Cape Town - Solar Install Quotation

[neoprema]

NVM i answered my own question - the web front-end works fine and i can load it up on a tablet:

https://sunsynk.net

 

[SauRoNZA]

I can't see your battery size, but its very similar in price to mine, except my Inverter is 12kW 3-phase. I have a feeling you have more batt capacity than me though.

FreedomWon 15kW.

 

[neoprema]

FreedomWon 15kW.

yeah ok bigger than mine i'm 10.

 

[ADrunkTeddyBear]

@DuracellBunny should be able to confirm pricing

But I feel like you are being charged a lot for 420W. If I were you I would go 18 x 540W panels in 2 strings to properly max out your system.

Regarding your sundries costs like combiner boxes etc. You can get them way cheaper at Voltex (Please visit a big branch not a small regional branch, otherwise you will be dealing with idiots). I paid around R3k for a 4 string combiner box

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Any thoughts on the Dyness batteries (BX48100) specifically?

I was originally very keen on the "single box" type solution but thanks to @shadow_man putting me onto Somewatt Solar I got a very favourable quotation there and they are very keen on the Dyness.

It's not pretty but it would give me the more modular options of upgrading to 20kW easily (from 3 x 4.8 to 4) whereas with the FreedomWon I would either need to go 10 now and 10 later, or 15 now and then another 15 which I know will be overkill.

Dyness is good, myself and @Mzezman are running them. Solid reputation both locally and internationally. AX48100 and BX48100 are compatible with each other, and they're on the cheaper side if you want to go modular. You can go with 3 x Dyness and save R20k on the one FreedomWon.

In terms of your quote, not sure what the bypass does. The combiner is basically a DB which contains your changeover switches:


Mine cost R2700 so that seems on the high side for yours.

Battery installation accessories seems completely out of whack.

You effectively have the same spec system as me, except I only have 2 Dyness batteries but better panels (14 x 455W JA). That came to R180k installed. If you add a third battery, it should take you to just over R200k. And mine was a bit on the higher priced side to start with...

 

[TheChamp]

Dyness is good, myself and @Mzezman are running them. Solid reputation both locally and internationally. AX48100 and BX48100 are compatible with each other, and they're on the cheaper side if you want to go modular. You can go with 3 x Dyness and save R20k on the one FreedomWon.

In terms of your quote, not sure what the bypass does. The combiner is basically a DB which contains your changeover switches:

View attachment 1307392
Mine cost R2700 so that seems on the high side for yours.

Battery installation accessories seems completely out of whack.

You effectively have the same spec system as me, except I only have 2 Dyness batteries but better panels (14 x 455W JA). That came to R180k installed. If you add a third battery, it should take you to just over R200k. And mine was a bit on the higher priced side to start with...

I don't think yours is much of a combiner box, a good one will have surge protection, fuses for each pole of a string and an isolator, being DC components could be what drives the price because DC switchgear is generally more expensive.

Depending on the application you might not even need one, with the dual mppt and the right number of panels it becomes unnecessary, which I suspect to be you case.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I don't think yours is much of a combiner box, a good one will have surge protection, fuses for each pole of a string and an isolator, being DC components could be what drives the price because DC switchgear is generally more expensive.

Depending on the application you might not even need one, with the dual mppt and the right number of panels it becomes unnecessary, which I suspect to be you case.

Solar array disconnector was R475, it's not visible in the pic. The inverter itself also has a DC switch. Either way his combiner is priced on the higher side, and a fancy one should not be needed for an installation of this size. And I'm not sure what the bypass is...

 

[SauRoNZA]

Dyness is good, myself and @Mzezman are running them. Solid reputation both locally and internationally. AX48100 and BX48100 are compatible with each other, and they're on the cheaper side if you want to go modular. You can go with 3 x Dyness and save R20k on the one FreedomWon.

In terms of your quote, not sure what the bypass does. The combiner is basically a DB which contains your changeover switches:

View attachment 1307392
Mine cost R2700 so that seems on the high side for yours.

