Here we go, finally after restarting my laptop.

the attached graph is for my export and imports of Power to the Yzzies home.

graph.xlsx

Fantastic Mike. Looks like its working great!

Fantastic Mike. Looks like its working great!

Yep i am very happy with it. on average i am spending around R75 per month on electricity plus the availability fee of R144. Last month i imported a bit more than exported. I decided to try using a kettle for a month instead of the gas kettle. Makes a hell of a difference. We managed to bring our usage down from around 950kwh per month to approx 450kwh, just with gas,LED lighting and solar, So yes impressed with Net Metering in Swartland!

Lovely one.

 

Dont forget the stem wall to be built to keep the home warm in winter and cool in summer without any power.

also the fruit drying roof trays and power gen chimney in any new builds

Add the bio digester to provide hot water cooking gas and black gold (liquid fertilizer for the garden)

 

you can see a drop off on your graph, must be change to winter sun, or loss on panels settleing in ???

It would be interesting to see change as summer comes in.

Ok, at 6am this morning I removed my Grid tied solar system and replaced it with the latest tech......a Hybrid grid tied inverter. Now Eskom can fly kites.
I am grid connected, using solar power and grid AND battery backup. Fully computer controlled and programmable with many options.

 

Just have to get more batteries when i can.

 

 

Awesome Mike! Is that hybrid unit the same as PHD powers unit?

Thanks

P

Awesome Mike! Is that hybrid unit the same as PHD powers unit?

Thanks

P

Not sure, every time i order from them, they don't have stock......i get these from a company called Voltronic in Taiwan. I have agency in the Cape but I know of a few parallel importers as well. I don't know if you have seen the Hybrid named Imeon from France - now that is a nice baby also just overpriced at around R36k

a screenshot of my inverters software running of the network. been smooth now for the last two days, so i think i can return the keys for the municipal / my paid for street box

Hi Mike

 

You can ignore my post in the other thread... 

What size do you have installed?? 5kw?

 

This looks ideal!!! 

I really like the SMA inverters but they are quite expensive!

I'll do some reading up on this one... I might just ask you if I can come and have a look at your setup before I start with mine...

Hi Willem,

nope it is a 3kw, so it pulls 3 from pv  and if needed if grid connected it pulls the balance, if not grid connected then from the batteries. It works for me but we will see over the next month with this one. I do like one called the Imeon - French product but a expensive as the Sunnyboy and Victrons of the world.

If you want a copy of the manual,just shout else you can download from Voltronix, attaching the flyer, and yes sure pop by anytime, just check that i am here.

 

InfiniSolar_DS.pdf

Thanks mike

 

I'm busy looking at the Imeon now... looks very nice indeed.

I really do like the sunny boy from SMA and all the teck in it, but it's a bit ridiculous that it's only an inverter for the money you pay, to get the same function from SMA as a hybrid system you would need to spend around R80k for the sunny boy, island and home manager plus energy meter...

 

The only thing that worries me a little bit is that Imeon only has one inverter that I can see on the market and they don't look that well established in terms of years on the market and also the lack of different models and sizes available...

 

Do you reckon the Imeon is a no brainer if you want to spend R37k for a inverter?

I am prepared to spend R37k in order to get a Sunny Boy 5000tl plus the home manager etc so I guess the Imeon is not a bad option given that you can add batteries...

The only way I would have been able to get the above for R37k was by importing myself, the Imeon I can actually buy in SA for that price, so with a bit of luck I can maybe get away a bit cheaper...

The imeon is a great piece of equipment, i just think it is a little too much for a kinda "unknown " manufacture. i based my choice on value for money and with  all the specs i wanted. The infini comes in at just under R20k excl. I love the sunny boy coupled with the Island, but it is designed as an off grid unit.

A lot of the manufacturers are only now coming forward with 5kw and upwards in hybrids as with the 3 phase units. I t really makes sense to go the hybrid route nowadays.

SMA is just so bloody expensive... but they do have a great name and years of proven good service behind them...

 

My head is turning in circles now, before I got on the forum I had a clear idea of what I was going to do and now I have no idea anymore...

Almost went so far as to order my SB 5000tl from europe... 1200 pounds plus 200 pounds shipping... + 14% on the 1200 for tax... so would have paid around R28k for inverter on my doorstep...

 

But now my head is turning towards the hybrid route... I just fear that with the 3 kw system I'll not be able to go completely off the grid in terms of not achieving the needed annual yield...

If I do get a infini inverter it will mean I can start with 3 kw of panels on the roof from the start with my cash that I've got saved up for the system so that's at least a plus...

 

choices choices...

 

One question. Can I put up 4 - 5kw of panels on the 3kw infini inverter so that it can reach full production quicker to up the yield? Will it discard the extra solar power?

I'm currently using Sunny Design just as a reference program to try and size the optimum system. Quite a nice little program to play with for free. Especially handy with the fact that I can put in my own load profile that I get from my energy monitor. Have you used it or any similar software?

