August 17, 20205 yr 15 hours ago, Durbanguy said: Is your heat pump ac or dc how much power does it draw at peak. My Heat pump is AC. (I have not seen a DC one). It is a 3.5kW unit (heat output) and use 900W (input). The motor startup is 1.4kW 15 hours ago, Durbanguy said: grid-tie inverter without exporting power You don't have to export with a grid-tie inverter, but check the unit that for the specs as they are not all the same. Grid-tie normally don't have battery backups though, so if the utility is down your power is also down (it is a safety feature they all have to have) Other inverters also blend power (Victron Multiplus, I think the Axpert King also, and many other)
September 14, 20205 yr Hello everyone, can you please advise me on which books to read to get started. I have identified "DIY Solar Power" by Micah Toll and was wondering if perhaps anyone would recommend this book or any others to get started? Regards
October 11, 20205 yr On 2020/09/14 at 1:58 PM, Eduan said: Hello everyone, can you please advise me on which books to read to get started. I have identified "DIY Solar Power" by Micah Toll and was wondering if perhaps anyone would recommend this book or any others to get started? Hi Eduan, and welcome. What all do you want to learn about? Do you plan to DIY build a LiFePo4 battery? Do you want to buy your first inverter? Do you want to buy a charge controller? Is there something specific you want to research?
November 24, 20205 yr On 2020/10/11 at 5:10 PM, Solaris said: Hi Eduan, and welcome. What all do you want to learn about? Do you plan to DIY build a LiFePo4 battery? Do you want to buy your first inverter? Do you want to buy a charge controller? Is there something specific you want to research? I would like to start going off the grid. I know nothing about solar so I need a complete beginners guide.
November 24, 20205 yr 54 minutes ago, Eduan said: I would like to start going off the grid. I know nothing about solar so I need a complete beginners guide. 48 Volts. Anything else is a waste of time. Buy a small direct inverter and a couple of panels (sufficient to get the inverter operating). Feed directly into your household grid, and start learning. The best learning is accomplished whilst doing. You can reasonably get going for under R20K.
November 24, 20205 yr On 2020/09/14 at 1:58 PM, Eduan said: Hello everyone, can you please advise me on which books to read to get started. I have identified "DIY Solar Power" by Micah Toll and was wondering if perhaps anyone would recommend this book or any others to get started? I don't know of any RE books but I suggest you find people who have installed systems. It's not too difficult: have a look for houses with PV panels on the roof and go knock on their door. Most people who have installed systems are happy to talk about them..
November 24, 20205 yr 1 hour ago, Richard Mackay said: I don't know of any RE books but I suggest you find people who have installed systems. It's not too difficult: have a look for houses with PV panels on the roof and go knock on their door. Most people who have installed systems are happy to talk about them.. True dat! It's even more of a problem than with vegan cross-fit yacht owners.
November 24, 20205 yr Thanks for all the feedback. I know that I learn a lot quicker when I attempt something myself. @PaulinNorthcliffI will get started with what you suggested and then read and speak to people to learn more. @VassenI have some time on my hands and in no way in a rush. I would like to move to a smallholding eventually and by then want to implement everything I have learnt to try and go off the grid. The main culprits with the highest consumption is the kettle, geyser and oven at the moment. The stove top is already gas and the kettle is being replaced by a stove top one as soon as this one konks out. Will keep everyone posted.
