So I purchased one of these Elon Smart Water Heaters, pretty easy to install and have it connected to 4 x 330W panels all in Series.

Yesterday was the first full day of Solar being delivered to the device and it did it's job.

Heated the water temp from 39 degrees to about 64 degrees by about 14h00, so overall happy so far.

Definitely slower then conventional AC power.

Now to organise CoC.

On 2025/11/26 at 4:44 PM, TaliaB said:

People people i have some many complaints about solar inefficiency in Gauteng due to the weather! I think this year is the worst solar radiation in Gauteng for a while. I have 4 x Victron Multiplus installations that I have connected Ac out 2 as geyser supply when surplus solar is available and I had calls from all 4 clients as to why their systems has become insufficient. We all need to remember all free electricity(surplus) is generator from solar power and not the size of the inverter. In my book you can't ever have enough solar panels no matter how small the inverter system. Solar power can always be managed especially if your are connected to the grid.

Allow me to share my real figues but I lost most of my figures for last year but also my operating of PV changed after getting prepaid in Sep 2024.

I will thus provide for 2023 vs 2025 for generation and power consumed for 2025

2023

Oct 224

Nov 234

Dec 272

2025

Oct 314 consumed 283

Nov 269 consumed 256

Dec 68 YTD consumed 62 YTD

If one looks at my figures the generation can be much higher as on sunshine days as my batteries are charged @ around 12h45. With few clouds it can be around 14h30 and some days like today I only got to 85% due to normal afternoon showers with lots of cloud from 12h30 and no sun and rainy weather from about 14h30. Also my generation can be quite a bit higher if I had more load connected during the day.

This would mean this year PV is a lot better than in 2023.

These figures thus seem to be the opposite and some other members in Gauteng.

@Denns

On 2025/12/08 at 8:39 PM, Scorp007 said:

Allow me to share my real figues but I lost most of my figures for last year but also my operating of PV changed after getting prepaid in Sep 2024.

I will thus provide for 2023 vs 2025 for generation and power consumed for 2025

2023

Oct 224

Nov 234

Dec 272

2025

Oct 314 consumed 283

Nov 269 consumed 256

Dec 68 YTD consumed 62 YTD

If one looks at my figures the generation can be much higher as on sunshine days as my batteries are charged @ around 12h45. With few clouds it can be around 14h30 and some days like today I only got to 85% due to normal afternoon showers with lots of cloud from 12h30 and no sun and rainy weather from about 14h30. Also my generation can be quite a bit higher if I had more load connected during the day.

This would mean this year PV is a lot better than in 2023.

These figures thus seem to be the opposite and some other members in Gauteng.

@Denns

I dont have PV generation measurements but the generation has been enough to run off-grid. Not too bad for my small system and LA battery bank.

Edited December 10, 2025Dec 10 by Denns

6 hours ago, Denns said:

I dont have PV generation measurements but the generation has been enough to run off-grid. Not too bad for my small system and LA battery bank.

If you disconnect power completely, you can save R1400 per month. That should provide a decent ROI on a generator.

4 hours ago, frivan said:

If you disconnect power completely, you can save R1400 per month. That should provide a decent ROI on a generator.

Yeah I am heading to COJ next week. Already got a note from CP to tell COJ it is their responsibility to close my account and not CPs. Next year that 1.4 will be some 1.6. So definitely not worth it considering I have gone since May without needing the grid on the house. In the last 2 months the geyser was removed from the grid so I havent needed any bit of the grid since.

Edited December 10, 2025Dec 10 by Denns