I have done some research, and I think I am ready to place an order for a solar installation, with batteries. 

I received various quotations from suppliers which did differ a lot, So then asked again to quote on a Victron system which brought the prices more in-line with one another but still some difference in price, understandably.

I stay in Gauteng, in an area, which allows for feeding back excess power into the grid.

I just want to double check to see if what I am quoted make sense and that I am not being "ripped off".

Also I know that I will not be able to run everything from solar/battery, I will have to split my DB in grid / non grid items.

My AVG Consumption over the last 12 months was 803kWh per month with  Maximum of 1335 kWh in July. I will probably in future extend to add more capacity. 

See attached images of usage and proposal. 

In summary, it was suggested to start with

• 1 x Victron Multiplus, 48/5000/70-1000 4000W inverter,
• 16 panels x 330W
• 2 x Pylontech 3.5 kWh Lith-ion batteries .

According my calculations this should work for about 75% of current load.

 

Edited May 6, 20197 yr by isimobile

Welcome Isimobile.

If I was you, I would buy a inverter that is on the CoCT list simply because just in case CoJHB decides to follow the same rules.

You don't want an inverter months / years later than has to be replaced because it is not "approved".

Just my 2 cents.

Edited May 6, 20197 yr by Guest

8 minutes ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Welcome Isimobile.

If I was you, I would buy a iunverter that is on the CoCT list simply because just in case CoJHB decides to follow the same rules.

You don't want an inverter months / years later than has to be replaced because it is not "approved".

Just my 2 cents.

I am staying in a secure estate with power provided directly from Eskom, not from any metro, the estate has it's own, electricy "company", and they provide the electricity, so from my understanding it is not needed to use one from the CoCT list.  I did ask, unless the law changes, I can use the victron unit. Hopefully it wil not bite me in the ...

14 minutes ago, isimobile said:

I am staying in a secure estate with power provided directly from Eskom, not from any metro, the estate has it's own, electricity "company", and they provide the electricity, so from my understanding it is not needed to use one from the CoCT list.  I did ask, unless the law changes, I can use the Victron unit. Hopefully it will not bite me in the ...

That is the best you can do!!! Respect for taking the effort to find out for yourself.

So my system has been installed, finally, but something does not seem correct, so I have a question?

I will ask my installer, but maybe someone here can answer before I can ask them on Monday.

The system is operational since Wednesday, but I saw last night and tonight, it looks like when I have something on from the non critical loads, ie, geyser or stove in the evening it draws the current from the battery, should it not draw it from the grid, that is what non critical loads are setup for, to not use the battery correct or am I incorrect? 

5 minutes ago, isimobile said:

 draws the current from the battery, should it not draw it from the grid, 

I see you installed Victron, Correct? When "Self consumption" on Victron is allowed, it will us from the battery's until it reach  your Minimum SOC (unless grid fails) setpoint. Only after that it will use Grid. If you want the battery's to remain full, you should select. Keep Batteries Charged in ESS.  (Path is Settings-Ess-Mode)

A second option will be to select "Scheduled Charging" and setting it to have a certain SOC at certain times. This will allow it battery's to remain at a certain level through out the night, allowing you to have battery power in reserve should the power fail during the night. @plonkster  & @The Terrible Triplettcan tell you more about this.    

Thanks, 

Just if I look at this graph below, currenlty with geysor on, should it not get it from "AC Loads", but mine is showing from critical loads, that is what is confusing me?

36 minutes ago, isimobile said:

"AC Loads"

AC loads is loads connected after the Grid meter , but before the inverter, if the geyser shows in Critical loads, its connected after the Inverter. Where do you want it? 

29 minutes ago, Jaco de Jongh said:

AC loads is loads connected after the Grid meter , but before the inverter, if the geyser shows in Critical loads, its connected after the Inverter. Where do you want it? 

Should it not be/can it be before the invertor? 

Why I am asking is, what I see, is that with the current setup, the battery is used for power by the geyser/stove that is causing a warning on ccgx for battery for high discharge current, which is not good for the battery correct?

 

8 hours ago, isimobile said:

Should it not be/can it be before the invertor? 

It can be before the inverter, excess PV power will be fed to the front of the inverter trying to satisfy/meet the load. the drawback on that means that in the event of  power failure, you wont be able to warm the geyser, but at least you will save your battery's.  Same with the stove. 

 

in my setup the Stove and one big aircon is in front of the inverter.

8 hours ago, isimobile said:

Should it not be/can it be before the invertor? 

The geyser is connected to Ac_Out1, correct?
You are gird tied, correct?
If so, then the geyser must stay in the main DB DB board and not onto the inverters AC)Out1. With grid tied the inverter will feed the DB board too, if setup correctly.

The only loads connected the AC_Out1 are the loads you want on when Eskom is off.

More info here: https://powerforum.co.za/topic/2946-victron-grid-tied-setup-from-scratch/

6 hours ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

If so, then the geyser must stay in the main DB DB board and not onto the inverters AC)Out1

Why a must? My geyser is connected to AC out, been like that for years and I have no problems with that. Its a personal preference, not a must... that is why I asked  @isimobile where does he prefer it to be......

9 hours ago, Jaco de Jongh said:

It can be before the inverter, excess PV power will be fed to the front of the inverter trying to satisfy/meet the load. the drawback on that means that in the event of  power failure, you wont be able to warm the geyser, but at least you will save your battery's.  Same with the stove.  

