Going Off-Grid

How much do you understand solar?

  • I don't know much about solar.

    Votes: 5 5.6%

  • I inkling of how it works, but not much else.

    Votes: 8 9.0%

  • I know what solar panels are, but don't really know how they work.

    Votes: 18 20.2%

  • I know all the details of how solar panels work.

    Votes: 41 46.1%

  • I'm currently installing solar panels at home.

    Votes: 10 11.2%

  • I already have solar and understand how it works

    Votes: 16 18.0%
  • Total voters
    89
  • Poll closed .
zolly said:
No, but he's very set in his ways. Weirdly enough he is the engineer in the family so he understands these things better than I do. I'd be happy with extra energy security, he doesn't want to waste money (even if it's not his).
Click to expand...
It's not wasting though
 
We started with a small inverter and LA batteries for load shedding at the beginning of 2020 and when some PV panels became available at a great price expanded the system to include them. It is small and not 100% ideal, the LA batteries will be replaced by LFP's in the near future, I want to add one more PV panel to each string and then see how the inverter handles loads before deciding on adding another or upgrading to a higher capacity inverter.

Victron 48v 3kVa MultiPlus Inverter/Charger
OmniPower 12V 120Ah OPR Deep Cycle Rechargeable AGM/Gel Hybrid VRLA batteries
Ten Canadian Solar 360w PV panels, split equally between East and West due to roof space.
Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 250/70-Tr Solar Charge Controller
Victron Venus GX Controller
 
zolly said:
I can see the writing on the wall, but unfortunately my brother (who owns the house we live in) doesn't yet think it's financially worthwhile to get solar at home.

I have been talking to him about it since the start of this year and am willing to finance it myself.
Click to expand...

I still challenge this thinking, if you only looked at the financial side of adding an ESS, just about no-one would ever do it as it is expensive and the pay back period is long. If you take SA's electricity supply chaos in to account, I don't understand how anyone can be happy to sit without electricity supply for hours, sometimes days, because it's not financially worthwhile. As an example, we had a main feed cable break earlier this year and sat without COJ supply for just over 76 hours, even our not entirely adequate ESS showed it was worth every single cent we spent on it.
 
Lupus said:
Yup, I've been trying to get solar guys out for about 2 weeks, most are solidily booked till mid December
Click to expand...

I can believe it, a good friend who is a partner in a battery business says they are swamped with orders for batteries for UPS, backup, load shedding, etc. systems.
 
If I were much more adventurous I'd start a company that does energy consulting for the retail market. Too many solar companies sell solutions without doing a proper analysis of the client's consumption habits (average use, peak use, possibility of flattening the peak). And the solutions tend to be aimed at maximizing profit (fair enough, it is simply business) rather than trying to present the client with the best trade-off between capital outlay and long term cost saving.
 
Neuk_ said:
I still challenge this thinking, if you only looked at the financial side of adding an ESS, just about no-one would ever do it as it is expensive and the pay back period is long. If you take SA's electricity supply chaos in to account, I don't understand how anyone can be happy to sit without electricity supply for hours, sometimes days, because it's not financially worthwhile. As an example, we had a main feed cable break earlier this year and sat without COJ supply for just over 76 hours, even our not entirely adequate ESS showed it was worth every single cent we spent on it.
Click to expand...

We're in the Cape, so we don't have to deal with the issues Gauteng has (fortunately). I've got a small backup solution to keep my PC going during our two hour slots, and all our network infrastructure is on backups as well. I'm just thinking more long term.
 
Lupus said:
It's not wasting though
Click to expand...
My dad has that mindset. Until I paid for the phase 1 install myself (2.7kw solar array, 5kw hubble battery, 5kw deye inverter + Install). We are now paying a little under half of what we used to pay and loadshedding hardly affects the house.

Now he is interested in funding phase 2 (Another 2.5-2.7 solar array and 2 more batteries).

I guess you just have to show facts and numbers to these people...
 
