Generator vs backup battery price comparison

generator is a cheap option, and if you want to save more convert it to propane

or hillbilly it

 
I have the 5kva macafrica genny that Lupus tagged.

It will be my backup for the solar system.

It should not be either or, but should be considered complimentary to each other.

My reason is that as I am a direct Eskom customer, sooner or later I will be hit with an extended outage due to Eskom ageing infrastructure and their poor/no maintenance od said infrastructure.

And should we have a patch of bad weather, at least I will have a genny to tide me over.
 
Dan C said:
Well if the power goes off, you don't pay Eskom. So that cost is equivaled to charging your batteries again.
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Charging can actually be a little bit more
 
zeb said:
No we're not. I never argued that price wise you can get the same value and I'm not arguing in favour of either option.
My point is you need a proper generator to run a whole house. A generator between R50k and R100k will run everything a R300k+ solar system will.

I have used a diesel generator from around 2008. Never regretted buying it and I won't get rid of it, even though I have installed a proper solar system.
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Boring...you've made much hubbub about many things to flipflop now to this belly-up nonsense

Changing requirements,changing the definition of "running your whole house",not settling on a particular usecase,not even quoting comparable capacity after we finally beat all of this flipflopping out. You've had to change direction repeatedly and just keep at it oddly

Literally done with you now /ignore
 
PsyWulf said:
Boring...you've made much hubbub about many things to flipflop now to this belly-up nonsense

Changing requirements,changing the definition of "running your whole house",not settling on a particular usecase,not even quoting comparable capacity after we finally beat all of this flipflopping out. You've had to change direction repeatedly and just keep at it oddly

Literally done with you now /ignore
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You are a special kind of stupid so there's no use replying to you.
 
I think the 1Kva is not a good idea if you're going to invest in loadshedding backup solutions. The 3Kva/3000Watt Inverters (with 24v battery) is cheaper than the Ecoflow solutions.
I have an Axpert 3000Watt inverter with a 24v PylonTech LiFePo4 battery (2.8Kwh) and the cost was R19500. The PylonTech has a 10y warranty.
I've had it installed onto my DB board to carry all my lights and certain wall plugs. So my fridges (3) and my home office (3 PC's+6 monitors) and all the lights runs for 6 hours and battery monitor shows 94% left (this was during a cable replacement session by the Municipality) This also allows to add Solar panels since the Inverters have MPPs built in.
 
nick4BB said:
I think the 1Kva is not a good idea if you're going to invest in loadshedding backup solutions. The 3Kva/3000Watt Inverters (with 24v battery) is cheaper than the Ecoflow solutions.
I have an Axpert 3000Watt inverter with a 24v PylonTech LiFePo4 battery (2.8Kwh) and the cost was R19500. The PylonTech has a 10y warranty.
I've had it installed onto my DB board to carry all my lights and certain wall plugs. So my fridges (3) and my home office (3 PC's+6 monitors) and all the lights runs for 6 hours and battery monitor shows 94% left (this was during a cable replacement session by the Municipality) This also allows to add Solar panels since the Inverters have MPPs built in.
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Yup those ecoflows are starting to show they are not really worth it, if a 3kva system with a 24v 100ah battery system works out cheaper.
 
nick4BB said:
I think the 1Kva is not a good idea if you're going to invest in loadshedding backup solutions. The 3Kva/3000Watt Inverters (with 24v battery) is cheaper than the Ecoflow solutions.
I have an Axpert 3000Watt inverter with a 24v PylonTech LiFePo4 battery (2.8Kwh) and the cost was R19500. The PylonTech has a 10y warranty.
I've had it installed onto my DB board to carry all my lights and certain wall plugs. So my fridges (3) and my home office (3 PC's+6 monitors) and all the lights runs for 6 hours and battery monitor shows 94% left (this was during a cable replacement session by the Municipality) This also allows to add Solar panels since the Inverters have MPPs built in.
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Installation cost for DB Board integration?
 
Battery + inverter is a civilised approach. That alone makes it worth it.

Running a generator is like those guys who run HDMI cables from the laptop to the TV...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Battery + inverter is a civilised approach. That alone makes it worth it.

Running a generator is like those guys who run HDMI cables from the laptop to the TV...
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Unless you're stuck for 3 days without power and no solar?
 
Lupus said:
Unless you're stuck for 3 days without power and no solar?
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Even if it's cloudy/rainy, if you can reduce your base load, you should be able to cover it as well as charge your batteries somewhat to make it through the night. You can make a plan when the situation demands it...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Even if it's cloudy/rainy, if you can reduce your base load, you should be able to cover it as well as charge your batteries somewhat to make it through the night. You can make a plan when the situation demands it...
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As in no panels, not no sun :-0
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Even if it's cloudy/rainy, if you can reduce your base load, you should be able to cover it as well as charge your batteries somewhat to make it through the night. You can make a plan when the situation demands it...
Click to expand...

Yep, we had to do this last year May when we had no CoJ supply for 76 hours and only four LA batteries to see us through the night.
 
Neuk_ said:
Yep, we had to do this last year May when we had no CoJ supply for 76 hours and only four LA batteries to see us through the night.
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Yeah I remember the story, you did it though.
 
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