Battery installation accessories seems completely out of whack.

You effectively have the same spec system as me, except I only have 2 Dyness batteries but better panels (14 x 455W JA). That came to R180k installed. If you add a third battery, it should take you to just over R200k. And mine was a bit on the higher priced side to start with...

Yeah the price from SomeWatt came to 194k with 3 x Dyness 4.8kWh + Sunsynk 8kW + 14 x 455W.

So add the rack mount and it’s probably just about 200k.

Gives me some room to add the extra battery down the line if it makes sense to do so.

He is coming tomorrow to have an inspection and I suspect then I’ll pull the trigger in due course.

***

Is my logic correct you would just flip those switches to bypass the inverter and run on Eskom directly should there be a need to do so?

 

[SauRoNZA]

@DuracellBunny should be able to confirm pricing

But I feel like you are being charged a lot for 420W. If I were you I would go 18 x 540W panels in 2 strings to properly max out your system.

Regarding your sundries costs like combiner boxes etc. You can get them way cheaper at Voltex (Please visit a big branch not a small regional branch, otherwise you will be dealing with idiots). I paid around R3k for a 4 string combiner box

Yeah the quote from SomeWatt is for 455W panels instead but it’s something I plan to chat about tomorrow to see if we can maximise the limited roof space.

And I making an idiotic assumption that the panels remain the same size the density just changes?

So if 14x 420W fit on my roof then so will 14 x 540 etc?

Strings also need to face the same way and I’m guessing each MPTT can only take 5kW as the total is 10 so even if I put some in the East for the late afternoon I suspect that will be counter productive.

 

[ADrunkTeddyBear]

Yeah the quote from SomeWatt is for 455W panels instead but it’s something I plan to chat about tomorrow to see if we can maximise the limited roof space.

And I making an idiotic assumption that the panels remain the same size the density just changes?

So if 14x 420W fit on my roof then so will 14 x 540 etc?

Strings also need to face the same way and I’m guessing each MPTT can only take 5kW as the total is 10 so even if I put some in the East for the late afternoon I suspect that will be counter productive.

420W Dimensions:

Width: 1,048mm
Height: 2,108mm

545W Dimensions:

Width: 1,134mm
Height: 2,279mm

Slightly wider and taller. Not by much though. Lets hope you can squeeze all of them in

 

[DuracellBunny]

@DuracellBunny should be able to confirm pricing

But I feel like you are being charged a lot for 420W. If I were you I would go 18 x 540W panels in 2 strings to properly max out your system.

Regarding your sundries costs like combiner boxes etc. You can get them way cheaper at Voltex (Please visit a big branch not a small regional branch, otherwise you will be dealing with idiots). I paid around R3k for a 4 string combiner box

Canadian Solar 545W Super High Power Mono PERC HiKU with MC4-EVO2 X14
Sunsynk Sun 8K Hybrid Inverter X1
Complete Mounting 2 sets of 7 in a string
DC combiner Box X1
6mm DC Cable 25m Red and Black X1
KETO 1 Battery Disconnector with 250A Fuses X1
AC distribution box with Surge and Change over Switch X1
Freedom Won eTower LiFePO4 Battery 5kW 52V X3
Warning Sticker Set X1

Coming at R 212,289.00 Delivered

VOC 345.8V
Isc 13.95A

Panels are only 10cm larger on both ends.
Prefer having multiple batteries on larger systems so if 1 battery is faulty
the system can still function with the balance but on the single battery system,
that thing go down then eish "Hello Darkness My Old Friend" while the batteries
are being sorted out.

 

[AfricanTech]

One of these days...

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Is my logic correct you would just flip those switches to bypass the inverter and run on Eskom directly should there be a need to do so?

Yeah that's the idea, middle switch determines if you're running on inverter or Eskom. Left and right enables/disables Eskom input and inverter output should you have an issue with either of those...

