Rabbit hole, hopefully to find some sun.

[Kill_switch]

Hello All

I have decided that I will invest in a decent system this year, found the forum after looking for info on a Sunsynk inverter that was offered by the installer.

Need to digest all the info slowly, but the basics.

Originally wanted a Alpha ESS Smile5 system( it looks so sexy) , its effectively a 5KW inverter with 2 100Ah batteries would be connected to 16 Canadian solar panels. 

Installer is recommending that I look at a 8Kw Sunsynk since I have large non essential loads(Stove, 4kw geyser, 2 pumps at ±2kw combined) and this could make me almost eskom independent on good sun days. for aprox R30k more

I have questions around batteries and how much PV is enough, which will follow in time.

Currently on offer is 9.6Kw Dyness or 2 x 100Ah "BSL BATT"s with 12 x 435 panels.

I do have an effergy monitor so can pull up nice stats of my typical and peak usage.

House has north/south 26` pitched roof, with ample space. there will be long cable runs from PV to inverter and back to DB again due to house layout.

Initial goal is lower reliance on Eskom/unpredictable power and to have power for load shedding, with a longer view to try become independent as possible.

 

 

 

[Kill_switch]

Some usage graphs

Daily -  Summer 25 - 30 / Winter 30-40.

Peak draw of normally less than 6Kw, but can go up to 8 if the whole house is on.

 

[Achmat]

I opted for the 8kw sunsynk inverter supplying my whole house. This includes a 4kw geyser, 24000btu and 12000btu inverter aircon and another 12000btu non inverter aircon. Stove and oven is gas. I do have a solar geyser so the 4kw geyser element is only really used in winter or if it was overcast. 

This is paired with 3 x 3.5kw pylontech batteries. 

The sunsynk is very versatile with options to easily expand if needed. 

My December production graph and yesterday's consumption. 

[Chloe]

I would suggest to rather spend that few extra "R" and get a Sunsynk opposed to the Deye. The Sunsynk is just way more user friendly and they have very good support.

[Kill_switch]

thank you so far, Im now leaning away from the Alpha ESS, and think its going to be a SunSynk Inverter

The Sunsynk is getting a lot of good reviews here, and there seems to be good after sales support if needed.

I think its now down to either the 5Kw or 8Kw Inverter.

I have read that there is some limited out of box support for batteries, how much of a factor should I make this? Ie it seems to work out the box with Pylontech and Dyness, but others need to run on "voltage base charge" or additional loggers required,  does integrated support make a big difference?

Additionally which makes more sense in battery tech, one higher spec for simplicity  or 3 lowers specs for redundancy, for example these have similar costs / capacity.

3 x PylonTech US3000 3.5kWh Lithium-ion Battery or 1 x Dyness Powerbox 9.6kwh

[Achmat]

Can't comment on the Dyness battery but you will need to size the battery bank according to the inverter size. 

I have the 8kw sunsynk and 3 x 3.5kw pylontech batteries. The BMS of the batteries limits the max discharge/charge  to 111A so if the grid is down I can only use ±5kw instantaneous from the batteries even though the inverter is rated at 8kw. This is only really an issue if the grid goes down at night or overcast and low pv days. 

Ideally on the 8kw you want a minimum of 5 x 3.5kw pylontech batteries. 

[Kill_switch]

Is there a general consensus about Solar Shop, there seems to be a few hits on search that label them as possible dodgy, but these appear to refer to "the solar shop"

they even have this scam warning https://www.solar-shop.co.za/content/16-scam-warning

Full name: Greenology (Pty) Ltd, a private company registered in South Africa with registration number 2009/024211/07

Website: https://www.solar-shop.co.za/

I am specifically looking at this deal, any thoughts?

[Tariq]

Why don’t you try Steve at the Powerforum store, great people and I and I am sure they will give you a better deal, there are many people on this forum will vouch for them

[Dani]

23 minutes ago, Tariq said:

Why don’t you try Steve at the Powerforum store, great people and I and I am sure they will give you a better deal, there are many people on this forum will vouch for them

Totally agree. The powerforum.co.za store were awesome for my sunsynk 5.5

[Johandup]

Push for a free wifi dongle with the Sunsynk 8 kw - it is essential.

Got mine from fullcirclesolar.co.za

Go for the latest JA Solar 445 w mono solar panels.