 

I'm in Yzerfontein the weekend of 14 - 15 Feb. Any chances that you'll be around?

the infini plus that i am using allows for 4,5kw of p.v.that is the absolute max. After that it will overload.

I have 11 x 275w panels up and the max acheived to date was just over 3000w but most days around 2970w. I am going to add up to max - think another 5 panels but only after adding another 4 batteries.

I must get my grubby little paws on that software to check it out???

i use Solar Edge Site designer at the moment.

Weekends i am normally here so just  give me a shout, but sure pop in, more than welcome

hmm that was one of the questions I had if it's the normal 3kw or the plus, if it's the plus and it can take up to 4.5kw solar input then it should work allright, it will just give you the extra edge to make sure the batts keep up and also if you have a full 4.5 kw of panels on you reach the 3kw output on the inverter quicker especially in winter.

 

The infini is definetly starting to look like a real option especially value for money but it's quite difficult to let go of the SMA setup I had pictured...   as the SMA gear looks really nice especially what you can do with the home manager...

 

here's a link for you for the software..

http://www.sma.de/en/products/planning-software/sunny-design.html#Downloads-9366

 

Really curious what your view are on the software as someone that actually works with the stuff... 

I am using USB over network software to get the package in my office.... it works fine, sometimes a little lag, but you can buy the network card as an optional extra that will sort it for you.

thanks for the link, was there and registered already. Come and look first before you decide. I love SMA but i think it's overpriced due most likely to USD /R values also

Hi Mike,

 

Any picks yet of this new unit installed and running?

 

Some other units can combine battery and supply input to give higher output than rated, for short durations, like with starting big motors. Can this unit do it?

 

According to my log of the past years, my power peaks around the 5kw range. Will this unit cope if I remove the oven?

Does this unit have any programmable outputs, like to switch off certain loads if there is no AC power on the input?

 

Thanks

Hey Wetkit,  answers below your questions

 

Any picks yet of this new unit installed and running?

 

Some other units can combine battery and supply input to give higher output than rated, for short durations, like with starting big motors. Can this unit do it?

yes it can

 

According to my log of the past years, my power peaks around the 5kw range. Will this unit cope if I remove the oven?

I don not see why not, it will use a max of 4500w from pv panels and then go according to your settings to grid or battery for the balance.

 

Does this unit have any programmable outputs, like to switch off certain loads if there is no AC power on the input?

Nope that it does not have.

 

Thanks

So, any feedback as to how good/bad the unit is running....?

morning,

just running around like a fool installing all over the Cape. Yesterday Wellington today Sunset beach.....have not had any time to play at home.

I have been getting a better return from the panels since changing over, so i think the MPPT controller is of a better quality.21kwh plus on 11 panels, i was getting 19 - 20kwh.

I am going to add another 5 panels as soon as i can to harvest max 4.5kwh, when i have some free time, but Eskom is really doing marvelous advertising for me....

I was looking at new Trojan J185HAC battries.

The specs say Absorption charge at 14.8V, so 59.2V for 48V bank.

As this is way higher than the 57V volt max on the unit, will my battries charge ok?

Equalise charge is 62V !!!

 

Would it be possable to request the manufacturer to do a software update for Flooded/wet Lead Acid battries???

Hi Mike,

 

Any more feedback on the Infini Hybrid unit?

I am leaning more and more towards this unit.

Just trying to figure out why other units is nearly double the price!?!?!

Hey Wetkit, from the installs i am doing daily, between the two units.....the Infini is rated at 3kw and it can peak to 6kw for brief periods..wht those periods are i have not reached yet. The furthest i have taken a 3kwplus is 5.1kw for 19min without any issues. The Imeon is another beast it will ru 6kw period even though it is rated a 3kw. it will draw 3kw from pv and 3kw from eksdo and 1kw if it has to from battery bank for whatever period. I must admit i have installed more Imeons lately than Infini's, bar the 10kw Infini 3 phase...that is a beast, installing another one Monday.

I am going to push mine by adding the balance from 3125kwp to 4500kwp and then i am going to create another string and add it in parallel seeing that i can go to 18 amps, so it should then give me a 6250kwp PV, meaning winter time i will get what summer was giving me approx 21 -23kw per day and in the next summer i will jump to 40 odd kwp per day..

I really don't think you can go wrong with either unit - that being said if you load is not a constant above 3kw??

 

mike

 

 

ps have a look on my Facebook page i created to showcase my installs : https://www.facebook.com/groups/ThorneSolar/

Have you seen this AEC invertor as sold by PHD Powerhouse?

It is a combination of Grid-tied and Bi-directional, called Hybrid.

2 birds with one stone?

 

PowerHouse.pdf

 

Now looking at this inverter again - it is a re-branded InfiniSolar with a slighly different front cover plate....

yep that is an Infini