Generator or Inverter for residential use?

Brian Nelson said:
Maybe I can repay for some of the good advice I have received by describing my own experience. I have had the Ryobi 7900K (7kVA) key start for about 10 years and have not had a single issue with fridge, freezer, PC , TV or any other electronic or electrical device. That generator has two outlets, each of 25 amp capacity but I have only ever used one which has been successful with kettle, stove (even oven) and geyser (1500W element), but not all at the same time. I have occasionally switched on too much without realising it and dimming lights have given sufficient warning. I had the generator correctly plumbed in to the main DB togetther with a large changeover switch which disconnects one source before connecting to the other source. I do not get any strange patterns on the TV or PC screen. The generator is noisy so I have (partially) built a sound reduction box using purchased plans and the noise level outside the double garage where I have the generator is below 60dBA. Fuel consumption is surprisingly good, to the extent that I have not measured it accurately, but is of the order of 1,5l per hour. ( I am certain that will go up with heavy loads).
Best. Brian Nelson
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HI Brian. I have the RG-7900K and have two issues: 1. the lights always flicker slightly. 2. i am amazed that our small microwave does not operate fully with the gen. Do you have the same issues?
 
ClaudeBolling said:
HI Brian. I have the RG-7900K and have two issues: 1. the lights always flicker slightly. 2. i am amazed that our small microwave does not operate fully with the gen. Do you have the same issues?
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I had exactly the same problem.

Your frequency is out and most likely not at 50Hz.
This is set by the RPM of the motor and was set at the factory, usually spot on.

So the first step is to make sure that your motor is well serviced with new filters and plug etc. and is running perfectly, as anything wrong might be lowering the rev's.

If that doesn't solve the problem then you might need to compensate for the wear in the linkages by adjusting the RPM. The right way to do this is with a tachometer to precisely 3000 RPM but that is not always so easy to do.

I installed a hertz meter on mine and adjusted it with about 75% of my normal load on it to 50Hz and that solved my problem.
No more flicker on the LED's and the microwave took its two minutes to heat a plate rather than five.

You do however have to be extremely careful and if you are not fully comfortable with both electrics and mechanics rather get somebody to check and adjust it for you.
 
Clearly the best time to look at solar was 2018 to 2021 and why prices and stock for solar and related products are high and supply constrained.

The next best time to look at installing some form of backup electricity is now.

It's not going to get any better anytime soon and 2023 loadshedding will surpass 2022 by August/September 2023. 1791399068.jpg
 
Mate of mine's genny blew today,almost took out his leg in the process
 
AchmatK said:
Clearly the best time to look at solar was 2018 to 2021 and why prices and stock for solar and related products are high and supply constrained.

The next best time to look at installing some form of backup electricity is now.

It's not going to get any better anytime soon and 2023 loadshedding will surpass 2022 by August/September 2023. View attachment 1461569
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Why shouldn't the prices come down?
 
AchmatK said:
Clearly the best time to look at solar was 2018 to 2021 and why prices and stock for solar and related products are high and supply constrained.

The next best time to look at installing some form of backup electricity is now.

It's not going to get any better anytime soon and 2023 loadshedding will surpass 2022 by August/September 2023. View attachment 1461569
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Well its actually a gamble. There is a good chance that government will do whatever is possible to end load shedding, well before the next elections. If that happens, that will be the best time as every Tom Dick and Harry that started a Solar business will be overstocked, with little customers and prices will tumble, just like we have seen before with generators.
 
wingnut771 said:
Why shouldn't the prices come down?
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It will but not to 2021 levels. At best it will line up with inflation.

Unless loadshedding stops completely sending demand for solar off a cliff.

Even without loadshedding the tariff increases will still push demand for solar as solar + storage is still cheaper than any grid supplied electricity in the long term.

My average kWh cost in just over 2 years is now standing at R6.40/kWh. Another 2 years and it will be lower than what it costs me to buy from CoCT.
 
AchmatK said:
It will but not to 2021 levels. At best it will line up with inflation.

Unless loadshedding stops completely sending demand for solar off a cliff.

Even without loadshedding the tariff increases will still push demand for solar as solar + storage is still cheaper than any grid supplied electricity in the long term.

My average kWh cost in just over 2 years is now standing at R6.40/kWh. Another 2 years and it will be lower than what it costs me to buy from CoCT.
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Why inflation, I thought the tech is getting cheaper or is that levelling off now if one ignores covid? The only thing I see is the exchange rate affecting the prices.
 
Jean Claude Vaaldamme said:
There is a good chance that government will do whatever is possible to end load shedding, well before the next elections.
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There's 0 chance of that happening. They can't just wish new power plants into existence, as that is the only thing that will end it. At best they will stockpile diesel and use it during election campaigning...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
There's 0 chance of that happening. They can't just wish new power plants into existence, as that is the only thing that will end it. At best they will stockpile diesel and use it during election campaigning...
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That is only worth 2 stages of loadshitting. by next year, another 2GW of coal generation would have broken, so we would be 2 stages worse than we are now. Gone are the days they can stop loadshitting for funerals.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
There's 0 chance of that happening. They can't just wish new power plants into existence, as that is the only thing that will end it. At best they will stockpile diesel and use it during election campaigning...
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So none of the broken or down to maintenance units will ever work again? Koeberg also not coming back in June?
 
wingnut771 said:
How does that happen?

Static electricity that ignited some fuel vapour from the tank?
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Details are sparse,it made some sputtering and backfiring so they were busy trying to kill the engine and then kaboom, ignited the fuel jerry too
 
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