Hi all, I need some advice for you all. My country has started 12hr loadshedding (6hrs off, 6 on, 6 off and 6 on) and I want to buy solar system. I'm looking at vito 10.2kva hybrid inverter and 2 x 5.2 lithium batteries or 8.2kva hybrid and the 2 x batteries. My question is

1. will the batteries have enough time to charge 2 x 6hrs split or must I buy solar panels as well.

2.Also the roof space is not big (maybe 4- 6 panels will fit) will 4 panels be enough?. 

3. Should I go for 8.2kva or 10.2kva (just want the lights and TV and phone charging)

4. Should I buy 5kva and more batteries?

 

For lights, tv and phone charging only, 8kw inverter an overall kill.  But does allow space for future growth.  You should be able to charge your batteries from the grid in the available 6 hour slot but does depend on the charge settings.  

One battery should be sufficient for your intended load.  But look at for "load creep" that is adding or more load than your initial intentions.  

On 2024/05/27 at 3:03 PM, Armandvdb said:

Hi all, I need some advice for you all. My country has started 12hr loadshedding (6hrs off, 6 on, 6 off and 6 on) and I want to buy solar system. I'm looking at vito 10.2kva hybrid inverter and 2 x 5.2 lithium batteries or 8.2kva hybrid and the 2 x batteries. My question is

1. will the batteries have enough time to charge 2 x 6hrs split or must I buy solar panels as well.

2.Also the roof space is not big (maybe 4- 6 panels will fit) will 4 panels be enough?. 

3. Should I go for 8.2kva or 10.2kva (just want the lights and TV and phone charging)

4. Should I buy 5kva and more batteries?

 

Just my personal opinion, consider at your own risk.

If your country has started loadshedding, like South Africa has done, it's surely because of a lack of generation capacity. The idea would be to relieve the power system, so it might not help to charge from grid during the "on"  hours if everybody is trying to do the same. At least, don't try to charge at the full 140A capacity that the inverter can use from grid. The time to charge will not be the problem.

I'd suggest anyway to install solar panels if you're living in a climate with good sun. The point would be to relieve the utility grid as much as you can, live off solar duing the shedding slot by day, and then reduce the amount of cycles that your batteries would have to endure. You'd otherwise be cycling them up to twice a day, and that may impact the warranty on some batteries. Fortunately the inverter has a low minimum of 90V, so you could get by with installing even just 4 panels, but I'd fill that space with as many as you can. Buying panels now, that have a 30-yr life, would be cheaper than replacing the batteries more frequently because you cycle them more often.

I'd just go for the 10.2kVA, but that opinion is based on pricing I see in South Africa for the Vito 8.2kVA (R10,500) vs the 10.2kVA (R11,000). If the difference is similarly marginal in your country, just go for the bigger one whether you will need it all the time or not. The point is that this is an off-grid inverter, so it will probably limit your whole household's supply to the value of the inverter output. I'd steer clear of the 5kVA. I know you're saying you just want lights and TV and phone, but with so much loadshedding, literally half of all the time, you'd soon want the power for more than just nice-to-have conveniences on occasion, the inverter will to a large extent replace your unreliable utility power supply, so that life in general can go on as normal.

You may want to add more batteries later, but I'd just start with the 10kWh that you have planned, and choose a type that you could easily find later, if you want to upgrade by adding more batteries later.

On 2024/06/01 at 11:08 PM, GreenFields said:

Just my personal opinion, consider at your own risk.

If your country has started loadshedding, like South Africa has done, it's surely because of a lack of generation capacity. The idea would be to relieve the power system, so it might not help to charge from grid during the "on"  hours if everybody is trying to do the same. At least, don't try to charge at the full 140A capacity that the inverter can use from grid. The time to charge will not be the problem.

I'd suggest anyway to install solar panels if you're living in a climate with good sun. The point would be to relieve the utility grid as much as you can, live off solar duing the shedding slot by day, and then reduce the amount of cycles that your batteries would have to endure. You'd otherwise be cycling them up to twice a day, and that may impact the warranty on some batteries. Fortunately the inverter has a low minimum of 90V, so you could get by with installing even just 4 panels, but I'd fill that space with as many as you can. Buying panels now, that have a 30-yr life, would be cheaper than replacing the batteries more frequently because you cycle them more often.

I'd just go for the 10.2kVA, but that opinion is based on pricing I see in South Africa for the Vito 8.2kVA (R10,500) vs the 10.2kVA (R11,000). If the difference is similarly marginal in your country, just go for the bigger one whether you will need it all the time or not. The point is that this is an off-grid inverter, so it will probably limit your whole household's supply to the value of the inverter output. I'd steer clear of the 5kVA. I know you're saying you just want lights and TV and phone, but with so much loadshedding, literally half of all the time, you'd soon want the power for more than just nice-to-have conveniences on occasion, the inverter will to a large extent replace your unreliable utility power supply, so that life in general can go on as normal.

You may want to add more batteries later, but I'd just start with the 10kWh that you have planned, and choose a type that you could easily find later, if you want to upgrade by adding more batteries later.

Hi, thank you for the feedback and my apologies for only seeing the post now. Update from my side. I am glad to see SA has stopped the loadshedding and unfortunately for me we have now 17hours a day. I am actually looking at the vito system either 6.2kva or the 8kva. I see some good combo deals on Bob shop for the vito combo. My concern is with only 4-6hrs grid power I do not think it will be enough time to charge the 5.2 lithium battery? Or will it? Some deals they only giving 4 x 450w mono panels which I am not sure will that be enough sunlight energy to charge the battery and provide power for a TV and wifi during the day or should I rather buy bigger w panels example 4 x 550w. 

20 hours ago, Armandvdb said:

Hi, thank you for the feedback and my apologies for only seeing the post now. Update from my side. I am glad to see SA has stopped the loadshedding and unfortunately for me we have now 17hours a day. I am actually looking at the vito system either 6.2kva or the 8kva. I see some good combo deals on Bob shop for the vito combo. My concern is with only 4-6hrs grid power I do not think it will be enough time to charge the 5.2 lithium battery? Or will it? Some deals they only giving 4 x 450w mono panels which I am not sure will that be enough sunlight energy to charge the battery and provide power for a TV and wifi during the day or should I rather buy bigger w panels example 4 x 550w. 

I would fit the maximum panels you have space for. As you indicated only space for up to 6 go for the 550W. Just check for the most Watts when selecting panels to fit the space. 

May be you can add more panels to the combo deals and this way you are sure to have the same panels than trying to source the same panels later. 

Panels to help during the day time will be a better option than to only rely on grid charge. It will allow you to use other loads as well than only the TV, lights and WiFi you mentioned. 

Edited August 17, 20242 yr by Scorp007

Just to add what @Scorp007has mentioned above @Armandvdb consider your installed solar power to be cut in half during winter season so as much panels as the inverter mppt can accommodate/or space available would be my call.

Edited August 17, 20242 yr by TaliaB