Generator or Inverter for residential use?

[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...

Did this on Saturday afternoon.
Got just over 1kwh more today than I did on Friday. Panels are very dirty, must wash them off soon.

 

[Saba'a]

Did this on Saturday afternoon.
Got just over 1kwh more today than I did on Friday. Panels are very dirty, must wash them off soon.

Good to know real life benefits. Did you manage to adjust the angle? If yes, how?

 

[Saba'a]

Definitely. Didn't tell my wife that it's running from batteries only and she went about her normal day. Put on the washing machine, blow dried her hair, dishwasher, boiled some water, had my brother over and his family for lunch(oven and stove are gas so no impact), another load in the dishwasher, coffee machine and microwave on numerous times throughout the day. Inverter was silent for 95% during the eight hours and only activated the fan a few times for about five minutes and just continued on its merry way. Also didn't exceed what the battery could provide at anytime so it did not have to go to the grid at any time.

When panels are connected I'll work out the best schedule for time off use settings in order to rely as little on the grid as possible.

One of the reasons for the 8kw system is that I did not want to change too much of our normal routine and worry about over taxing the system.

Eish, can't wait for my stuff to arrive. Will ask for tracking info tomorrow.

Batteries, any issue to get electrician to deliver now, or should I wait until inverter arrives?

 

[Sinbad]

Good to know real life benefits. Did you manafe to adjust the angle? If yes, how?

No, this was just changing the strings from horizontal to vertical split (2 strings of 5)

That shade moves in from the right.

 

[AchmatK]

Eish, can't wait for my stuff to arrive. Will ask for tracking info tomorrow.

Batteries, any issue to get electrician to deliver now, or should I wait until inverter arrives?

Not sure where going to install the batteries. If you have a box delivered like mine, it will be flat packed and does take some time to put together. My box is custom made for 3 pylontech 3.5kw batteries.

It's back breaking work sliding batteries into the cabinet if you doing it yourself, they weigh over 30kg each so you first need to put the box where it will be located before putting in the batteries.

If you mounting the inverter above the batteries there will be dust when they drill the mounting holes which will land on the batteries. You can keep the plastic bag that the inverter came with and place it over the battery cabinet to prevent any dust from going in the cabinet. I did this and the plastic covered the entire box. You have two batteries so you should be able to slide the whole cabinet away while they mount the inverter.

It really is up to you if you want then to deliver the batteries now or after the inverter arrives. I would how've have the batteries all setup by the time they start installing the inverter as then you can just connect the batteries.

You will need to cut the lugs off the battery cable that pylontech provides for the inverter connection as the lugs are too small to fit the bolts on the inverter. Electrician should be able to attach new lugs and heat shrink the connection.

 

[wingnut771]

Not sure where going to install the batteries. If you have a box delivered like mine, it will be flat packed and does take some time to put together. My box is custom made for 3 pylontech 3.5kw batteries.

It's back breaking work sliding batteries into the cabinet if you doing it yourself, they weigh over 30kg each so you first need to put the box where it will be located before putting in the batteries.

If you mounting the inverter above the batteries there will be dust when the drill the mounting holes which will land on the batteries. You can keep the plastic bag that the inverter came with and place it over the battery cabinet to leven any dust from going in the cabinet. I did this and the plastic covered the entire box. You have two batteries so you should be able to slide the whole cabinet away while they mount the inverter.

It really is up to you if you want then to deliver the batteries now or after the inverter arrives. I would how've have the batteries all setup by the time they start installing the inverter as then you can just connect the batteries.

You will need to cut the lugs off the battery cable that pylontech provides for the inverter connection as the lugs are too small to fit the bolts on the inverter. Electrician should be able to attach new lugs and heat shrink the connection.

or you can get the mrs to hold the vacuum cleaner under the drill.

 

[Saba'a]

Not sure where going to install the batteries. If you have a box delivered like mine, it will be flat packed and does take some time to put together. My box is custom made for 3 pylontech 3.5kw batteries.

It's back breaking work sliding batteries into the cabinet if you doing it yourself, they weigh over 30kg each so you first need to put the box where it will be located before putting in the batteries.

If you mounting the inverter above the batteries there will be dust when they drill the mounting holes which will land on the batteries. You can keep the plastic bag that the inverter came with and place it over the battery cabinet to prevent any dust from going in the cabinet. I did this and the plastic covered the entire box. You have two batteries so you should be able to slide the whole cabinet away while they mount the inverter.

It really is up to you if you want then to deliver the batteries now or after the inverter arrives. I would how've have the batteries all setup by the time they start installing the inverter as then you can just connect the batteries.

You will need to cut the lugs off the battery cable that pylontech provides for the inverter connection as the lugs are too small to fit the bolts on the inverter. Electrician should be able to attach new lugs and heat shrink the connection.

No cabinet. Electrician bringing batteries x 2 us3000 3.5kw pylontech.

Agreed with electrician to install in my basement as its cool. Not sure of humidity? Below ground level so assume air is moister.

 

[Saba'a]

or you can get the mrs to hold the vacuum cleaner under the drill.

Divorce not worth it. She earns almost as much as me

 

[Saba'a]

Thanks for tip. Will warn my electrician. Surprise about lugs as assumed pylontech virtually a standard.