 

in my setup the Stove and one big aircon is in front of the inverter.

Yes, that is where I want it, I do not want it to be used when power is off/grid failure.

I only want to use batteries on essential load.

Will ask installer to move/fix it.

Thanks.

On 2019/06/29 at 7:14 AM, Jaco de Jongh said:

Why a must?

Because I asked two questions ... 

On 2019/06/29 at 12:44 AM, The Terrible Triplett said:

1) The geyser is connected to Ac_Out1, correct?
2) You are gird tied, correct?
If so, then the geyser must stay in the main DB board and not onto the inverters AC_Out1. With grid tied the inverter will feed the DB board too, if setup correctly.

If the geyser / stove is connect to Ac_Out1 then the batts will be used to heat they geyser at one time or another as you also alluded to.
So unless you want that, you must not connect the geyser / stove onto Ac-Out1. 

Having the geyser on Ac_Out2 i.e. non-essentials loads / loads that goes off when Eskom fails, is similar to having it on the main DB BUT I found it simpler to not use Ac_Out2 at all by getting a Carlo Gavazzi installed on the main DB, seeing as the inverter feeds the main DB in any case when grid tied AND because I wanted to record data for both DB boards, therefor the Carlo Gavazzi. Two flies with one swat.

Edited July 1, 20197 yr by Guest

3 minutes ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Because I asked two questions ... 

Still a personal choice in my opinion. 

Just now, Jaco de Jongh said:

Still a personal choice in my opinion. 

I said ...

4 minutes ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

So unless you want that, ...

 

1 minute ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

I said ...

 

On 2019/06/29 at 12:44 AM, The Terrible Triplett said:

the geyser must

👍

So, 

I had the installer here on Wednesday, but they could not solve the problem of the ccgx showing 0 load on ac loads. They first checked the DB and they said it all looks correct, what they showed me looks correct. They then had someone remote login, to check the settings of the MP II. They said it all looks correct. So it has now been escalated up the chain. 

My question is what could be the cause of not showing any loads on ac loads? We did double check the non essential load DB is connected to ac_out2. I am a bit frustrated that it is not working correctly yet. Any pointers would be appreciated.

Thx

 

1 hour ago, isimobile said:

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Question: I presume AC_Out2 has nothing connected to it, all is on AC_Out1, the always on loads?

Do you have a Calro Gavazzi installed in the DB after the main breaker, that is connected to the VenusGX?

Edited July 4, 20197 yr by Guest

9 hours ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Question: I presume AC_Out2 has nothing connected to it, all is on AC_Out1, the always on loads?

Do you have a Calro Gavazzi installed in the DB after the main breaker, that is connected to the VenusGX?

Yes, I have a Carlo Gavazzi installed (Energy Meter ET112). That is the weird thing, my non essential load is connected to AC_Out2 and my essential is connected to AC_Out1, so it should be displaying correctly, I think and the installer. But it is not showing anything.

1 hour ago, isimobile said:

Yes, I have a Carlo Gavazzi installed ...

And it is showing up on the VenusGX, you can see it on the device list?

1 hour ago, isimobile said:

... , so it should be displaying correctly, ...

Long shot in the absence of the real professional as @plonkster is currently on holiday at his favorite destination.

Try to disconnect the Carlo from the VenusGX, reboot it just to be 100% sure, and see if that changes anything.

It is something stupid that it is not showing. It shall be found.

2 hours ago, isimobile said:

But it is not showing anything.

Ok, from a Victron dealer, I translate verbatim: Connect AC_Out2 wires to AC_In and the problem should be resolved.

 

Isimobile, did you resolve this issue? I have also just connected my Multiplus 2 and have exactly the same issue. Have you tried TTT's  recommendation. 

Some feedback. It has been resolved!

How, there was an issue with how the new non essential DB was setup.

I would like to thank @Jaco de Jongh, he came out to my house, as he was in the erea today and offered his assistance, and within the first 15 minutes pointed out the issue. My new non essential DB was, even though it was connected to ac_out2, was connected after the inverter and not before. He moved some wires around, ie moved some neutrals, from my understanding, he can correct me gladly, and now it is showing load on "ac loads" correctly! 

@Kilowatt, the issues was that the non essential DB was almost setup correctly, but not 100% So double check your wiring, is all I can suggest.

I cannot really fault my installer either, you would only notice these issues once you done a few of the installs, which I new they have not done, they have done a few SMA & Goodwe installs but only one / two Victron installs, and not MP II's. Was my choice to use them, but I  and they have learned,and hopefully someone here as well.

One thing that I still need to try and work around is with the MP II, whith ESS, it will consume from battery even though the geyser is before the invertor but after the energy meter. Jaco made a few suggestions, which I am going to try out and report back on.

Thanks for the feedback. I am pretty sure I have made the same wiring mistakes that you had, when the Electrician comes back we will give it another go. Other than that I gained some good confidence with my system yesterday, my wife had big loads running most of the afternoon, and we ran without any hiccups even up to 8kw passing through the inverter at times. 

I'm very satisfied with the Victron equipment so far. 

@Isismobile, do your Phylontech batteries show up under the Device list? I cant see my batteries on mine. I have the Victron VE CAN to CAN BUS cable linking the battery and Venus GX

What size cable do you have between your combiner box and MPPT?