Advice needed on Residential Solar Options

[SG1]

I've considered the options given. Thanks for all the input. I'm still reading up on my best options, but I've decided to start small for now.

So now the question is, what are the options (solar inclusive so I'm not as impacted by Eskom's potential 30% increase and level 8 loadshedding), so I can keep power on for 2 laptops and an air conditioner?

I'm not keen on getting a generator. I'd much rather start small and add to it as needed. For now, if I can just keep enough devices going for work, and comfort, that's sufficient.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Move your air con to non-essential load. Not sure why people insist on an aircon for load shedding. We've probably needed one for about 2 weeks max total since summer started, load shedding or not.

You can probably run all the lights in your house instead of one air con.

In terms of scalability, make sure to get an 8kW inverter. This will allow you to add a larger solar array over time. You can start off with a few panels and a small battery to keep costs down, but don't skimp on the inverter...

 

[RonSwanson]

Finally, There are lots of monkeys where I stay, and they're often jumping on the roof. I'm concerned going solar means they may damage the panels. What are my options here?

 

[itareanlnotani]

Monkeys aren't going to damage panels, not unless they start using rocks to smash them with.

I have the odd baboon troop coming through, and they jump on mine. No big deal.

 

[RonSwanson]

In terms of scalability, make sure to get an 8kW inverter. This will allow you to add a larger solar array over time. You can stay off with a few panels and a small battery to keep costs down, but don't skimp on the inverter...

From @SG1 description, (under 20kWH per day), a 5.5K Sunsynk would be eminently capable, provided that the geyser (and other large consumers if any) are shifted to non-essentials (between inverter and grid) or are wired to use the smart load. Also taking into account that @SG1 has indicated that he wants to start small and build the system.
I use around 11-12K per day and throw most of it away everyday with own 5.5k. If he finds that it's not enough after a few months, it won't be wasted, he will have the option of selling it for a reasonable price (5 year warranty) and upgrading to the 8K, or adding another 5.5K in parallel.

 

[maxxis]

Yesterday was a good example of max use for me.

Vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, kettle, washing machine etc. Standard Saturday when our domestic is here so everything works.

Consumed 14kwh and produced 11.5kwh due to
the overcast weather.

With 2 x AM2s i use about 55 to 60% capacity between 18:00 and 6:00.

Will see what my first few bills look like but for now i’m 95% off grid.

Saving well over R1000 a month so far and most importantly safe against the regular outages and loadshedding.

 

[SG1]

No... Their land first, I'm the invader here.

 

[RonSwanson]

No... Their land first, I'm the invader here.

Until you see how 400VDC welds your panels to your roof using a monkey as flux.

 

[SG1]

Move your air con to non-essential load. Not sure why people insist on an aircon for load shedding. We've probably needed one for about 2 weeks max total since summer started, load shedding or not.

You can probably run all the lights in your house instead of one air con.

In terms of scalability, make sure to get an 8kW inverter. This will allow you to add a larger solar array over time. You can start off with a few panels and a small battery to keep costs down, but don't skimp on the inverter...

I live in dbn. If you've felt the heat and humidity of 36 degrees while trying to remain composed in a meeting with nothing but little fan powered off a power bank... You'd know how I feel. The aircon is a must have!!

I'd want to power 1 aircon, 1 freezer, 2 laptops, and my router. That's about it. Everything else is optional and I can manage not having these during loadshedding.

Is there an all in one hybrid solution for this? One that will save me in the long run?

 

[wingnut771]

I live in dbn. If you've felt the heat and humidity of 36 degrees while trying to remain composed in a meeting with nothing but little fan powered off a power bank... You'd know how I feel. The aircon is a must have!!

I'd want to power 1 aircon, 1 freezer, 2 laptops, and my router. That's about it. Everything else is optional and I can manage not having these during loadshedding.

Is there an all in one hybrid solution for this? One that will save me in the long run?

As a fellow durbanite, aircon is non-negotiable.

Is it an inverter or non-inverter aircon?
BTU/kW rating?

 

[AchmatK]

What I meant was the only control I have is over the water and sewerage charges as this is based on the amount I used. The rest is fixed as per COCT tarriffs:

View attachment 1212480

View attachment 1212482

My total CoCT bill is about R1 500. This month is higher as I forgot to pay and they disconnected me and charged R500 for disconnection and reconnection fee.

