On 2020/07/20 at 6:52 PM, JustinSchoeman said:

Just waking up this thread for more opinions...

I need a minimum of about 7kW of inverter power to not have to live around the inverter.  These are the options I have found so far:

2x Axpert MKSII: Very popular, with lots of support. Easy to use, but some complaints of unreliability. 2 year warranty, but only when installed by an approved installer.

2x Growatt SPF 5000 ES: Looks like an Axpert clone, but supposedly better quality. Not very big in SA, but the write-ups I have seen are reasonably good. Might even be a bit cheaper than the Axpert solution, but with mush more features. 5 year warranty, and at least on the Ausie forums, there seem to be no quibbles with warranty claims.

1x Sunsynk 8k: About R8k more expensive than the above 2, and lower output. Also not big in SA, but seems to get very good write-ups elsewhere. Simple single-inverter solution with nice features. Also 5 year warranty, but no idea what local support is like. Factory support is excellent though, with all my questions (comms capabilities, protocol docs, etc) answered in minutes.

Can anybody perhaps provide any further notes/opinions on these options? Anything I have missed in my pros/cons list?

Thanks,

Justin

Do you want the 7kW ability just when the grid is available or even when the grid isn't available?

If you only need it when the grid is available, just get an inverter with a 30A+ transfer ability. For example the Victron Multiplus II 3kVA has a transfer ability of 32A, so it would be perfect.

5 minutes ago, jykenmynie said:

Do you want the 7kW ability just when the grid is available or even when the grid isn't available?

If you only need it when the grid is available, just get an inverter with a 30A+ transfer ability. For example the Victron Multiplus II 3kVA has a transfer ability of 32A, so it would be perfect.

I would like to go pretty much off grid. Grid for backup only (at least until they charge a connection fee, then it will be genny backup).

1 hour ago, Halcyon said:

Hi Justin

I have a Susnynk 5kw and I am very happy with it.  Support is definitely on the up as it becomes more entrenched in RSA.  To simplify your life I would go with the 1 x Sunynk 8kw.  It is a very versatile inverter, much more so than the Axperts and Grow watts.  (Generator support, micro/grid tied, wind turbine inverter input, detailed time of use settings, export power control and more).  That R8k premium will be well spent when you measure your ROI over 10 years and the options you have available to expand your system.  my 10 cents!

 

Regards

I have found Herholdts to have the best prices for the sunsynk. R3k less than the competitors

Edited July 22, 20205 yr by ManiLow

7 minutes ago, ManiLow said:

I have found Herholdts to have the best prices for the sunsynk. R3k less than the competitors

They seem to be a wholesaler only?  Or at least they want a lot of company details before you can register to receive prices...

1 minute ago, JustinSchoeman said:

They seem to be a wholesaler only?  Or at least they want a lot of company details before you can register to receive prices...

Nope, I bought from them over the weekend.  They sell to the public as well, you just have to register first😀

I think there was one field that asked for a Company name, I just filled in "Private"

42 minutes ago, ManiLow said:

Nope, I bought from them over the weekend.  They sell to the public as well, you just have to register first😀

I think there was one field that asked for a Company name, I just filled in "Private"

Thanks. Prices are excellent.  Now only a R6k premium over the Axpert (well, and 2kW less). Add to that the excellent responses from the manufacturer, and I really think it is the best option.

On 2020/07/22 at 2:46 PM, JustinSchoeman said:

Thanks. Prices are excellent.  Now only a R6k premium over the Axpert (well, and 2kW less). Add to that the excellent responses from the manufacturer, and I really think it is the best option.

I received my inverter today and I realized that no wifi module was included as part of the package😭.

Just be a aware of this detail that I missed 

I Recommend a Sunsynk 5.5 super hybrid parity inverter  5 year warranty packed with features no fancy addons needed and well priced..

As an aside, does anybody know how loud (noisy) the Sunsynk inverters are?

14 hours ago, JustinSchoeman said:

As an aside, does anybody know how loud (noisy) the Sunsynk inverters are?

