Generator or Inverter for residential use?

Academic said:
Soft competition: got 19 kwh today off 2.7 kW of panels in Somerset West. My factor is 19/2.7=7.04.
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Not bad. The day is not done yet here in Somerset West. Currently sitting on a factor of 6.25. Highest I think was 7.02 with 60kwh on 29 November.

Where in Somerset West?
 
I underutilise my solar array, the issue is that I have three phase supply limited to 35 amps per phase, so cannot connect everything on the same phase as the inverter.
 
Tariqe said:
I underutilise my solar array, the issue is that I have three phase supply limited to 35 amps per phase, so cannot connect everything on the same phase as the inverter.
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35 amps AC is still pretty massive on the DC side, how big a solar array do you have?
 
signates said:
What's your setup? Inverter, batteries, panels, orientation?
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Thanks for the interest. My setup started with a backup solution consisting of Victron Multiplus 2 48V 3000W combined with a 5 kwh Freedom Won battery and two backed up circuits. Added 6x450W JA Solar mono panels orientated mostly north. Cost around 125k.

Happy, but can do with more storage as potential during the day not fully utilised. Some more generation in the late afternoon would also be nice and thus thinking of adding some panels facing not-north.

What have you got? 60 kwh must be a large setup.
 
Academic said:
Thanks for the interest. My setup started with a backup solution consisting of Victron Multiplus 2 48V 3000W combined with a 5 kwh Freedom Won battery and two backed up circuits. Added 6x450W JA Solar mono panels orientated mostly north. Cost around 125k.

Happy, but can do with more storage as potential during the day not fully utilised. Some more generation in the late afternoon would also be nice and thus thinking of adding some panels facing not-north.

What have you got? 60 kwh must be a large setup.
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Also need to increase my current batteries as I would ideally like to cut the grid dependency to less than 10%.

I've been investigating going solar for a good few years and just decided it was time to pull the trigger. Covid put my emigration plans on hold so used that funds for my setup.

8kw sunsynk hybrid inverter
28 x 305w Canadian solar panels (8.54kw)
3 x 3.5kw pylontech batteries (plan is to have 6 batteries)
Total cost 5 months ago was R200k

Will probably add the first extra battery in the first half if 2021.
 
Definitely more the panel heat that's affecting pv production than the dust.

Sprayed it down twice today for about 10 minutes at a time to check. Pretty hot in Somerset West today.

Production goes down just as quickly as it increases after spraying it down. Screenshot_20201222-140541_SOLARMAN%20Smart.jpg
 
@thechamp, I have 4.3 kWp array facing NE and NW respectively, I have a 2kw geyser, a 1.1 kw pool pump and a 9000 btu aircon, micro and kettle on the non essential side and the standard fridge/freezer,lights, plugs on essential side, I have the two more 9000 btu air cons on phase two and two gas stoves/electric oven on phase three.
Have 5 kw sunsynk inverter with two Pylontech 2000 batteries, hopefully wifey will allow one more battery, if I prostrate my self on the ground
 
spiff said:
Is there any regs regarding the mounting heights for invertor and batteries?
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I am not sure so I would follow the DB mounting rules which says minimum 1.2m and not exceeding 2.2m from the floor.

Just be practical about it, mounting an inverter so high that you need a ladder to reach it won't make sense. As for batteries I always feel better knowing that there aren't things heavy enough to kill me over my head.
 
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Two of the longest days of the year and couldn't beat the record set on 29 November.

Summer heat loss is ±5%. Need the sun but not the heat. Was an interesting exercise. Even with my free water I don't think it's worth the effort to try and cool the panels in the summer heat.

My summer usage has also increased significantly due to running the aircons for more than 12 hours per day with the my bedroom unit on practically 24/7 and yesterday's total usage hitting 66.7kWh. Screenshot_20201222-194416_SOLARMAN%20Business.jpgScreenshot_20201222-194451_SOLARMAN%20Business.jpg
 
Ended up using 29% of the battery during the 2 hours of load shedding even with the aircon running. DB did not trip when the grid came back online.

Should end up with 1.6MWh for December and nearly 6MWh since commissioning. Screenshot_20201231-105131_solarmanPro.jpg
 
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