Generator or Inverter for residential use?

[Pho3nix]

inverter = R15000
6 x 400W panels = R13200
2 x 3.5 pylontech = R42000

Total = R70200

Something along these lines @thechamp
Labour was around R15k odd or so

 

[thehuman]

grid tie? You mean selling back to the grid?
I based my calcs on money which I would have spent buying Eskom electricity, not on what I would sell to them, my understanding is that's not possible.

Grid tie as in use the grid as a battery, generate "credit" in daytime and use it at night.
Need to find out if allowed, rates .
Some areas do a time of use billing and that make it complicated.

 

[Neuk_]

inverter = R15000
6 x 400W panels = R13200
2 x 3.5 pylontech = R42000

Total = R70200

Just our 3kVa inverter, 120aH gel batteries and installation cost R45k initially. The 10 PV panels cost another R20k or so and we are spending another R50k on installing the PV panels, other necessary hardware and setting it up as an ESS. Money aside, I would have gone for a 5kVa inverter and BYD or PylonTech LiFePo batteries instead of the 3kVa and gel batteries my girlfriend bought.

 

[AchmatK]

Just our 3kVa inverter, 120aH gel batteries and installation cost R45k initially. The 10 PV panels cost another R20k or so and we are spending another R50k on installing the PV panels, other necessary hardware and setting it up as an ESS. Money aside, I would have gone for a 5kVa inverter and BYD or PylonTech LiFePo batteries instead of the 3kVa and gel batteries my girlfriend bought.

Reading your story of what you GF bought makes me glad my wife leaves all the household maintenance and improvement stuff to me.

Don't know what I would've ended up with if she just decided to go and buy something off the net as a backup just for load shedding.

 

[Neuk_]

Reading your story of what you GF bought makes me glad my wife leaves all the household maintenance and improvement stuff to me.

Don't know what I would've ended up with if she just decided to go and buy something off the net as a backup just for load shedding.

What my girlfriend bought isn't necessarily a big issue, she bought it with load shedding in mind where I had a longer term view. She also bought under the guidance of her father, uncle, cousins, etc. who are all electrical engineers and work at the family business which is MV and HV electrical engineering. It has worked flawlessly since we had it installed and while the 3kVa inverter hasn't limited us personally, a 5kVa would have meant less or no splitting of the DB and less PowerAssist from teh inverter with our domestic staying with us for a while.

 

[TheChamp]

inverter = R15000
6 x 400W panels = R13200
2 x 3.5 pylontech = R42000

Total = R70200

Solar mounting hardware R5000
3 string combiner box R 2500
Battery isolator R1200
Battery cables R350
Battery box R 4000
Changeover switch R400
DC Cables?
AC cables?

Plus other unforeseen costs, I am sure you get the picture.

 

[wingnut771]

Solar mounting hardware R5000
3 string combiner box R 2500
Battery isolator R1200
Battery cables R350
Battery box R 4000
Changeover switch R400
DC Cables?
AC cables?

Plus other unforeseen costs, I am sure you get the picture.

i guess that's part of the R15000 installation costs mentioned above, but i get your point.

 

[cfvh600]

R50k on installing the PV panels, other necessary hardware and setting it up as an ESS.

Sounds steep. Did you get a breakdown on that?

Edit:
I see that includes other hardware like the GX device and MPPT etc.

 

[Neuk_]

Sounds steep. Did you get a breakdown on that?

Edit:
I suppose that includes other hardware like the GX device and MPPT etc.

Yep, it includes the hardware for mounting the PV panels, solar cabling, surge protection, fuses, earth cabling, trunking, the MPPT and Venus GX units, installation and setup. If you go for hybrid type inverters the costs are generally a lot less as Victron kit is expensive and need additional kit like the MPPT and GX controllers.

 

[cfvh600]

Yep, it includes the hardware for mounting the PV panels, solar cabling, surge protection, fuses, earth cabling, trunking, the MPPT and Venus GX units, installation and setup. If you go for hybrid type inverters the costs are generally a lot less as Victron kit is expensive and need additional kit like the MPPT and GX controllers.

Makes sense, will be an awesome system when it's all installed and configured.

 

[Neuk_]

Makes sense, will be an awesome system when it's all installed and configured.

For what we need it will, @Sinbad's is a larger system than ours, which is what I would have gone for.

 

[Saba'a]

Spoke to a guy who has a solark i.e Sunsynk installed. Said I must check the checklist and use an earth bond - cheap 2V 40amp relay as inverter has a software controller for it.

Says that earth bond only at Eskom. So if Eskom off need this and can be inside the inverter. Anybody know anything about this?

 

[Saba'a]

Inverter in Jozi already, so guess arriving tomorrow? Hope so!

 

[RonSwanson]

Grid tie as in use the grid as a battery, generate "credit" in daytime and use it at night.
Need to find out if allowed, rates .
Some areas do a time of use billing and that make it complicated.

Not allowed, unless you register as an IPP

 

[Saba'a]

Can install here in the small room where DB is but then have to exit house as a wall between house and this little room.

 

[Saba'a]

Or in "scullery/laundry room" but space too limited

Or in basement below as steps next to wall where DB is.

Electrician suggests drill through wall, lead cabling through wall above basement door and then next to door.

I can even hide it beneath the stairs but too much hassle. Will have to lead cat5 (have stacks to spare) to basement but not a major issue as I want to install a POE camera in cellar in any case.

 

[Saba'a]

So preferred spot is here. Cool but I dont think its too humid, although below water level.

 

[Sinbad]

What my girlfriend bought isn't necessarily a big issue, she bought it with load shedding in mind where I had a longer term view. She also bought under the guidance of her father, uncle, cousins, etc. who are all electrical engineers and work at the family business which is MV and HV electrical engineering. It has worked flawlessly since we had it installed and while the 3kVa inverter hasn't limited us personally, a 5kVa would have meant less or no splitting of the DB and less PowerAssist from teh inverter with our domestic staying with us for a while.

Don't set it up as an ESS with gel batteries. You'll kill them in a few months. Save that setting for when you have lithium or supercaps.
For the record, with a 5kva, there'd be no power assist as it can pass through 22kW.

 

[Steamy Tom]

bra have you heard of paint?

 

[Saba'a]

bra have you heard of paint?

Why? Paint is for people with money to waste