@Halcyon has one😀

@JustinSchoeman Hi guys, it uses a heat sink supported by a variable speed fan.  The only time the fan comes on is when the solar power is really pumping.  It has quite a high pitched hum when really working, not something I would put in the kitchen or very near living areas.  It is Ip65 rated so I would recommend to install in an outbuilding, under an eve outside somewhere or away from living areas.  When the fan is off, which is most of the time, it is very quiet.

7 minutes ago, Halcyon said:

@JustinSchoeman Hi guys, it uses a heat sink supported by a variable speed fan.  The only time the fan comes on is when the solar power is really pumping.  It has quite a high pitched hum when really working, not something I would put in the kitchen or very near living areas.  It is Ip65 rated so I would recommend to install in an outbuilding, under an eve outside somewhere or away from living areas.  When the fan is off, which is most of the time, it is very quiet.

Thanks. Laundry room it is, then. 10m from the DB, but the door can close...

I take it the 5.5 would also do grid-tied with hybrid battery backup?

I need to switch away from only grid tied to something with battery backup

 

Yes, you can use it in Grid-Tied mode, when the utility fails, it will run of the battery in "Off-Grid" mode

 

Anybody using the 5kw Sunsynk? I'm looking to upgrade from the axpert. Does the Sunsynk have 2 mppts? And must the mppts be balanced I want one string facing east and the main string facing north. Anyone feel free to chime in. 

4 hours ago, Dani said:

Anybody using the 5kw Sunsynk? I'm looking to upgrade from the axpert. Does the Sunsynk have 2 mppts? And must the mppts be balanced I want one string facing east and the main string facing north. Anyone feel free to chime in. 

I have the Sunsynk 5kW. It has 2 separate MPPTs, and you can have different orientations on them. I have 1.7 kWp (5 panels) on each MPPT, one array facing due NE and one NW. It has been working fine for me for the past 5 months.

Edited October 15, 20205 yr by Bernardf
Spelling

Great thx @Vassenand @Bernardf.

Now I need to sell my axpert and find money for the Sunsynk. 

@Dani you won't go wrong with a Sunsynk!

I also have a 5.5k Sunsynk, the whole back is one big heatsink. The fan comes on when it works hard (peak solar time around 12H00) but I wouldn't call it noisy at all, then again mine is in the garage and I cannot hear it if the fire door is closed. The garage is also quite hot because there isn't a ceiling, so I have two Tonadoes on the roof. I currently have 12 JA Solar Mono Perc 380W panels in two strings (6 on each) but will soon add 4x JA Solar 390W. Works great with 3x Pylontech batteries.

It's great, I love it, have had it for about 2+ months and in that time have used very little Eskom electricity (around 60 kWh).  

Iam in two minds, and reading all the advice, I've now gone in 4 minds. 

I've come to a point that with all advice, my plans have gone up in smoke. 

Here's what I want to do.... 

All lights, some plugs for small wattage use like wifi and TV and a a++ fridge if possible. 

Iam considering getting a 5 kva hybrid inverter, I've R30000, so the panels (Canadian) and maybe batteries to last maybe 2 years till I can afford more panels and a 5,12kw lithium iron battery. 

Does this make sense or am I wasting my time? 

 

17 hours ago, Wayne myburgh said:

Iam in two minds, and reading all the advice, I've now gone in 4 minds. 

I've come to a point that with all advice, my plans have gone up in smoke. 

Here's what I want to do.... 

All lights, some plugs for small wattage use like wifi and TV and a a++ fridge if possible. 

Iam considering getting a 5 kva hybrid inverter, I've R30000, so the panels (Canadian) and maybe batteries to last maybe 2 years till I can afford more panels and a 5,12kw lithium iron battery. 

Does this make sense or am I wasting my time? 

 

You mention more panels in 2 years time. Does it mean you will start with some?

Do you also start with a battery and only get the lithium 5kwh later?

Having panels from the start is where you can generate a saving to speed up the expansion of a system.