November 24, 20205 yr 7 minutes ago, Eduan said: The main culprits with the highest consumption is the kettle, geyser and oven at the moment. The stove top is already gas and the kettle is being replaced by a stove top one as soon as this one konks out. Will keep everyone posted. EVERYTHING that generates heat should be on gas. I'm seriously looking at a Rinnai gas-heated tumble drier. Although I have no problem with solar energy at the moment. https://rinnai-gas-geysers.co.za/with-the-ability-to-dry-a-load-of-towels-in-under-an-hour-the-dry-soft-6-might-be-considered-a-luxury-by-some-but-its-a-necessity-for-large-families/ Edited November 24, 20205 yr by PaulinNorthcliff
January 26, 20215 yr I found this forum while setting up my first home solar system. Very useful information that can’t be found anywhere else! Thanks to this forum I was able to troubleshoot and resolve all issues I had! Excellenté! My setup: • Axpert VM 5KV Inverter • 4x 400W PV Panels in series • 1x US2000b PylonTech Battery I will be adding another 2 panels and an additional 1 to 2 batteries next week. All working great
January 31, 20215 yr On 26/01/2021 at 5:57 PM, Beejsteri0us said: I found this forum while setting up my first home solar system. Very useful information that can’t be found anywhere else! Thanks to this forum I was able to troubleshoot and resolve all issues I had! Excellenté! My setup: • Axpert VM 5KV Inverter • 4x 400W PV Panels in series • 1x US2000b PylonTech Battery I will be adding another 2 panels and an additional 1 to 2 batteries next week. All working great Hi is the Axpert VM inverter a hybrid or off- grid.
May 5, 20215 yr As the title says, complete noob checking in. Looking at buying the following: - 1 x Sunsynk 8kW - 2 x Hubble 5.5kW battery - Solar panels (not sure how many) It's all quite daunting because i dont know what the minimum equipment i would need to make this work. Reading the forum and gathering info so far. Alot of helpful people on here so I am very grateful!
May 5, 20215 yr 2 hours ago, conradl said: As the title says, complete noob checking in. Looking at buying the following: - 1 x Sunsynk 8kW - 2 x Hubble 5.5kW battery - Solar panels (not sure how many) It's all quite daunting because i dont know what the minimum equipment i would need to make this work. Reading the forum and gathering info so far. Alot of helpful people on here so I am very grateful! It depends what you want to achieve, to just reduce the Eskom bill or mitigate loadshedding, or both? Your list suggests both, but we need to know to be sure. Also, do you want to go Big Bang or a phased, more budget friendly approach. And while we are on budget, what do you have for your goal? What is your current daily and monthly consumption (kWh)? What do you use for water heating? Any special requirements like pool pump etc.? Do you have roofspace or is it a ground install? If roof, what is the azimuth and pitch? And assuming a panel average of 1mx2m, how many panels could you fit?
May 5, 20215 yr What is your current daily and monthly consumption (kWh)? 15kWh per day in summer, 20kWh per day in winter 3kW) Any special requirements like pool pump etc.? - 0.75kW pump, stove (max 2kW element) and - oven (max 3.6kW, but i've never seen the oven draw this). Gas is not an option due to the SABS requirements for bottles being 1m away from boundary wall and 1m from a window. All my walls around the house are either exactly 1m (and less in parts) OR a window - Aircon (inverter type) - draws about 0.4kWh from what I've monitored Do you have roofspace or is it a ground install? roof If roof, what is the azimuth and pitch? And assuming a panel average of 1mx2m, how many panels could you fit? No idea, and no idea... I've spoken to Steve and he said he'll check for me because my largest roof area is facing all east because west facing is very irregular so it would be 1/2 panels here and there. Quick math: 23.4deg pitch and area 60m2 Edited May 5, 20215 yr by conradl
May 5, 20215 yr 5 hours ago, conradl said: What is your current daily and monthly consumption (kWh)? 15kWh per day in summer, 20kWh per day in winter 3kW) Any special requirements like pool pump etc.? - 0.75kW pump, stove (max 2kW element) and - oven (max 3.6kW, but i've never seen the oven draw this). Gas is not an option due to the SABS requirements for bottles being 1m away from boundary wall and 1m from a window. All my walls around the house are either exactly 1m (and less in parts) OR a window - Aircon (inverter type) - draws about 0.4kWh from what I've monitored Do you have roofspace or is it a ground install? roof If roof, what is the azimuth and pitch? And assuming a panel average of 1mx2m, how many panels could you fit? No idea, and no idea... I've spoken to Steve and he said he'll check for me because my largest roof area is facing all east because west facing is very irregular so it would be 1/2 panels here and there. Quick math: 23.4deg pitch and area 60m2 Sunsynk 8k inverter should easily manage those loads, a good choice, and the 4 MPPTS make it really flexible with panels. Plus you stick things like the pool pump on the Aux port as a Smart Load. You never mentioned what you use for water heating, but if it's a normal geyser you can also put it on a smart load. I am hearing good things about the Hubble batteries too. 20 - 24 450W JA Solar panels will fit in 40 squares and will deliver 9000 - 10800kWp, Many have great results from a East / West split, the advantage over North facing is that you start producing earlier and stop later. Steve from the Powerforum Store? You are in good hands then, he did my spec and design and I am very happy.
