Cape Town - Solar Install Quotation

[RonSwanson]

You should configure the inverter to shutdown before you flatten the batteries.
i.e. if capacity is less than say 10% shut off (or set at 50% for Dead Acid)

In a perfect world, yes. And we'd be paying Eskom 60 cents per unit too.

Soon as you get some solar, the inverter will start back up regardless of battery state anyway.
i.e. Even if you have completely flat batteries the inverter will come back on when it has sufficient input (via solar or grid or gennie).

A Sunsynk won't start with just solar, needs grid or battery.

 

[itareanlnotani]

In a perfect world, yes. And we'd be paying Eskom 60 cents per unit too.


A Sunsynk won't start with just solar, needs grid or battery.

Yes, it needs a battery, but even a dead one will let it start, even with no grid.

I've personally done that. I don't have a grid connection, and have used completely flat batteries to get the system up and running to feed both batteries and provide AC.

 

[RonSwanson]

Yes, it needs a battery, but even a dead one will let it start, even with no grid.

I've personally done that. I don't have a grid connection, and have used completely flat batteries to get the system up and running to feed both batteries and provide AC.

Make a video and post it next time. Just remember to use a Pylontech battery in protection mode

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Yes, it needs a battery, but even a dead one will let it start, even with no grid.

I've personally done that. I don't have a grid connection, and have used completely flat batteries to get the system up and running to feed both batteries and provide AC.

I get an F56 error (DC busbar voltage too low) when the battery gets too low.

Need to wait for the panels to charge them a bit, restart inverter to clear the error, then restart the battery bank to get everything going again...

 

[itareanlnotani]

Make a video and post it next time.

Bit of an ask - I'd need to disable the solar, drain batteries completely (which isn't good for lifetime), and disconnect some of my feeds (I have a solar mini grid on my plot with different houses feeding each other).

You'll just have to trust me.

Essentially if the Sunsynk inverter has no battery no grid and no solar, it will be off.
When it wakes up due to sufficient solar, it will start charging batteries. Once the batteries are charged enough past your minimum set voltage (which could be dependent on type, if you have canbus or other connection etc), then it will be happier.

Dead start is definitely possible., although it can depend on what batteries you have as @Mike Hoxbig noted above., some BMS's won't start immediately, some will etc.

In my case I used an old unused Dead Acid set to get my Sunsynk up and running. They were unplugged for 2-3 years, and completely dead. I didn't need to do anything other than connect up, and wait for the sun to come up the next day for them to start charging and the Sunsynk to provide power to my mini grid (which is essentially supplement the other solar install as needed at the moment).

 

[RonSwanson]

Bit of an ask - I'd need to disable the solar, drain batteries completely (which isn't good for lifetime), and disconnect some of my feeds (I have a solar mini grid on my plot with different houses feeding each other).

You'll just have to trust me.

Essentially if the Sunsynk inverter has no battery no grid and no solar, it will be off.
When it wakes up due to sufficient solar, it will start charging batteries. Once the batteries are charged enough past your minimum set voltage (which could be dependent on type, if you have canbus or other connection etc), then it will be happier.

Dead start is definitely possible., although it can depend on what batteries you have as @Mike Hoxbig noted above., some BMS's won't start immediately, some will etc.

In my case I used an old unused Dead Acid set to get my Sunsynk up and running. They were unplugged for 2-3 years, and completely dead. I didn't need to do anything other than connect up, and wait for the sun to come up the next day for them to start charging and the Sunsynk to provide power to my mini grid (which is essentially supplement the other solar install as needed at the moment).

Next time try a Pylontech, or any other battery for that matter that is in protection mode.

 

[itareanlnotani]

Next time try a Pylontech, or any other battery for that matter that is in protection mode.

Dead start is definitely possible., although it can depend on what batteries you have as @Mike Hoxbig noted above., some BMS's won't start immediately, some will etc.


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Again, it will depend on your battery type, BMS etc. Some need some handholding, some not.
Blanket statements that it won't work are not true.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

R250K for solar installation. Oh how the rich live.

 

[RonSwanson]

Dead start is definitely possible., although it can depend on what batteries you have as @Mike Hoxbig noted above., some BMS's won't start immediately, some will etc.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Again, it will depend on your battery type, BMS etc. Some need some handholding, some not.
Blanket statements that it won't work are not true.

As for blanket statements, you stated:

Yes, it needs a battery, but even a dead one will let it start, even with no grid.

The only reason that you got it to start was because you had a trickle of life from a bank of lead acids. Most of us do not use those. Good for you that you do.

My genny is cheap assurance that I can get things going if / when the Eskom / Municipal substation blows up and takes 6 weeks to replace during a heavily overcast spell of weather, with minimal fuss and bother. And it's on wheels, which will make it easier for you to borrow it the day that you will need it.

 

[ADrunkTeddyBear]

Good call. Steve may be overworked, but his insight, advice and integrity is legendary, well worth the wait IMHO.
I hooked my genny up at more or less the same time as the install, I combined it with the install of my second set panels because it was cheaper that way. Although I have never had to use it practically, I do test it every 4-6 months and rotate fuel. There are some dark weeks and months ahead, you won't be sorry if you get the installer to hook it up properly to either the Aux port of the Sunsynk or the classic way with a changeover switch on the grid side.

Speaking of which. How did you hook up your genny to the sunsynk?

I got a small 2kw inverter generator (I plan on running it @ 1500W) (my house load is 450w)

I was thinking of running Cabtyre 2.5mm cable from the gen port to to a 3 wall plug inlet. Then a suicide cable (same 2.5mm cabtyre) from the genny to the gen inlet plug

 

[RonSwanson]

Speaking of which. How did you hook up your genny to the sunsynk?

