Katelknaap
Expert Member
If you generate through panels you must register in CoCT. Backup system only does not have to be registered.
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All things Sunsynk (Deye, Inge, etc...)
- Thread starter JerryMungo
- Start date
Should register it just to be "safe"
"There is no charge to register EG systems. A fee will only be applied if you fail to register your system. Grid engineering studies will be done by the City for the proposed PV installation should these be required."
"Non-feed-in system
If you are installing a non-feed-in system (with reverse power flow blocking), you will remain on your current tariff. You will be able to connect your system from the day you receive your Commissioning Approval Letter."
I'm in Cape Town - but Eskom is our provider.
Asking because a neighbour sent me their quote with a R10k application fee to City of Cape Town - IF they choose solar panels, which now has me googling - because our electricity has nothingt o do with City of Cape Town.
Tried to download some of the docs from Eskom's site - but in true government style - 404s.
I initially thought the application was only if you feed back into the grid.
chickenbeef
Executive Member
Not forced to register if on Eskom supply. See https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family and home/greener-living/saving-electricity-at-home/going-solar
DrJohnZoidberg
Honorary Master
If you're with Eskom direct then you don't need to register with CoCT.
Eskom has their own SSEG registration but nobody actually does this, it's not a requirement for insurance (they only asked for COC) so I didn't bother with it, although I did attempt to figure it out - here is my post about it: https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/threads/sseg-registration-eskom-cape-town.1221019/
Stupid question - but why is this only a requirement if have panels?
What's the difference if I have a generator connected to the inverter? (or just the batteries) - surely its the same risk, the power will just run out quicker.
What's the difference if I have a generator connected to the inverter? (or just the batteries) - surely its the same risk, the power will just run out quicker.
Speedster
Honorary Master
You're expecting some sort of rationality behind a south African government requirement... lol...
Actually you are required to get authorisation to connect a generator. And that is even more arduous as you need environmental and fire dept involved. I just don't know of anybody that has done it that way. But they say ignorance of the law is no excuse.
furpile
Expert Member
My 8kW is in the scullery just behind the kitchen. It is noticeable when the fans come on, but not so much that it is unbearable. If we are watching TV you hardly hear it. Sound like a vacuum running far away. I might add a door to the partition between the kitchen and the scullery later to block more noise. Also need to add an extractor fan to the ceiling as that part of the house can get hot.
I have 2x 120mm PC fans mounted on the inlet side, the blow into the existing fans. I left a small gap because I don't want to restrict the built-in fans. They are nowhere near as powerful as the built-in fans in terms of airflow though. I am using cheap fans with 43 cfm, but even looking at the more expensive ones they seem to max at around 60cfm. The built-in fans are 90mm I think. Each of my fans has a duct to reduce to the same size as the built-in fan. I think it helps the temperatures, but on a hot day where you are using a lot of power the fans will still come on a lot. This graph is from yesterday, max outside temp was 27C I think with lots of power being used during the day. Each sharp drop in temperature is where the fans came on. I just got a 3rd fan that I still need to install, think it will help a little bit to get more airflow through the inverter but the fans will still come on.
And over a couple of days:
AfricanTech
Honorary Master
Hmm,
Not sure if anyone else has experienced this.
Time of work set (in this particular instance to 70% - see screenshot).
I noticed that the inverter was happily pulling from the battery even though it was already sitting at 49% with a Loadshedding slot incoming.
Checking in SolarAssistant (in my alarmed state I forgot to take a screenshot I realised that even though my settings were as per the screenshot above, the 'Current Mode - Charge Below' value was sitting at 35%.
When I checked the inverter screen, this is what I saw:
Couldn't figure out how to get everything back to 'normal' (ticking and unticking work mode didn't achieve anything) so I eventually 'rebooted' (switched house to mains, switch off batteries, switch off inverter).
Waited a couple of minutes, did the reverse of the above and blech! the screen showed grid unavailable.
Then had a brainfart and thought that if I switched off the batteries maybe it would 'kickstart' the grid connection - not one of my better moments.....
Anyhow, I'd forgotten to switch the bypass for the house back to Grid so there were howls of protest, disbelief and general gnashing of teeth as my family was plunged into darkness for the first time in weeks....
Quickly did the switch and got back to the Inverter to switch everything back on (the exact sequence is a bit fuzzy now).
Greeted with this message
Rechecked everything, Grid Setting
At this point I restarted everything again and hoped for the best (the 20h00 LS slot breathing down my neck).
This time the restart was successful and the inverter reverted to normal operation.
Now that the dust has settled, I'm leaning toward the 'Current Mode' setting not updating in line with the current 'work mode slot' value - it's most disconcerting and, in the current LS climate, makes me feel nervous about using the 'work mode' function.
Not sure if anyone else has experienced this.
Time of work set (in this particular instance to 70% - see screenshot).
I noticed that the inverter was happily pulling from the battery even though it was already sitting at 49% with a Loadshedding slot incoming.
Checking in SolarAssistant (in my alarmed state I forgot to take a screenshot I realised that even though my settings were as per the screenshot above, the 'Current Mode - Charge Below' value was sitting at 35%.
When I checked the inverter screen, this is what I saw:
Couldn't figure out how to get everything back to 'normal' (ticking and unticking work mode didn't achieve anything) so I eventually 'rebooted' (switched house to mains, switch off batteries, switch off inverter).
