Building 100% off-grid farmhouse (Location Zinbabwe) — looking for real-world feedback
Planned system:
• 30 × 605 W panels (~18.15 kWp)
• 3 × LuxPower SNA6000 in parallel (18 kW AC)
• 2 × Hinaess PowerGem PLUS 51.2 V, 14.3 kWh each (28.6 kWh nominal) — provision for a 3rd

Use strategy: run all heavy daytime loads (induction 2-plate, under-counter oven, washing machine, 1 HP borehole, 0.5 HP booster VSD, 300 L heat-pump) during sun hours only.

Night loads limited to fridge, freezer, lights, TV, fans, brief booster runs.
Important: I’m intentionally oversizing PV so daytime loads are covered by panels and batteries see minimal daytime cycling — I want these batteries to last as long as possible.
Questions:

1. Is LuxPower + Hinaess a sensible, cost-effective choice here, or should I go Victron + [brand X batteries]?

2. Any real-world experience running heavy daytime loads off-grid like this? What practical pitfalls did you hit?

Shouldn't be a problem to run the loads during the day - 18kw of inverters should be fine for this

Your thinking is sound. The way to maximse the potential of any solar system (generation or direct heating) is to quite literally make hay whilst the sun shines.

On 2025/08/24 at 2:34 PM, mugg007 said:

Building 100% off-grid farmhouse (Location Zinbabwe) — looking for real-world feedback
Planned system:
• 30 × 605 W panels (~18.15 kWp)
• 3 × LuxPower SNA6000 in parallel (18 kW AC)
• 2 × Hinaess PowerGem PLUS 51.2 V, 14.3 kWh each (28.6 kWh nominal) — provision for a 3rd

Use strategy: run all heavy daytime loads (induction 2-plate, under-counter oven, washing machine, 1 HP borehole, 0.5 HP booster VSD, 300 L heat-pump) during sun hours only.

Night loads limited to fridge, freezer, lights, TV, fans, brief booster runs.
Important: I’m intentionally oversizing PV so daytime loads are covered by panels and batteries see minimal daytime cycling — I want these batteries to last as long as possible.
Questions:

1. Is LuxPower + Hinaess a sensible, cost-effective choice here, or should I go Victron + [brand X batteries]?

2. Any real-world experience running heavy daytime loads off-grid like this? What practical pitfalls did you hit?

What is the electrical load of the heat pump?

As you already use induction plates you might consider a convection oven of large air fryer to reduce the load from what I guess the under counter oven uses. But if using the oven is also only day time then ignore the above.

All seems good as already mentioned.

9 hours ago, Scorp007 said:

What is the electrical load of the heat pump?

As you already use induction plates you might consider a convection oven of large air fryer to reduce the load from what I guess the under counter oven uses. But if using the oven is also only day time then ignore the above.

All seems good as already mentioned.

The heat pump is 1kw. Yes the oven is daytime only

Hi

I would like to know did you install the system? Do you have any feedback on it for us yet?

Regards

Having 30 panels is a great idea, over paneling is something we all do.

What I found works well is having majority of the panels facing north, but also some panels facing east and some panels facing west. This maximizes the solar production throughout the day. While you don’t have very high solar peaks, you do end up having more solar production because you start charging earlier in the day and end later in the day.

In my own system I have 5Kwp facing north, 2Kwp facing east and 2Kwp facing west. Geyser timer comes on at 10am and goes off at 2pm, although it is usually hot by 12pm. Cooking or baking is done in the afternoon and no heavy loads after 4pm.

2x comments from my side.

1. Booster pump (maybe other pumps as well) on a separate inverter ; ie instead of 3x in parallel take 2x in parallel and the third one separate for pumps. I've got a similar scenario and this will ensure that if there is a sudden "pull" that your normal appliances cannot be impacted by this

2. The (almost) 30KwH seems to be quite high for only lights and your base evening load? I've got about 20kwH nominal and can run dishwasher twice in the evening if required.