Hi all

I had a 5kw Goodwe inverter with 3 x Pylontech 3000 batteries in Jhb, providing backup for lights, 6 TV's, WiFi and a large fridge/ freezer in a 5 room (+ owners apartment + domestic quarters) guesthouse. That worked really well and the only time we flattened the batteries was if the grid was down for extended periods when substations blew up.

I have now relocated to Knysna (heaven on earth) where I have built a house and installed a Sunsynk 8kw with 2 x 5kw batteries and 14 x 540w Enersol panels. Just my wife and I living in the house. I have turned off the grid and managing the loads with timers, and it is all working pretty well, but I feel like the SS batteries drain faster than the Pylontech ones I had in Jhb. This may be unfounded, I haven't done the numbers, but from 98% SOC in the late afternoon when we turn minimal LED lights on, only the double door fridge running and we usually use the microwave for maximum 15 minutes, maybe boil the kettle once (with minimal water), and watch TV for a couple of hours ... the SOC in the morning will be around 50%.  

I'm also not too impressed with the Enersol panels performance in cloudy conditions, but maybe I need to monitor this more closely.

Any thoughts or similar experiences? 

Lots of questions arise, but here's where I'd start.

From your days with the Goodwe you would have access to SEMS portal. See if you can get some statistics from that - especially consumption per day. Now compare your consumption then to your consumption now. If there's a significant difference then start investigating your current set up. Try to compare the night time useage of the two systems as that is when you notice the difference. 

There is a reason for this. Maybe your geyser is running when you don't expect that it is. Maybe the thermostat is set high. IDK... but get those numbers first. Then if you can narrow it down to a couple of suspects you can control them. Or play a game of elimination. Turn a breaker off each night. See how the system responds. If you find one breaker that makes a big difference, go and see what is connected to that.

You don't mention the brand of your current batteries. I'm assuming Sunsynk. Did you buy them new and from a reputable installer or supplier?

Check your base load and for any large spikes on the app

40 minutes ago, Bobster. said:

Lots of questions arise, but here's where I'd start.

From your days with the Goodwe you would have access to SEMS portal. See if you can get some statistics from that - especially consumption per day. Now compare your consumption then to your consumption now. If there's a significant difference then start investigating your current set up. Try to compare the night time useage of the two systems as that is when you notice the difference. 

There is a reason for this. Maybe your geyser is running when you don't expect that it is. Maybe the thermostat is set high. IDK... but get those numbers first. Then if you can narrow it down to a couple of suspects you can control them. Or play a game of elimination. Turn a breaker off each night. See how the system responds. If you find one breaker that makes a big difference, go and see what is connected to that.

You don't mention the brand of your current batteries. I'm assuming Sunsynk. Did you buy them new and from a reputable installer or supplier?

OP did mention the batteries in his post as below. 

but I feel like the SS batteries drain faster than the Pylontech ones I had in Jhb. This may be unfounded, I haven't done the numbers, but from 98% SOC in the

26 minutes ago, Scorp007 said:

but I feel like the SS batteries drain faster than the Pylontech ones I had in Jhb. This may be unfounded, I haven't done the numbers, but from 98% SOC in the

Eish! I am losing my vision as well as getting old. Thanks for the correction.