May 6, 20215 yr @YellowTapemeasure, i have 2 x evacuated tube solar geysers, both with 3kW elements. Only the one element is setup to switch on in the morning in winters. I also suffer the thermosiphoning effect that I've seen somewhere else in the forum (will try fix that as well). Had a 45min discussion with Steve, before i had to go to a meeting
November 12, 20214 yr Reviving the chat - Thanks to the MyBB friends that pointed me in this direction...
December 3, 20214 yr Good Day All I'm new to the Lithium Ion Phosphate Battery-Inverter setup. So, recently decided to invest in a more holistic full home setup from Solved Solar Africa. I purchased the following as below: Axpert MKS II 5kW 48V Inverter Axpert WiFi Module SHOTO 5.12kWh Lithium Battery 160A 2 Pole Multiblock NH00 Fuse Holder 100A 500V NH Fuse Link x2 PermoPower 35mm Black Cable PermoPower 35mm Red Cable 35mm Heavy Duty Crimping Lugs I was told that I would require an AC Breaker to wire into the DB as the only extra. I will have a qualified electrician that will be installing the inverter and battery backup for me. Anything else that I should look out for like where to install it inside or outside the house, etc? I'm staying in a very high moisture area, and would like to keep the setup in house, but where to install it, as my kitchen area is very small. So any other room would be fine? Thanx.
January 17, 20224 yr On 2021/12/03 at 12:45 PM, Prince3121 said: Good Day All I'm new to the Lithium Ion Phosphate Battery-Inverter setup. So, recently decided to invest in a more holistic full home setup from Solved Solar Africa. I purchased the following as below: Axpert MKS II 5kW 48V Inverter Axpert WiFi Module SHOTO 5.12kWh Lithium Battery 160A 2 Pole Multiblock NH00 Fuse Holder 100A 500V NH Fuse Link x2 PermoPower 35mm Black Cable PermoPower 35mm Red Cable 35mm Heavy Duty Crimping Lugs I was told that I would require an AC Breaker to wire into the DB as the only extra. I will have a qualified electrician that will be installing the inverter and battery backup for me. Anything else that I should look out for like where to install it inside or outside the house, etc? I'm staying in a very high moisture area, and would like to keep the setup in house, but where to install it, as my kitchen area is very small. So any other room would be fine? Thanx. I would keep in mind the noise from the Axpert to find a good place. Fans and beeper are a bit noisy.
February 6, 20233 yr Hi All Would appreciate some opinions on pricing I received recently 8kw Sunsynk Inverter - R47,500 each LBSA 5.1kw lithium Batt - R28,900 each 540W Mono panels (not sure of brand) - R4,200 each All are VAT included. Just want to make sure I am on the right path not to get ripped on pricing. Thanks
February 16, 20233 yr Hi All What should the distance be between rows of panels? They will be mounted on steel frames on a flat roof facing north laying at a 35 degree angle.
February 18, 20233 yr On 2023/02/06 at 2:58 PM, Brends said: Just want to make sure I am on the right path not to get ripped on pricing. Why don't you compare pricing with similar products and pricing from here that should then give you an idea if there's a *LARGE* discrepancy or *NOT* between your pricing and that from a reputable supplier... as for the distance between panel rows, ek weet nie, if they're mounted behind each other and can put a shadow 1st row to 2nd row, you'd need to work out the angle the sun can go down (lowest angle in winter) to and on that basis work out the spacing required... I'm guessing if you google, there are formulas etc. published somewhere to make life easier... Edited February 18, 20233 yr by Kalahari Meerkat grammatik
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