Waited a couple of minutes, did the reverse of the above and blech! the screen showed grid unavailable.
Then had a brainfart and thought that if I switched off the batteries maybe it would 'kickstart' the grid connection - not one of my better moments.....
Anyhow, I'd forgotten to switch the bypass for the house back to Grid so there were howls of protest, disbelief and general gnashing of teeth as my family was plunged into darkness for the first time in weeks....
Quickly did the switch and got back to the Inverter to switch everything back on (the exact sequence is a bit fuzzy now).
Greeted with this message
Rechecked everything, Grid Setting
At this point I restarted everything again and hoped for the best (the 20h00 LS slot breathing down my neck).
This time the restart was successful and the inverter reverted to normal operation.
Now that the dust has settled, I'm leaning toward the 'Current Mode' setting not updating in line with the current 'work mode slot' value - it's most disconcerting and, in the current LS climate, makes me feel nervous about using the 'work mode' function.
Mzezman
Executive Member
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2021
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Very weird, wonder if there was a frequency/voltage issue on the grid in your area and the system went out of boundsHmm,
Not sure if anyone else has experienced this.
Time of work set (in this particular instance to 70% - see screenshot).
I noticed that the inverter was happily pulling from the battery even though it was already sitting at 49% with a Loadshedding slot incoming.
Checking in SolarAssistant (in my alarmed state I forgot to take a screenshot I realised that even though my settings were as per the screenshot above, the 'Current Mode - Charge Below' value was sitting at 35%.
When I checked the inverter screen, this is what I saw:
Couldn't figure out how to get everything back to 'normal' (ticking and unticking work mode didn't achieve anything) so I eventually 'rebooted' (switched house to mains, switch off batteries, switch off inverter).
Waited a couple of minutes, did the reverse of the above and blech! the screen showed grid unavailable.
Then had a brainfart and thought that if I switched off the batteries maybe it would 'kickstart' the grid connection - not one of my better moments.....
Anyhow, I'd forgotten to switch the bypass for the house back to Grid so there were howls of protest, disbelief and general gnashing of teeth as my family was plunged into darkness for the first time in weeks....
Quickly did the switch and got back to the Inverter to switch everything back on (the exact sequence is a bit fuzzy now).
Greeted with this message
Rechecked everything, Grid Setting
At this point I restarted everything again and hoped for the best (the 20h00 LS slot breathing down my neck).
This time the restart was successful and the inverter reverted to normal operation.
Now that the dust has settled, I'm leaning toward the 'Current Mode' setting not updating in line with the current 'work mode slot' value - it's most disconcerting and, in the current LS climate, makes me feel nervous about using the 'work mode' function.
absynth
Expert Member
Give using the PC Fans on top extracting the heat from the Heat Sink a go.Thats the way I set them up quite some time ago and its been keeping my inverter nice and cool. I am running a 5kw though, but still worth checking out
Attachments
Speedster
Honorary Master
I'm not sure this will work. 8kw has an internal heatsink with no ventilation holes on the top
Kosmik
Honorary Master
Doesn't the 8kv have dual fans at the back? My mates does.
lkpat
Executive Member
Do the silent fan mod...
My Sunsynk 8kw silence hack
Hi Everyone, Thought I'd share this because I have noticed a few people concerned or frustrated with the fan noise from the 8kw Sunsynk inverter. I couldn't install my inverter in the garage because I do a lot of woodwork in there and I know the dust would cause issues in the fans and heatsinks. ...
.ico)
powerforum.co.za
Last edited:
Speedster
Honorary Master
Mine has three fans down the side with ventilation holes along the side. I haven't seen any with ventilation along the top
lkpat
Executive Member
Yes the 8 has fans on the side. The 5 has a massive heat sink accessible from both bottom and top with natural ventilation. It has an internal fan, likely for a processor.
Deanoblado
Senior Member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Messages
- 753
- Reaction score
- 58
Update on my side.
We are up and running and had a solid first day. The installation was stressful to say the least. Still a few niggles to sort out.
We put the system through its paces today, in terms of what a fairly busy day will look like. Geyser, plus washing machine, oven etc. didn't skip a beat!
Trying to learn the system as time goes but thanks to this thread i knew a few things already. I have a few questions though!
In the second attachment, soon after the batteries were full, SOC 99% a big draw came through (the iron i think).
Why did the battery not supply the load with solar like it has been doing. Instead, the grid kicked in and supplied the load with solar. This confused me a bit.
We are up and running and had a solid first day. The installation was stressful to say the least. Still a few niggles to sort out.
We put the system through its paces today, in terms of what a fairly busy day will look like. Geyser, plus washing machine, oven etc. didn't skip a beat!
Trying to learn the system as time goes but thanks to this thread i knew a few things already. I have a few questions though!
In the second attachment, soon after the batteries were full, SOC 99% a big draw came through (the iron i think).
Why did the battery not supply the load with solar like it has been doing. Instead, the grid kicked in and supplied the load with solar. This confused me a bit.
Attachments
Last edited:
Probably check SYSTEM MODE settings. You'll probably find your system was configured to keep the batteries at 100% at that time you are referring to.
Deanoblado
Senior Member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Messages
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- Reaction score
- 58
System mode for that time slot was 70%, hence the confusion.