Hope electrician doesn't charge an arm and a leg for it. Making enough from me on batteries.

"You will need to cut the lugs off the battery cable that pylontech provides for the inverter connection as the lugs are too small to fit the bolts on the inverter. Electrician should be able to attach new lugs and heat shrink the connection"

 

[AchmatK]

Thanks for tip. Will warn my electrician. Surprise about lugs as assumed pylontech virtually a standard.

Hope electrician doesn't charge an arm and a leg for it. Making enough from me on batteries.

"You will need to cut the lugs off the battery cable that pylontech provides for the inverter connection as the lugs are too small to fit the bolts on the inverter. Electrician should be able to attach new lugs and heat shrink the connection"

Inverter is spec'ed for bigger battery banks with recommended cabling of 35mm from battery to inverter. Pylontech supplied cables I think is 25mm.

 

[AchmatK]

Night time usage is a lot higher due to the geyser kicking in. Have a solar geyser but when the kids have their bath and shower, the element kicks in to heat the water back up when the temperature drops below 40°. Will only get about 4 hours nighttime usage from the battery bank before it drops to 35% if we stick to our normal routine. Can't set DOD lower than 35% for time off use settings. It will however go to 20% if there is no grid present.

Will set the Geyserwise element control to 75° so it can pump as much solar power during the day into the geyser element. Its currently set to 60°. Not sure what the max safe temperature for a geyser is. Will only change the settings on the Geyserwise after the panels are connected.

 

[wingnut771]

Night time usage is a lot higher due to the geyser kicking in. Have a solar geyser but when the kids have their bath and shower, the element kicks in to heat the water back up when the temperature drops below 40°. Will only get about 4 hours nighttime usage from the battery bank before it drops to 35% if we stick to our normal routine. Can't set DOD lower than 35% for time off use settings. It will however go to 20% if there is no grid present.

Will set the Geyserwise element control to 75° so it can pump as much solar power during the day into the geyser element. Its currently set to 60°. Not sure what the max safe temperature for a geyser is. Will only change the settings on the Geyserwise after the panels are connected.

watching the geyserwise installation video it says it has a 75 degree dc thermal cutout switch so i guess 75 is max temp.

 

[Speedster]

Night time usage is a lot higher due to the geyser kicking in. Have a solar geyser but when the kids have their bath and shower, the element kicks in to heat the water back up when the temperature drops below 40°. Will only get about 4 hours nighttime usage from the battery bank before it drops to 35% if we stick to our normal routine. Can't set DOD lower than 35% for time off use settings. It will however go to 20% if there is no grid present.

Will set the Geyserwise element control to 75° so it can pump as much solar power during the day into the geyser element. Its currently set to 60°. Not sure what the max safe temperature for a geyser is. Will only change the settings on the Geyserwise after the panels are connected.

Other option is to set the geyserwise temp lower overnight. 50° should be plenty. Heating 150l by 10° uses 1.75kwh of power, so that should give you an indication of the overnight usage / saving depending on how much water the kids use.

As example, my geyserwise is set to turn on the element at 6am if the water is below 50, and brings it up to 50. This is plenty warm for a shower.

 

[Saba'a]

I see solark has a checklist for installer

Edit Sorry cant upload better image.

Try link directly

https://www.google.com/url?q=[URL]h...FjABegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw13AfTVIHHruUwmIPXEXwTL

[/URL]

 

[wingnut771]

I see solark has a checklist for installer

if you say so, unreadable.

 

[Saba'a]

if you say so, unreadable.

Try link directly

Redirect Notice

h...egQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw13AfTVIHHruU...h...egQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw13AfTVIHHruUwmIPXEXwTL

 

[AchmatK]

One of the graphical reports from the Solarman app.

This shows SOC, battery charging in kw and battery discharge.

I went in to work and left the time off use setting to use the battery from 09:00 and then to charge the battery at 14:00. Wife was working from home with the 2 kids and had the domestic in today.

SOC went down to 52% by 14:00 and was back at 100%by 16:30.

Rails will be delivered tomorrow to finish putting up the panels as well as the combiner and solar surge protectors and 200m of 6mm cabling. Another R15k added to the installation costs.

 

[AchmatK]

The only appliance we have not yet used is the tumble dryer. Weather has been good in CT so its not been needed. It is an inverter dryer so should be more efficient than a regular dryer.

I will test the tumble dryer tonight.

 

[cfvh600]

One of the graphical reports from the Solarman app.

This shows SOC, battery charging in kw and battery discharge.

I went in to work and left the time off use setting to use the battery from 09:00 and then to charge the battery at 14:00. Wife was working from home with the 2 kids and had the domestic in today.

SOC went down to 52% by 14:00 and was back at 100%by 16:30.

Rails will be delivered tomorrow to finish putting up the panels as well as the combiner and solar surge protectors and 200m of 6mm cabling. Another R15k added to the installation costs. View attachment 882067

You've saved a ton of money by installing the panels yourself.

 

[AchmatK]

You've saved a ton of money by installing the panels yourself.

I have no idea what the going rate to install panels are. Only reason I did it myself was that it's just a bit of manual labour and nothing technical. Connect four strings, positive to negative and then the eight cables, two from each string, to the inverter.

The technical stuff is splitting the DB, installing change over switches and wiring up the inverter.