 

[RonSwanson]

Canadian Solar 545W Super High Power Mono PERC HiKU with MC4-EVO2 X14
Sunsynk Sun 8K Hybrid Inverter X1
Complete Mounting 2 sets of 7 in a string
DC combiner Box X1
6mm DC Cable 25m Red and Black X1
KETO 1 Battery Disconnector with 250A Fuses X1
AC distribution box with Surge and Change over Switch X1
Freedom Won eTower LiFePO4 Battery 5kW 52V X3
Warning Sticker Set X1

Coming at R 212,289.00 Delivered

VOC 345.8V
Isc 13.95A

Panels are only 10cm larger on both ends.
Prefer having multiple batteries on larger systems so if 1 battery is faulty
the system can still function with the balance but on the single battery system,
that thing go down then eish "Hello Darkness My Old Friend" while the batteries
are being sorted out.

Cool, now you just need battery cables and the earth neutral bridge relay.
edit: and somewhere to place the 3 e-towers, hopefully not on the floor.

 

[Katelknaap]

As requested by @Mike Hoxbig and @RonSwanson.

View attachment 1307266

The panels themselves aren't badly priced, but the Inverter and Battery pricing is way out of whack as if someone added extra VAT almost.

Other stuff that really bothers me is the R11730 charge for GS50 Battery Accessories which feels akin to "sundries" bullshit they charge you when they service your car.

SSEG is also quite a bit more expensive than I've seen on other quotes.

Also I have no idea what the Bypass and Combiner Boxes should cost, but they seem pretty outrageous as well.

Even if I fight the hardware pricing down with evidence in hand I'm not convinced.

I knew this was a "big brand" installer going into this and they've supported me well with this conversation going on over a year already and while I'm sure they'll be around in years to come it feels like I'm being ripped a bit.

R 6k + VAT for SSEG registration? As per my post in W@p's thread, the way I understand it's only paperwork & there is no fee payable to CoCT? So how does one justify R 6k?

 

[DuracellBunny]

Cool, now you just need battery cables and the earth neutral bridge relay.
edit: and somewhere to place the 3 e-towers, hopefully not on the floor.

Battery cables already included with the battery itself, supplied like that from Freedom Won. All the communication cables for a few different inverters.

The batteries do come with pedestals so it’s raised of the ground a few cm but usually I prefer with previous customers having these types of batteries in a cabinet with a glass door and locked away safely.

 

[Harmonic]

yeah ok bigger than mine i'm 10.

What does your power consumption look like and how are you finding it?

 

[RonSwanson]

Battery cables already included with the battery itself, supplied like that from Freedom Won. All the communication cables for a few different inverters.

The batteries do come with pedestals so it’s raised of the ground a few cm but usually I prefer with previous customers having these types of batteries in a cabinet with a glass door and locked away safely.

That's fine for interconnects between batteries, but I doubt the cables will take 3 batteries' current for the cables between battery and inverter. They will need to be a lot thicker.

 

[DuracellBunny]

That's fine for interconnects between batteries, but I doubt the cables will take 3 batteries' current for the cables between battery and inverter. They will need to be a lot thicker.

They come with 35mm2 cable so it would be rated 200+ amp cable so it should be sufficient, but will need to confirm in the morning to lazy to log in to check on the package contents. The cables between the batteries would be solid copper busses

 

[RonSwanson]

They come with 35mm2 cable so it would be rated 200+ amp cable so it should be sufficient, but will need to confirm in the morning to lazy to log in to check on the package contents. The cables between the batteries would be solid copper busses

The fuses which you quoted on are 250A, and therefore suitable for 70mm2 cable. If they protect the 35mm cable then they should be around 180-190A, but thickness also depends on their length. That's why a site inspection is so important, 35mm2 is ok for 1, maybe 2m, but not more. It also depends on what is considered acceptable loss.
I also recall that the OP may consider another 4th battery, so may as well bump it to 70mm2. Buy once, cry once.