a way to solar

gotaway said:
End of day state of charge was set at 50%, so last night the inverter started consuming from the grid. Changed that setting to 30%.

Eskom consumption was a fraction of what it was previously, and I'm hoping to slash it some more.

Around the 18th the geyser element was changed to a 2kw, and the temperature was brought down from in the 60s to 50.

Here is my daily Eskom usage for the past month
View attachment 1591364

The happenings today:
00:30 EOD SOC limit must have been reached, started consuming from grid
06:20 Changed EOD SOC to 30%, also changed settings to Solar and Grid take load together
09:50 Batteries fully charged
7:30 - 12:00 Iron / Washing, etc happened
View attachment 1591366

This is when they geyser ran (including a late shower by my son)
View attachment 1591368
Borehole pump was on during its customary slot from 7:35 to 7:45 and then also from 13:30 to 16:00 for irrigation and filling the tank to the brim

All of that for 4.8 units of Eskom :D
Click to expand...

I’ve only consumed 3.5kw/h since Wednesday, I’m still trying to get the timing on the heat pump just right, and if my daughter would just shower a bit earlier, I’d make it through the night on batteries ,

While a had a “at home day” everything ran from panels, with charging batteries and usage, generated 17Kw/h today apparently

4471e1b8f278ec9c9f254b217fe76d47.jpg
 
Please advice as to what is the best inverter, Lithium ion battery and solar panels
5KVa inverter and battery. As well as credible and trust worthy installers in the Gauteng area
 
Rouxenator said:
It's the Rolls-Royce of inverters, that's for sure. But not as efficient as cheaper capacitor-based ones.
Click to expand...

Must say, I’m only a week in, but I’m impressed with the sunsynk so far, another family member has luxpower(? I think it’s called) and it’s a noisy thing, fans every few minutes. Honestly don’t think I’ve heard the sunsynk make a noise at all
 
ijacobs3 said:
Must say, I’m only a week in, but I’m impressed with the sunsynk so far, another family member has luxpower(? I think it’s called) and it’s a noisy thing, fans every few minutes. Honestly don’t think I’ve heard the sunsynk make a noise at all
Click to expand...
I have a Luxpower, not as noisy as some other I have used - but if you are gonna put a load on it or the room gets hot it will run the fans.
 
ijacobs3 said:
Must say, I’m only a week in, but I’m impressed with the sunsynk so far, another family member has luxpower(? I think it’s called) and it’s a noisy thing, fans every few minutes. Honestly don’t think I’ve heard the sunsynk make a noise at all
Click to expand...
If you have the 5 kW model, then you won't hear a fan because they have heatsinks.

Luxpower is a good inverter. And fans are a good thing. Many have resorted to using external fans on their 5 kW Deyes/Sunsynks to keep it cool. The noise is an annoyance but it's better than a broken inverter. Just install it in the garage or something where you can't hear it...
 
Because of
1) The weather on Wednesday,
2) Loadshedding,
3) Surprise load reduction (Our muni is most likely in a per capita debt calc at the top op Eksdom sheiss-list),
4) Normal Wednesday domestic cleaning /washing

I think I’ll have to make a choice of either an extra battery or reducing the computer toys…
 
ijacobs3 said:
i need to dig into this home assistant stuff, or solar-assist, the standard sunsynk stuff is meh, i use solar-assist at work to basically keep a eye on our server rack's inverter/ ups , and its awesome, just a pity it doesnt run in docker and need a pi for it
Click to expand...
I found a buyer on Gumtree with a ton of 3bs in good nic for R500 Inc PSU. Well worth it.
 
ijacobs3 said:
Must say, I’m only a week in, but I’m impressed with the sunsynk so far, another family member has luxpower(? I think it’s called) and it’s a noisy thing, fans every few minutes. Honestly don’t think I’ve heard the sunsynk make a noise at all
Click to expand...
I added fans to mine with a temp controller. I just like knowing that it's running cooler. You can use whisper quiet fans if it's in the house.

www.thingiverse.com

Deye 5kw Fan Unit by nate_syd

The Deye 5kw hybrid gets REALLY hot, adding fans will keep it much cooler (~10deg) - which will ensure that it has a much longer life span with less thermal stresses.This box will enable you to mount 2 x 92mm PC case fans underneath the heat sink.Print, drill holes for the screws & you're...
www.thingiverse.com www.thingiverse.com
 
Wednesday:
c29b30747b931c2508e4a9ca0edfbc59.jpg


Vs today (warm, not cloudy) where the battery charging can be seen until just past 10am, then the geyser from 11:00. Lots of generation being “lost” after the geyser is done
939e6cddb82b64ad363cd61a7a3a456d.jpg
 
Last edited:
gotaway said:
Wednesday:
c29b30747b931c2508e4a9ca0edfbc59.jpg


Vs today (warm, not cloudy) where the battery charging can be seen until just past 10am, then the geyser from 11:00. Lots of generation being “lost” after the geyser is done
939e6cddb82b64ad363cd61a7a3a456d.jpg
Click to expand...

Had a very good day yesterday on generation

ffb2bba823cb1beeac3d938e1a394521.jpg
 
Nice and sunny over here, like yesterday. Started out yesterday at 30% and got up to 68%, a few loads of washing (no dryer) and one full load in the dishwasher, microwaved and airfryed a few things.
Starting at 42% this morning, lets see how far it goes.
 
Not going as well as planned, getting some paving work done so a lot of angle grinder work which seems to pull about 2KW. Had the dishwasher on last night so today starting only 2% higher than yesterday at 44% - but no foreseeable high power usage today.
Off the eksdom juice since Sunday 10am (sounds like someone with an electricity addiction :ROFL:)
 
Rouxenator said:
Off the eksdom juice since Sunday 10am (sounds like someone with an electricity addiction :ROFL:)
Click to expand...
Yes, what starts off as "I don't need so much" quickly turns into "I need more".

The motivation to give Eskom the finger is real, even if it means paying for it. But at least you're paying into your own property rather than some cadre's pocket...
 
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