Backup still worth the effort?

Carvin said:
So, with reduced loadshedding over the past couple of weeks, how are people feeling who just installed full systems? Especially those in Cape Town?

I am halfway there (have inverter and need battery) but just can't seem to shake the idea that selling the inverter and saving R45k is a better idea currently.

I know we have no idea what the future holds but I would be super disappointed to spend the money and then loadshedding is severely reduced.

P.S I am not oblivious to the fact that the 2024 elections are around the corner...
Click to expand...
Sell it and get yourself an inverter generator. You will never be able to burn through R45k worth of petrol no matter what people say.
 
Carvin said:
So, with reduced loadshedding over the past couple of weeks, how are people feeling who just installed full systems? Especially those in Cape Town?

I am halfway there (have inverter and need battery) but just can't seem to shake the idea that selling the inverter and saving R45k is a better idea currently.

I know we have no idea what the future holds but I would be super disappointed to spend the money and then loadshedding is severely reduced.

P.S I am not oblivious to the fact that the 2024 elections are around the corner...
Click to expand...
Imagine a man who need a medical device such as a pacemaker etc., and he can finally afford one, but realised he has not experienced any issue recently, so would it not make sense not to buy the pacemaker, since his good luck may continue indefinitely and he would be wasting his money.
 
Ross85 said:
What about it?
Click to expand...
In 3 years time you will have free electricity if you invest in PV now, instead, you'll be paying more for your petrol generator (more blackouts) and 60% more for your overpriced eskom corruption.
 
wingnut771 said:
In 3 years time you will have free electricity if you invest in PV now, instead, you'll be paying more for your petrol generator (more blackouts) and 60% more for your overpriced eskom corruption.
Click to expand...
1688030750236.png

I left it at the example Rate of 18.25% How is the power I am getting from the system free? That is 13 years' worth of electricity I will be dead in 10 years anyway so for my situation this is not a good investment.
 
wingnut771 said:
In 3 years time you will have free electricity if you invest in PV now, instead, you'll be paying more for your petrol generator (more blackouts) and 60% more for your overpriced eskom corruption.
Click to expand...
I get it, having an inverter and batteries is nice but for me, it is not worth it. If I was younger maybe but for right now yea sure I will pay more for petrol but it is R4.39k a month anyway. My power is R1k per month and petrol is maybe R300 a month. It is not close to the R4.39k I will be spending each month. Also, interest rate can go up as well as down. I am good with what I have.
 
Ross85 said:
View attachment 1548157

I left it at the example Rate of 18.25% How is the power I am getting from the system free? That is 13 years' worth of electricity I will be dead in 10 years anyway so for my situation this is not a good investment.
Click to expand...
Most people who drop R160k will be pulling it out of a bond, which is a lot lower interest rate, so the pay-back period is much shorter.
 
newby_investor said:
Most people who drop R160k will be pulling it out of a bond, which is a lot lower interest rate, so the pay-back period is much shorter.
Click to expand...
Yea sure but I am retired I don't have a bond. So for me, it will be a personal loan and I can't justify it. I need my money for other stuff like food, medication and so on. My pills alone are R2k a month. Without them, I die faster so for me it is really not that important.
 
Look mate don't let them sell you all this crap. Solar is not a plus for you, it is a plus for the next person that will buy your home. They only have to maintain it. They will benefit from it. All you get is some convenience when the sun is out. Rest of the time those batteries will get old, the inverter will get old and the solar panels will need replacement. You are going to pay for it all, not to mention property tax will go up, electricity will go up so will other stuff like food and medical bills as you get older. They are selling you a lie mate. They really are.

You are not going to be around long enough to enjoy what you have. The bank and municipality benefit from it because they get the next person to buy your home and pay them. Value goes up. You get some kickback but by that time you will be too old to really enjoy any of it.
 
Ross85 said:
I get it, having an inverter and batteries is nice but for me, it is not worth it. If I was younger maybe but for right now yea sure I will pay more for petrol but it is R4.39k a month anyway. My power is R1k per month and petrol is maybe R300 a month. It is not close to the R4.39k I will be spending each month. Also, interest rate can go up as well as down. I am good with what I have.
Click to expand...
You could get by with a R60k system though which has 4kW PV so 20kWh per day. In 5 years time your R1000 per month will be R2000 per month.
 
Even if loadshedding were to end... Technical issues won't end.
Think about that time your whole area was off due to a transformer or something blowing up and then you're off for a day or 2.
That's when you will be really thankful you have backup.
 
wingnut771 said:
You could get by with a R60k system though which has 4kW PV so 20kWh per day. In 5 years time your R1000 per month will be R2000 per month.
Click to expand...
I can and do get by with an R16K system. It is not the best but it works. Mecer 1Kw 25.6V 50Ah Lithium Battery Trolley Inverter. I can connect solar to it. But it is all I need. For now, I just use it like a UPS. If I feel the need to add a solar panel I will later on.
 
charlieharper said:
Even if loadshedding were to end... Technical issues won't end.
Think about that time your whole area was off due to a transformer or something blowing up and then you're off for a day or 2.
That's when you will be really thankful you have backup.
Click to expand...
Load shedding will never end permanently. I worked for Eskom for a long time then Jumped ship to Rotek. All my friends are my age. All of them can't go back to Eskom. There are not many skilled people left. This is a fact. If you are young and have a bond go solar but do it because you need the power and not because it will pay itself. That is just not true. You will pay for it, pay for the maintenance of it. It is not free. Just do it for the right reason.
 
Ross85 said:
Load shedding will never end permanently. I worked for Eskom for a long time then Jumped ship to Rotek. All my friends are my age. All of them can't go back to Eskom. There are not many skilled people left. This is a fact. If you are young and have a bond go solar but do it because you need the power and not because it will pay itself. That is just not true. You will pay for it, pay for the maintenance of it. It is not free. Just do it for the right reason.
Click to expand...
100%.
If loadshedding wasn't a thing, we'd happily not have solar. It's an expense that under regular circumstances could've been used for much better things. But for now, it provides peace of mind.
 
You would need to do the calculations taking into account that the cost of electricity will probably rise at double the official rate inflation, for a good number of years. So if annual inflation is 7%, it will raise the unit cost of electricity by 14%, for that year. Scary how that adds up even after 3 years, you are looking at 50% increase over three years.

Yikes.

They won't have any choice other than to raise it by that much. The money is gone, politicians and cadres have diverted it to overseas bank accounts. Like, 6 of them got caught :ROFL:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X