Generator or Inverter for residential use?

[TheChamp]

Btw hope 2 batteries adequate. All I can afford for now.

Depends what you re going to run on it, if it's just lights and electronics then they are more than adequate.

 

[AchmatK]

Inverter up.

 

[cfvh600]

Inverter up. View attachment 879765

Time to play!!

 

[AchmatK]

Time to play!!

I wish.

Can't find a 200 amp DC fuse and disconnect anywhere in Somerset West so can't connect the batteries yet.

Going to take most of the day to complete the wiring.

 

[Sinbad]

I think this weekend I am going to rewire my panels. They're in 2 rows of 5, each row of 5 being a series string, connected in parallel.
I have a tree that shades the panels from the right. Going to split the panels into left and right strings, rather than top and bottom... At least that way I'll get peak performance out of the left hand string for longer...

 

[TedLasso]

Ordered the 8KV Sunsynk. 5 to 10 days delivery.

Batteries ordered as well. Just waiting on invoice to pay for 2 x us3000 pylontech 3.5 kwh batteries.

PV panels - sadly no money now.

Happy chappy

Where and how much. You and @signates making me want to buy the same stuff

 

[Saba'a]

Depends what you re going to run on it, if it's just lights and electronics then they are more than adequate.

Yep excluding geyser and oven. Have to run main fridge at least on inverter.

 

[AchmatK]

With lead acid batteries fuses are non negotiable.

On a Lithium battery like the Polyntech the BMS has a build in disconnector.

100 A for 15s it will disconnect.

It wouldn't be totally irresponsible to connect the batteries to the inverter.

Going to connect them up then.

3 disconnect switches up.

One for supply from grid, second one for supply to essential loads and third on for supply to non essential loads.

 

[Sinbad]

Are those dual pole switches?
Also, will you have a changeover switch to bypass the inverter completely?

 

[AchmatK]

Are those dual pole switches?
Also, will you have a changeover switch to bypass the inverter completely?

Triple pole.

Changeover switch is going on the DB.

 

[TheChamp]

Yep excluding geyser and oven. Have to run main fridge at least on inverter.

It will do that like a champ.

 

[AchmatK]

Looks good so far

Just make sure not to mix AC and DC cables in the same trunking

Yes. DC cables from pv array will come down on the other side of the inverter.

 

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

@signates what's that next to the Geyserwise?

 

[Saba'a]

Where and how much. You and @signates making me want to buy the same stuff

Sunsynk R31 000 (includes wifi dongle) from LRG solar (R2k more than signates got) but can get almost same price from Invest Solar (sorry not Solar Advice wrong place) in Jozi. Have stock.

Batteries from electrician. Not sure who his supplier is. Inverter warehouse has 9 in stock. 2 at R43 000 with mounts and cables. Otherwise Jaco from go solar electrical can come close.

In essence any price below R24 000 (including bracket mounts and cables) is a good price.

1. http://lrgsolar.com/

Website crappy best to call or email them. Based in Hermanus/Botrivier

Responsive. Can get at about R46000 for 2 pylontech batteries.

2. http://www.go-solarelectrical.co.za/

Website also so-so best to email or call.

Jaco responsive but seems he only sells/installs Victron. Not a believer in Growatt or Axpert/Kodak etc voltronic systems.

3. https://www.inverter-warehouse.co.za

Good website. Best to call and ask for quote. Slight attitude but responsive in my experience.

4. https://investsolar.co.za/

Good website

Have stock and if willing to buy Dyness instead of pylontech batteries can match R43 000 for batteries and Sunsynk at R31 000.

Responsive and willing to engage on the equipment. Would have bought here if I hadn't already paid. Was recommended as installers of the Sunsynk.


5. https://artsolar.net/
PV panels R25 000 for 10 x 400W panels I hope to buy from https://artsolar.net/ but they sell kits as well.

Just not too responsive in my experience but still lekker to support local.

 

[AchmatK]

@signates what's that next to the Geyserwise?

Old disconnected controller for the heatpump. The heatpump gave in a couple of years ago with the load shedding. Haven't had it checked out and just disconnected the plumbing from my geyser and now only have the evacuated solar tubes for my geyser.

 

[Sinbad]

Anyone know of a fitting I can buy that will tilt my individual panels on their rail mountings a bit?

Installation is facing ENE, and would like to angle the panels a little towards the north... Since I'm going to have to remove and remount most of them to get to the wiring ....

 

[AchmatK]

Splitting my DB was a bit more complicated than expected. Previous electrician took some shortcuts that needed to be sorted out.

Nearly done.

Prefer these isolator switches than red circular ones which look more industrial and better suited for a garage install.

 

[AchmatK]

Inverter working. A few more settings tweaks and trying to learn the system.

Original house DB on the bottom right. I moved everything a year ago to DB on top. Middle sub DB is now my mains, transfer switch and inverter. Left sub DB is my out building for pool pumps and non essential loads like aircons and geyser. Still have some tidying up to do with the DB.

 

[AchmatK]

Small issue I've picked up and it might just be a setting that's not right.

The inverter has 2 outputs, load out and aux out.

The load out is basically the main backup or essential load. The aux out is for other loads like geyser, aircons and pumps that you don't need powered at all time. My geyser and aircons are connected to the aux out.

I've changed the settings in the inverter to send electricity to the aux output if the battery is above 50%. This has been the case since the unit has been connected. However, every hour or so the inverter will disconnect the aux output for a few seconds and then reconnect. My aircon in my bedroom can be disturbing when it restarts after losing power.

Not sure if I'll be able to stop the aux out restarting every hour or not. If not then I'll have to move the aircon to the load output.

This is while the aircon is standby mode. Not sure if the rain it does this is because everything currently connected to aux output is in standby mode and not drawing any current from the aux load.

 

[AchmatK]

Have a few items running with the geyser as the only high draw item running from aux output for non essential loads.

This screen shows that the battery is not currently being used to power the geyser.