to prevent export. Thank you. I'll look into this.
January 18, 20242 yr Author Finally had a changeover switch installed. The far right switch is the changeover switch. (The 4 Lever - Grid/Generator Changeover). This allows me to use my access solar on sunny days to heat my water and save on electricity. Gauteng has been super cloudy/overcast for weeks now, so won't use it until we get back to the super sunny days. All in all, it works perfectly and is also wired to allow the geyser to operate from the generator too. Very happy with the installation. A 2 pole isolater (middle breaker) was needed to be installed too.
January 18, 20242 yr 6 hours ago, Zweli said: Finally had a changeover switch installed. The far right switch is the changeover switch. (The 4 Lever - Grid/Generator Changeover). This allows me to use my access solar on sunny days to heat my water and save on electricity. Gauteng has been super cloudy/overcast for weeks now, so won't use it until we get back to the super sunny days. All in all, it works perfectly and is also wired to allow the geyser to operate from the generator too. Very happy with the installation. A 2 pole isolater (middle breaker) was needed to be installed too. Great perfect now all you need installed is a smart timer so if weather turns bad through the day you can switch off the geyser using your android from work and switch the change over switch to eskom wants you get home
January 18, 20242 yr Author 1 minute ago, GMAC said: Great perfect now all you need installed is a smart timer so if weather turns bad through the day you can switch off the geyser using your android from work and switch the change over switch to eskom wants you get home Already have one luckily. Got before I got solar even... 😎
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