Pylontech batteries is a proven brand - I have 4 x usb2400 and they are good.

One guy on the forum went for 2x Sunsynk 5,5kw inverters - look at his posts as well.

Your after sunset consumption dictates how big your batteries shoud be. 

Edited January 17, 2021 by Johandup

[Kill_switch]

The quote above does include wifi module. 

I actually have got the power forum on my list the issue is with 4 pylontech, which will still give me less current than the 2 bull units. I  end up at approximately 164k( 1  x8kw sunsynk, 16 x355 panels and 4 us3000 Batts. That's 45k more which makes my preferred setup exceed budget. 

[Kill_switch]

1 hour ago, Johandup said:

Push for a free wifi dongle 

Pylontech batteries is a proven brand - I have 4 x usb2400 and they are good.

One guy on the forum went for 2x Sunsynk 5,5kw inverters - look at his posts as well.

I prob only need the 5kw as is, the 8kw allows me to include non essential loads. Did see the dual 5kw setup looks good.  But in my case I don't think it is warranted. 

Agree wifi module is a must for me

Batteries I'm still unconvinced. Pylontech is the industry go to. I really like the dyness power box f10, but bang for buck the bull seem to be ahead by far (R4.88 per watt) pylontech (R6. 74 per watt) dyness (6.35 per watt) 

 

Edited January 17, 2021 by Kill_switch

[Tariq]

I have a 5 kW Sunsynk running a 2 kW geyser, 1.1 kW pool pump, 9000 btu non inverter air con plus another 400 watt house load and I still only use 20-22 kWh of solar production, but then there is Achmat who has a 8 kW and hits 50 kWh of solar production, point being that he uses that much electricity, so he needs an 8 kW inverter and I only need a 5 kW inverter.

, 

 

Edited January 18, 2021 by Tariq

[Johandup]

Check if the batteries you’re interested in is here:

https://batterytestcentre.com.au/batteries/
 

Buyer beware - a lot of interesting facts here. If a battery manufacturer does not participate skip their product. Batteries is one very crucial aspect of (expensive) solar setups. 
I believe in the saying that long after you’ve forgotten the price you still remember the pain.

 
“give me less current than the 2 bull units”
You can suck any battery dry. 
The current draw (in amps) is not an issue for me - I don’t let the stove and geyser run on batteries. 
Making breakfast with an electric skillet and boiling water with a small kettle is no problem with my setup when the power is off. 

Edited January 18, 2021 by Johandup

[Yellow Measure]

11 hours ago, Kill_switch said:

The quote above does include wifi module. 

I actually have got the power forum on my list the issue is with 4 pylontech, which will still give me less current than the 2 bull units. I  end up at approximately 164k( 1  x8kw sunsynk, 16 x355 panels and 4 us3000 Batts. That's 45k more which makes my preferred setup exceed budget. 

I can vouch for powerforumstore too, they give great service and offer very competitive pricing. Also Sunsynk, I have the 5.5k and it works great, no issues with 3x US3000s. Bull is strong @ 1C discharge. Strange that they cannot supply the Bull batteries now, they had stock last year, even ran some specials towards the end of the year on it.

Edited January 18, 2021 by YellowTapemeasure

[JaseZA]

15 hours ago, Kill_switch said:

Is there a general consensus about Solar Shop

I've had great service from Solar Shop - bought my entire system from them for DIY install and they were really accommodating.

[Kill_switch]

Thank you to all and the assistance from power-forum store, I have bought the major items and have the installation lined up  to start once goods arrive.

System will be:

8kw SunSynk inverter, 12 x 455w Pv(2S6P), 2 x 5.5 kW Hubble AM2

 

Once its installed I will share some photo's and the like

 

 

 

[Speedster]

19 minutes ago, Kill_switch said:

Thank you to all and the assistance from power-forum store, I have bought the major items and have the installation lined up  to start once goods arrive.

System will be:

8kw SunSynk inverter, 12 x 455w Pv(2S6P), 2 x 5.5 kW Hubble AM2

 

Once its installed I will share some photo's and the like

 

 

 

Would you mind sharing what the total cost for this is?

[Kill_switch]

Just the listed items (no supporting equipment or installation) 97K

Additional supporting items including installation,  (basically everything needed to get it installed and CoC) additional 80k this is roughly 50:50 installation and equipment.