I got a small 2kw inverter generator (I plan on running it @ 1500W) (my house load is 450w)

I was thinking of running Cabtyre 2.5mm cable from the gen port to to a 3 wall plug inlet. Then a suicide cable (same 2.5mm cabtyre) from the genny to the gen inlet plug

My manual setup here

Generator or Inverter for residential use?

Andre de Ruyter should make you an honorary member of ESKOM. My feed in for the day. Almost a constant 7.5kw From 9am to 3pm

mybroadband.co.za

 

[calypso]

R250K for solar installation. Oh how the rich live.

If you financed it, and are now no longer paying much for electricity, you will be surprised how little it will actually cost you.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Thanks for the suggestion. Your view in the article seems to conclude the CoCT deal is still not a good one, which is what I had thought (although I don't fully understand it).

To pay R10k upfront means a cost-of-money amount of about R125/month, and then you add R90, so you are at least R200/month down before you start and I don't have a track record of my system to see if will also be generating 200kWHz monthly to break even on that.

Surely that R10k +R90 per month is better spent saving towards a second battery?

I'm open to ideas though as I haven't finalised with the installer yet.

Does the normal R150 fee fall away when you decide to feedback though?

So then it’s more like R50 a month.

Either way I don’t agree with them charging for a meter up front for this. If they did the meter and then charged a rental fee for it that could sort of work.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Does anyone know what i need to allow Siri to be aware of the Sunsynk? In particular to be able to ask her what is the current load from Panels, Batteries, mains etc.

And ideally to be able to ask her to do things like prioritize battery charging over solar for the time being etc.

Home Assistant could potentially take care of the HomeKit side of things assuming those are values supported by HomeKit.

Second part isn’t so easy and if possible at all would require a reverse automation to Home Assistant or using Shortcuts…but feeding it a value is where I see a problem.

That’s if the Sunsynk even supports that via API.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

If you financed it, and are now no longer paying much for electricity, you will be surprised how little it will actually cost you.

Indeed. I got some crazy bill this month but even then it would take 5 years to recover the investment of R250K; assuming zero maintenance on solar.

 

[SauRoNZA]

R250K for solar installation. Oh how the rich live.

1. I have been saving for this for YEARS, with great dedication and sacrificing other nice to haves. Even now I could do a many other necessary things with this money or just sit on it and pay my house off faster.

2. I’m not actually paying that and the final quotation I’ve accepted is R193k because I’m struggling to accept going over 200k myself.

3. My electricity right now is an average of R2000 a month, sometimes a little more and it will be increasing in July.

The solar over 10 years will cost me R1600 a month. Even if I end up spending R400 a month still with Eskom to cover grid costs I’ll be paying what I would have been paying right now and that is ignoring price increases going forwards.

At the current rate of increases I’m willing to bet by year 5 or 6 it will have paid for itself.

4. And for spending the same money I never need to deal and suffer through Load Shedding again.

Effectively I’m doing it up front and locking in the price.

 

[shadow_man]

1. I have been saving for this for YEARS, with great dedication and sacrificing other nice to haves. Even now I could do a many other necessary things with this money or just sit on it and pay my house off faster.

2. I’m not actually paying that and the final quotation I’ve accepted is R193k because I’m struggling to accept going over 200k myself.

3. My electricity right now is an average of R2000 a month, sometimes a little more and it will be increasing in July.

The solar over 10 years will cost me R1600 a month. Even if I end up spending R400 a month still with Eskom to cover grid costs I’ll be paying what I would have been paying right now and that is ignoring price increases going forwards.

At the current rate of increases I’m willing to bet by year 5 or 6 it will have paid for itself.

4. And for spending the same money I never need to deal and suffer through Load Shedding again.

Effectively I’m doing it up front and locking in the price.

This ^ so much of this...

People tend to think really short term - but CPT had a power outage this morning (for a number of suburbs , +-4 hours later it still wasn't fixed and I was merrily working away with no issues).

If broken down properly, most homes (not apartments) will find that their bill matches or is close to what they'd pay for a solar install (and with no pain of loadshedding / future increases) it's a <10 year repayment item at this point - and having done the math, it checks out (for me).

 

[itareanlnotani]

Don't forget licencing and registration, as Cape Town requires it for any setup with generator incorporated. (which is a good thing, as too many people have noisy setups in residential area's).

My manual setup here

Generator or Inverter for residential use?

Andre de Ruyter should make you an honorary member of ESKOM. My feed in for the day. Almost a constant 7.5kw From 9am to 3pm

mybroadband.co.za

• Should a generator which burns fossil-fuels or generates noise be incorporated in the installation, approval by the City Health Department will be required. (Page 41 of linked PDF below)

https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures,%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Requirements%20for%20Small-Scale%20Embedded%20Generation.pdf

 

[Koosvanwyk]

R250K for solar installation. Oh how the rich live.

It is about priorities and has very little actually to do with being poor or rich.

Ever seen the Merc's parked in the informal settlements, that is priorities (and sometimes theft)

 

[itareanlnotani]

As for blanket statements, you stated:


The only reason that you got it to start was because you had a trickle of life from a bank of lead acids. Most of us do not use those. Good for you that you do.

My genny is cheap assurance that I can get things going if / when the Eskom / Municipal substation blows up and takes 6 weeks to replace during a heavily overcast spell of weather, with minimal fuss and bother. And it's on wheels, which will make it easier for you to borrow it the day that you will need it.

I definitely won't need it

Even on the worst rainy days I've managed to generate sufficient to charge batteries to full.

14kw of generation on 2 roof's, and that only needs to charge about 5-6kWhr of LFP for overnight use - less if I turn off some non-essentials.

That said, I only have 10kWh of LFP, I'd like more, but money is better used on other things at the moment.

No grid here, so its all solar, all the time.