Advice on setting up a solar system

I'm also doing getting an install done (and I'm on your side of the world).

18x 540W JA panels
1x 8kW Sunsynk inverter
1x Freedomwon 20/16kW battery

Happy to help you compare costs, show you the 4 supplier quotes I got / share pics of install (it's going up today and tomorrow and maybe Friday if needed).

Would love to see your quotes and definitely want to see pics of the install :)
 
Would love to see your quotes and definitely want to see pics of the install :)
Maybe drop me your number via PM and I'll shoot you a few Whatsapp's as we go (and post here later once I have a completed install).
 
So I've finally decided to pull the trigger and this is what I'm going with.

  • 14 x 540W JA Solar panels
  • 1 x 8kW Sunsynk hybrid inverter
  • 2 x Pylontech UP5000 batteries.

Awaiting delivery of the parts then will start the installation.

I'm also considering getting a battery cabinet - https://onlineshop.gcsolar.co.za/product/pylon-cabinet-up5000-3g-3-batteries/ . Anyone have any experience with these / any thoughts around a cabinet?

The batteries were delivered 4 days after ordering (early April) but I've been waiting for the rest of the system to be delivered (Powerforumstore, which had a lot of items on back-order). Delivery finally happened today, although I'm still short a few items before the entire system can be installed

  • 6 mm2 single-core DC cable 50m black
  • Wood screw pan head 6 x 80 SIT30 Single (900318) (Pack of 21)
  • Middle Clamp+30 - 50mm Silver

Powerforumstore only expect to get delivery at the end of May, so I'm getting the inverter and batteries installed on Monday so that I can at least have a backup system for loadshedding.

If anyone knows where I can get the 3 items mentioned above, please let me know. Preferably in the CT area but willing to ship from anywhere in the country.

I'll post a picture of the items later on.
 
The batteries were delivered 4 days after ordering (early April) but I've been waiting for the rest of the system to be delivered (Powerforumstore, which had a lot of items on back-order). Delivery finally happened today, although I'm still short a few items before the entire system can be installed

  • 6 mm2 single-core DC cable 50m black
  • Wood screw pan head 6 x 80 SIT30 Single (900318) (Pack of 21)
  • Middle Clamp+30 - 50mm Silver

Powerforumstore only expect to get delivery at the end of May, so I'm getting the inverter and batteries installed on Monday so that I can at least have a backup system for loadshedding.

If anyone knows where I can get the 3 items mentioned above, please let me know. Preferably in the CT area but willing to ship from anywhere in the country.

I'll post a picture of the items later on.

I believe @DuracellBunny can source components, are you able to help me source the items in this post?
 
The batteries were delivered 4 days after ordering (early April) but I've been waiting for the rest of the system to be delivered (Powerforumstore, which had a lot of items on back-order). Delivery finally happened today, although I'm still short a few items before the entire system can be installed

  • 6 mm2 single-core DC cable 50m black
  • Wood screw pan head 6 x 80 SIT30 Single (900318) (Pack of 21)
  • Middle Clamp+30 - 50mm Silver

Powerforumstore only expect to get delivery at the end of May, so I'm getting the inverter and batteries installed on Monday so that I can at least have a backup system for loadshedding.

If anyone knows where I can get the 3 items mentioned above, please let me know. Preferably in the CT area but willing to ship from anywhere in the country.

I'll post a picture of the items later on.
Ask Sustainable.co.za, the cable you should be able to get from anywhere.
 
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I believe @DuracellBunny can source components, are you able to help me source the items in this post?
Sure can, Drop me a PM with your email address and the quantities you need. Let me see what I got for you.

Problem is now with Renusol products they are in high demand so there will always be a shortage, been seeing this for months now, with manufacturing and the works gonna be issues here, but they are not the only brand that does mounting kits, there is about 4 different brands available that I have access too so which ever brand has stock and is available to complete the install the quickest.

*Because heck I want pictures and progress too, dont want it coming in like I ordered from Aliexpress*
 
Sure can, Drop me a PM with your email address and the quantities you need. Let me see what I got for you.

Problem is now with Renusol products they are in high demand so there will always be a shortage, been seeing this for months now, with manufacturing and the works gonna be issues here, but they are not the only brand that does mounting kits, there is about 4 different brands available that I have access too so which ever brand has stock and is available to complete the install the quickest.

*Because heck I want pictures and progress too, dont want it coming in like I ordered from Aliexpress*
Thanks.

PM sent.
 
The batteries were delivered 4 days after ordering (early April) but I've been waiting for the rest of the system to be delivered (Powerforumstore, which had a lot of items on back-order). Delivery finally happened today, although I'm still short a few items before the entire system can be installed

  • 6 mm2 single-core DC cable 50m black
  • Wood screw pan head 6 x 80 SIT30 Single (900318) (Pack of 21)
  • Middle Clamp+30 - 50mm Silver

Powerforumstore only expect to get delivery at the end of May, so I'm getting the inverter and batteries installed on Monday so that I can at least have a backup system for loadshedding.