Water is zero and effectively sewerage is also zero. Just shows how stupid it is to link sewerage with water usage. They replaced my water meter 3 times thinking its faulty due to zero usage until I showed the last guy that wanted to change the water meter that I'm not using their water and that's why the usage is zero.

The only thing I'm paying is rates and refuse and the water pipe fee.

I'm saving about R4k per month in not having to pay CoCT for water or electricity.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

My total CoCT bill is about R1 500. This month is higher as I forgot to pay and they disconnected me and charged R500 for disconnection and reconnection fee.

Water is zero and effectively sewerage is also zero. Just shows how stupid it is to link sewerage with water usage. They replaced my water meter 3 times thinking its faulty due to zero usage until I showed the last guy that wanted to change the water meter that I'm not using their water and that's why the usage is zero.

The only thing I'm paying is rates and refuse and the water pipe fee.

I'm saving about R4k per month in not having to pay CoCT for water or electricity. View attachment 1216298 View attachment 1216300 View attachment 1216302 View attachment 1216304

Borehole?

 

[AchmatK]

Borehole?

Hand dug well 4m deep with potable water that's been tested and plumbed straight from the well, into a 5 000 litre water tank and from there into the house.

No filtration needed.

Well with submersible pump that's controlled by a float switch in the water tank to top up when it's half full and stop when it's full. Jet pump from the water tank to the house with a pressure switch to turn on the jet pump anytime a tap is opened. Can run two showers at the same time from the jet pump without any noticeable drop in pressure.

 

[Tariqe]

@AchmatK , don’t you have the Home User charge of R168 plus vat for electricity

 

[xodosman123]

Step 1 Go Pree paid electricity. Then see the costs that you have, I went from R1600 to about R400 per month as the the silly costs were involved About R750.00 to change, I have solar as well, and the benefits are there, Look at the Geyser and go solar that is a Must and have a Geyserwise so you can monitor the Temprature, Even Just to start off with a Geyserwise that will be ok. Get a Gas hob, see where you can change so as not to not rely on the Grid. That is just off the top of my head of some of my changes I hvae made.

 

[AchmatK]

@AchmatK , don’t you have the Home User charge of R168 plus vat for electricity

Yes. Forgot about that fixed fee.

 

[semaphore]

I still need to convert to prepaid, but CoJ are but all useless during this period.

My current billable units for power so far this month is around 580 odd units, would have been much less if not for the horrible weather.

 

[AchmatK]

I still need to convert to prepaid, but CoJ are but all useless during this period.

My current billable units for power so far this month is around 580 odd units, would have been much less if not for the horrible weather.

View attachment 1216422

I thought my consumption was high. Currently I'm on 815kwh for December.

 

[AchmatK]

Borehole?

Cleaning out the pool today and filling it directly from the well in the background.

Inside of the well. Top of the water line is 3m and then the water inside the well is a 1m deep. It drops about 40cm when I'm filling the pool but it fills up faster than what I can pump out even running at over 70l per minute.

Can even see the submersible pump at the bottom of the well.

 

[mpdjhb]

1. Yes, depending on your time of day usage you could save R1000+ of your current electricity bill.
2. Not sure, but if you read other threads this has been mentioned. Clean the panels once every few months (don't use the wrong soap here).
3. Payback seems to be around 7 or 8 years typically. Adding value to the house is subjective depending on the buyer, but it should add value.
4. Try cutting back the trees around the house? Not sure if some fencing around the panels are possible?

If you just want to save some money, something like a 5kW Sunsynk inverter (R20k) and some solar panels (up to R35k depending on how many you want) and 1 Hubble AM-2 battery (R25k) will be a good start. So between R80k to R100k and you should be able to run off solar the whole day and a part of you night usage. Extra batteries give you more runtime at night and for cloudy days, can always be added later. Snyper's system is a good reference for a complete system.

Jumping in here to say this is almost exactly our setup, but with 7kw of battery. We barely use grid power anymore - just the peak time (6-11pm). Then batteries carry us over to sunrise.
We save R1500 a month.
Def worth it. 10/10 would do again.