14 minutes ago, jdp said:

Plonky if they made a 8kw gti and it was legal I would do it yesterday. 

http://www.fronius.com/cps/rde/xchg/SID-6FA05AA2-7B2FED70/fronius_international/hs.xsl/83_34640_ENG_HTML.htm#.VvPj93rhlC0

Now THAT Fronius has what I call voltages for a MPPT controller ... 

4 minutes ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Now THAT Fronius has what I call voltages for a MPPT controller ... 

Like these from Voltronics 

http://www.voltronicpower.com/oCart2/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=73

Here is a local listing from our friends at sustainable. So subtract about 20% from that, ought to be able to get it for less than 35k. As IF I have that kind of money lying around. I'd probably look at the entry level 1.5kw Galvo model :-)

http://www.sustainable.co.za/fronius-primo-8-2kw-single-phase-grid-tie-inverter.html

@Viper, Inifnisolar and AXPERT/RCT/MECER, is like comparing a tablet with a Intel Server. 

1 minute ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

@Viper, Inifnisolar and AXPERT/RCT/MECER, is like comparing a tablet with a Intel Server. 

Keep telling yourself that 

Mmmm that is nice but I paid R8k for a Axpert as I buy from Rectron at dealer price. So I probaly need to add that it needs to be in the same price range as well lol. But now I know about this unit. So maybe I should sell my Axperts en get one of them. I see the Axperts go for around R15k each. 

To be fair though, you can't compare an off-grid inverter/charger (with a transfer switch) with a high-end GTI like that, and because of import costs and exchange rates we should probably consider that it's 10k more expensive than it needs to be. So its hard to draw a comparison here. As I said though, it's going to cost you. One thing I will never argue with, that the Axpert is amazing value for money. Kinda like a first-gen Hyundai Elantra... I remember the first people who bought them were exceedingly happy... while the rest of were like... mmmh... Korean? Better get another Jappo-box... :-)

Why not the Infini can work like a GTI and offer backup all in one? 

And I see this inverter does not have battery backup. I need a 8kw Infini. It has everything I need but you only get 5kw single phase. The 10 kw is 3 phase. 

get yourself 2 x infini 5kw+ then

Can they work in paralelle like the Axperts?

the plus model sure can,  comes std with it all configured. go check the original post i did with the pics showing all and sundry, i want to get another one to go to 10kw single phase, one battery bank but add another 30 panels one day. that will give us 20kw of pv

1 hour ago, jdp said:

Can they work in paralelle like the Axperts?

yes, just better as it is a true hybrid

16 hours ago, plonkster said:

Sounds to me like it has a transformer with a full bridge driver on both ends (depending on whether it is charging or inverting)?

Yes, exactly that.

Speaking of Intel Servers (while we slightly off topic)
First things to go once switching to Solar - 2 large G3 blade servers drawing 400W each at idle with those huge fans and power supplies, One replaced with a 5W Pi, the other with an i3 Server (uses about 40W at idle, was impressed).

Kleva I use a NUC to run all my Windows stuff. It uses 8w of power. 78w per hour. 

2 hours ago, kleva said:

5W Pi

Pi should use less than that really. The interwebz says 700mA if you're using all the onboard stuff, so more like 3.5W. Will depend on how much external stuff you have plugged into the USB ports of course.

2 hours ago, plonkster said:

Pi should use less than that really. The interwebz says 700mA if you're using all the onboard stuff, so more like 3.5W. Will depend on how much external stuff you have plugged into the USB ports of course.

500mb ext hard drive (no ext power), using a 2A power supply on Pi, so calc is rough. 1A supply can't power pi & ext drive, pi kept resetting and had to max the usb currents in config. So my guestimate is about 5-10W... still, huge saving for a machine that has all but replaced a 400W+++ monolith... 13 Websites with MySql & Wordpress, and space/resources left over...

Busy configuring another to replace the 200W PABX... love these things...

4 x PC/Servers (only 1 LED screen on), 2 x Pi, 1 x Managed Switch, 2 x Wireless AP, 2 x DSL Routers, CCTV PVR & Cameras, DSTV, Asus EEE PC, 1 x Acer Laptop, 1 x Trickle Charger for Bike Battery, Fridge & Geyser + a few cell chargers + gate charger & intercom + other small things I have probably forgotten (PBX turned off today, thanks to a Telkom fault) and getting < 600W load listed from Axpert. (In Utility mode thanks to Rain).. Does that sound right/too low/too high?

<Edit> Sorry the reason I am asking is whether I need to take the expensive plunge on a 702, it's 1/2 monthly income at the moment.

Sorry JDP, missed your post about the NUC. Which spec is it? My impression is that they are still too pricey, even the Pi is expensive in SA, but managed to get my hands on 4 new Pi 2's with covers/psu/memory for R400/ea so jumped at that. (funny story, lighties PC crashed, so I tossed a Pi at him and told him to learn linux , can't afford new PC after recession and Solar kit purchase, plus his broken PC saves me another 60W power ) . Have modded a old Asus EEE pc with Atom processor to Run Win 7 (only because I wanted to run AICC and leave this permanently next to the Axpert, but other plans have since been made, so now it's back to being my Netflix/Hulu/VPN machine on the TV)

Getting back on topic:
How far out is the information given by the Axpert vs the information given with an added 702? My budget is extremely tight, so for just monitoring and making sure I don't damage stuff, can I stick to the Axpert info, or should I add kit?

I have the i5 quad core. Yes they are pricey. Was R8k. But I still love the little thing. I also have 2 RPi running other stuff. Pi 2B and Pi3B

2 hours ago, kleva said:

Getting back on topic:
How far out is the information given by the Axpert vs the information given with an added 702? My budget is extremely tight, so for just monitoring and making sure I don't damage stuff, can I stick to the Axpert info, or should I add kit?

IMO the BMV is important for two reasons

1. SOC in the Axpert is not accurate. You can get a fair idea where you stand in terms of SOC if you consider that under moderate load the voltage will be roughly 0.5 -0.7V below resting voltage and a charging rate of  1-2% of battery capacity is float.
2. The mid-point probe that comes with a BMV 702 is more important than an accurate SOC and I think an accurate SOC is fairly important. Without a midpoint reading one does not really know what is going on in ones battery bank. Impending disaster can be picked up with a BMV and software logging mid-point deviation. The hassle is you cannot remedy the situation highlighted by mid-point readings without spending more money on kit.

32 minutes ago, Chris Hobson said:

1. The mid-point probe that comes with a BMV 702 is more important than an accurate SOC and I think an accurate SOC is fairly important. Without a midpoint reading one does not really know what is going on in ones battery bank. Impending disaster can be picked up with a BMV and software logging mid-point deviation. The hassle is you cannot remedy the situation highlighted by mid-point readings without spending more money on kit.

Although I agree 100%, it also depends on how many batts are in the bank, not so?

For I have 4, and every 2-3 months I simply swap them around during a maintenance session.

And you can, if you want, take readings using a hydrometer every few weeks.

So you can, if you want, go with a BMV 600 or 700, If funds are tight.

Thanks, so either way I'll have to get something, might as well get the better one... Now to find cheapest place to get in KZN. Currently Sustainable is R > R3800 incl VAT (excl Delivery), ReVolt is R3200 but don't specify VAT or Delivery...