If anyone knows where I can get the 3 items mentioned above, please let me know. Preferably in the CT area but willing to ship from anywhere in the country.

I'll post a picture of the items later on.
I've been waiting for Renusol roof hooks, end & middle clamps since March. The KZN flooding also did us no favours, dates pushed back to end May. I opted to go with Schletter instead, even though it's not as strong as Renusol, at least I can make progress with the panels.
 
An update.

Inverter and batteries installed on 09 May and was able to ride out loadshedding after that. I was still missing the clamps and battery cable, but managed to locate some and had the panels installed on 17 May. Been solarizing since then :) .
 
I've noticed something strange though, which I hope someone can assist me with. My installer is also trying to figure it out but thought I should also seek guidance here.

I have 14 x JA Solar 540W panels in two strings of seven each, one is East facing and the other is West facing. Roof pitch is 20 degrees on both sides.

The East facing string is significantly outperforming the West facing string and I can't determine what the cause might be. I thought it might be shading from trees (double story house but there are some trees on the west side which I thought might be shading the panels) but observation does not indicate any shading and the voltage across the panels on the West string is often higher than the East string, although output is less.

Output charts for different days (Green string is East facing, Blue string is West facing)

WhatsApp Image 2022-06-03 at 2.01.32 PM.jpegWhatsApp Image 2022-06-03 at 2.01.02 PM.jpegWhatsApp Image 2022-06-03 at 2.00.35 PM.jpegWhatsApp Image 2022-06-03 at 2.00.09 PM.jpeg


Voltage and current from yesterday around noon and 12:30 pm. West string (blue) has a higher voltage (between 10 - 20 V) but is producing a lot less current. My understanding of panel shading is that the voltage would drop across the string if any of the panels are in shade, but the below seems to indicate that shade is not a problem.


WhatsApp Image 2022-06-04 at 11.11.49 AM.jpegWhatsApp Image 2022-06-04 at 11.12.54 AM.jpegWhatsApp Image 2022-06-04 at 11.13.39 AM.jpegWhatsApp Image 2022-06-04 at 11.14.22 AM.jpeg

Anyone with any thoughts / pointers / anything I can do to try and work out what's going on here? My production drops dramatically in the afternoon which is really hurting during winter.
 
I've noticed something strange though, which I hope someone can assist me with. My installer is also trying to figure it out but thought I should also seek guidance here.

I have 14 x JA Solar 540W panels in two strings of seven each, one is East facing and the other is West facing. Roof pitch is 20 degrees on both sides.

The East facing string is significantly outperforming the West facing string and I can't determine what the cause might be. I thought it might be shading from trees (double story house but there are some trees on the west side which I thought might be shading the panels) but observation does not indicate any shading and the voltage across the panels on the West string is often higher than the East string, although output is less.

Output charts for different days (Green string is East facing, Blue string is West facing)

View attachment 1322566View attachment 1322564View attachment 1322562View attachment 1322560


Voltage and current from yesterday around noon and 12:30 pm. West string (blue) has a higher voltage (between 10 - 20 V) but is producing a lot less current. My understanding of panel shading is that the voltage would drop across the string if any of the panels are in shade, but the below seems to indicate that shade is not a problem.


View attachment 1322568View attachment 1322570View attachment 1322572View attachment 1322574

Anyone with any thoughts / pointers / anything I can do to try and work out what's going on here? My production drops dramatically in the afternoon which is really hurting during winter.
Batteries are charged before midday, so there is less load on the west string? Try swopping the strings around to eliminate the panels?
 
Batteries are charged before midday, so there is less load on the west string? Try swopping the strings around to eliminate the panels?

Nope, batteries aren't fully charged by the end of the day, I have too much load so I actually import from grid most of the time. This is the peak production that each string can supply.
 
Nope, batteries aren't fully charged by the end of the day, I have too much load so I actually import from grid most of the time. This is the peak production that each string can supply.
I would try swapping them around.
 
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I would try swapping them around.

I'll ask my installer to try this if there is no definite cause found. I suspect that we'll still see the same results, but it allows us to determine that the issue is not on the MPPT.
 
I'll ask my installer to try this if there is no definite cause found. I suspect that we'll still see the same results, but it allows us to determine that the issue is not on the MPPT.
Yeah, process of elimination. Maybe a bad connection on the west string? @AchmatK had a bad connection issue.
 
Yeah, process of elimination. Maybe a bad connection on the west string? @AchmatK had a bad connection issue.

Looking at the JA Solar spec sheet though (attached), the Maximum Power Voltage is 41.64V for the 540W panels and I'm getting up to 300V on the string, which when divided by 41.64 gives me 7.2 . This implies that each panel is contributing to the string, which as per my understanding might work against the theory of a bad connection.
 

Attachments

Looking at the JA Solar spec sheet though (attached), the Maximum Power Voltage is 41.64V for the 540W panels and I'm getting up to 300V on the string, which when divided by 41.64 gives me 7.2 . This implies that each panel is contributing to the string, which as per my understanding might work against the theory of a bad connection.
It's the amps that counts.
 
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