I would be most grateful for advice on my first system:

Goal

ROI in  a relatively short time - I don't want to overspend

Maybe use solar during day time  - go on grid at night - avoid using expensive batteries

Seeking protection from future Eskom price rises 

Scenario 

Cape Town

Consumption - Low  - yesterday used  11.4 units (Dishwasher/geyser/lights)

- 3 bedroom house - no kids
- Electric geyser (on 2 hours daily)
- Electric oil heater 1-3 000W (adjustable) (Winter only  -  5 hours night time)
- Dish washer - daily
- Washing machine - twice a week
- Drier (not using at the moment)
- Fridge
- Usual TV/PC/modem/amplifier
- Security lights LED's  120W on all night

System

Please advise on which type of inverter and brand

Thinking of  hybrid 5K Goodwe  GW5048 EM 
or 3K Victron (not sure which one in the range)
There is also SMA?

Looking for reliable quality system - don't want to buy twice

Goodwe is well featured and more capacity than the Victron
at that price point but does its quality compare with Victron?

Solar

I have room for  up to  12 panels on the carport  - faces North West.
Was thinking of 6 Canadian 350W?

Batteries

I can add later if load shedding worsens?

Trojan / Pylon /Varta /Bosch lead acid/ Lead crystal  - Deltec?
Goodwe can run with or without batteries - not sure about Victrons/SMA's

At the moment using re-chargeable camping lights.
Would like power for TV though.
Have avoided buying a cheap UPS which I consider a waste
.

Edited March 26, 20197 yr by Mistral
Addition

Welcome Mistral.

I would vote for:
Victron MultiPlus II Inverter 48/3000/35-32 230V with a MK3-USB to upgrade firmware
Victron BlueSolar MPPT regulator max 150/35 or 45 or 100 with VE.Direct to USB cable for MPPT (1.8m)
VenusGX
Carlo Gavazzi with RS485 to USB - 5m

Because it is on the CoCT list, it falls with the 3.5kw limit of the normal nome breakers and it is plug and forget.

Obviously the loads it powers are the NEED ones if Eskom is off with Pylontech batteries.
Rest of the time it is the house being fed with solar, it being grid tied.

Price wise it is similar to a 5kw Goodwe, depending on the MPPT bought.

Many thanks for your prompt analysis!

I am much focused on needs rather than wants - it is so easy

to install an ultimate system which will never provide ROI in the medium future.

 

On batteries - it seems lead acid seldom last longer than two years and of course lithium is the answer.

Cost wise I presume it still pays to use lead acid??  

Incidentally I had one of the first lead crystal batteries in SA for

the 4x4 - 7 years on and still going strong. Impressive!

57 minutes ago, Mistral said:

On batteries - it seems lead acid seldom last longer than two years and of course lithium is the answer.

Lead acids can last +-8-10 years if used to 20% DOD, mine is going 4.5 years. BUT, lithiums, as you have seen since when you  first got them is much better today.

57 minutes ago, Mistral said:

I am much focused on needs rather than wants - it is so easy to install an ultimate system which will never provide ROI in the medium future.

Since I installed what I proposed above, CoCT has lost about R1k per month from me. If they did not insist on the R150 ex VAT and must register, I would have stayed as I was off-grid.

So now I am pocketing and they are out of pocket ... and I cannot even fully utilize the 2.1kw array the entire day.

So yes, NEED's are easy and quick, just need to educate CoCT that we are ok with a hybrid ito regulations, but that is another matter.

Edited March 26, 20197 yr by Guest

Your system sizing is about spot on, extra panels never hurts, but as it is grid tie without any mission critical off grid loads, what you propose looks about right.

What's been the experience with your wind turbine?

5 hours ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Carlo Gavazzi with RS485 to USB - 5m

What would the purpose of the Carlo Gavazzi be?

Edited March 26, 20197 yr by stoic

1 hour ago, DeepBass9 said:

Your system sizing is about spot on, extra panels never hurts, but as it is grid tie without any mission critical off grid loads, what you propose looks about right.

But where is the ROI if this is a grid-tied setup? The 6 panels might generate the 11kWh daily avg, say 350kWh in a month. The service charges alone make it almost unviable. Might need to go off-grid anyway and fill all the available roof space to make it pay for itself. Or am I missing something?

8 minutes ago, stoic said:

What would the purpose of the Carlo Gavazzi be?

As I posted elsewhere:

Let me try and explain it so that it makes sense. 
Because "we" only use:
AC_in - Inverter connected to the main DB
AC_out1 - essential always on loads connected to inverter via either a separate DB or what what ...

Picture it that both Eskom and Inverter are supplying AC to the main DB.
Now picture the Victron kit pushing all the power it can draw from mainly the panels, IF there are AC loads on the main DB, to force a lower draw from Eskom.
If there are no loads or small loads on the main DB, the Victron kit will supply just enough to balance the draw from Eskom, to like 10-50w, depending on your setting.

Versus ...
IF one was to connect the main DB to AC_out2, THAT would have meant all passes via the inverter, which complicates things. So we don't do that.

Therein the need for the Carlo Gavazzi to measure all that goes into and out of the main DB, if AC_out2 is not used, so that it knows how much power it must push into the main DB.

Just now, GreenFields said:

But where is the ROI if this is a grid-tied setup? The 6 panels might generate the 11kWh daily avg, say 350kWh in a month. The service charges alone make it almost nonviable. Might need to go off-grid anyway and fill all the available roof space to make it pay for itself. Or am I missing something?

The 11kWh generated is therefor offsetted against the Eskom and that is where the savings start.

There are no daily service charges because one feeds nothing back.

Grid tied is one sure way to make a huge dent on Eskom charges, like us, CoCT is losing +-R1k per month since we went grid tied.

4 minutes ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Let me try and explain it so that it makes sense. 

Thx for clearing that up. 

The answer to the question "what is the CG meter for" is "Go watch the ESS webinar". Really, you only need to watch the first 30 minutes 🙂

Where to shop = I am in Cape Town

 

Current Automation?

 

also Victron MultiPlus II Inverter 48/3000/35-32 230V

 

What are these two figures  35-32 after the 3KW - I have found one model with 35-50??

 

also am I correct in  thinking that MultiPlus must not be used with Lithium's

14 hours ago, Mistral said:

What's been the experience with your wind turbine?

Not worth it apart from being a garden ornament and conversation piece. If you have a LOT of wind in your location it may be worth it, but solar produces much more power for the same capital cost.

Thanks very much for the info!

Where to shop?

 

Any suggestions please for reliable service/delivery......

 

Also installers?

Best place to buy a CG? 

(Carlo Gavazzi with RS485 to USB )