ADrunkTeddyBear said:
My dad has that mindset. Until I paid for the phase 1 install myself (2.7kw solar array, 5kw hubble battery, 5kw deye inverter + Install). We are now paying a little under half of what we used to pay and loadshedding hardly affects the house.

Now he is interested in funding phase 2 (Another 2.5-2.7 solar array and 2 more batteries).

I guess you just have to show facts and numbers to these people...
Click to expand...
but why, you have a spinning meter?
 
wingnut771 said:
The existing hubble not enough?
Click to expand...
Nope, not nearly. If I have my rigs online, then the battery dies in under 1.5 hours.

Also, our breaker in the area trips randomly when the power comes back on. Which means that if power comes back at 2AM, and it trips, we will be without power for maybe 7 hours
 
Mista_Mobsta said:
Already sorting out some extra panels for my trolley units that I bought from Geewiz about a year or so ago. Wish I had the funds to go @Snyper564 route but I don't have any spare capacity just yet. At least I can install the panels in such a way that I can use them for a larger setup once the funds are available.

One thing @Weable Technology - if you can elaborate on the specifics of various solar PV roof mounts (tiled vs corrugated etc), that would be great! Lots of info out there but nothing specific to South African standards. I want to install myself but I don't want to have a run in with my insurance about roof leaks etc. I have also noticed the sundries are KAK expensive relative to the panels so a nice idea would be to sell solar panels with option for DIY install on tiled/corrugated etc roof with instructions and maybe some hints to avoid leaks etc etc.
Click to expand...
The first thing you do need to be handy with is tools. The cheapest and easiest route would be to install on a Corrugated roof, It would be best not to cheap out too much on the mounting items as these do need to hold your panels securely and not fly off with a small gush of wind. For avoiding leaks filler foam seems to work quite well but can be a little messy. You can contact our specialist for more tips or a step-by-step guide on how to install your system or even on the day also to guide you as there is a lot of information out there and different types of mounting options which can confuse anyone. He is there to answer any questions that you might have and also provide you with the exact kit that you would need for mounting your panels and also save you a bit where possible on the mounting.
 
Tacet said:
If I were much more adventurous I'd start a company that does energy consulting for the retail market. Too many solar companies sell solutions without doing a proper analysis of the client's consumption habits (average use, peak use, possibility of flattening the peak). And the solutions tend to be aimed at maximizing profit (fair enough, it is simply business) rather than trying to present the client with the best trade-off between capital outlay and long term cost saving.
Click to expand...
Totally agree with you on this, I would think also would be nice if a company could provide like a time line of what the customer can do over a period of time to get the system where they need it instead of just outlaying R100k once off. This should appeal to the ones that dont have spare change of R100k or so laying around.
 
Neuk_ said:
We started with a small inverter and LA batteries for load shedding at the beginning of 2020 and when some PV panels became available at a great price expanded the system to include them. It is small and not 100% ideal, the LA batteries will be replaced by LFP's in the near future, I want to add one more PV panel to each string and then see how the inverter handles loads before deciding on adding another or upgrading to a higher capacity inverter.

Victron 48v 3kVa MultiPlus Inverter/Charger
OmniPower 12V 120Ah OPR Deep Cycle Rechargeable AGM/Gel Hybrid VRLA batteries
Ten Canadian Solar 360w PV panels, split equally between East and West due to roof space.
Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 250/70-Tr Solar Charge Controller
Victron Venus GX Controller
Click to expand...
That is not a bad setup at all, Love Victron, and the complication of installing a gazillion items to make a complete hybrid gets up.
Yes those batteries need to go, Some nice Pylons or Freedom Won batteries will make your system feel whole
 
Weable Technology said:
That is not a bad setup at all, Love Victron, and the complication of installing a gazillion items to make a complete hybrid gets up.
Yes those batteries need to go, Some nice Pylons or Freedom Won batteries will make your system feel whole
Click to expand...

Yeah, my wife bought the inverter and batteries for load shedding, hence the inverter being only a 3kVa and the LA batteries. I would have paid more for a 5kVa and possibly looked at LFP's at the time although their price was still considerably higher than LA's. The LA's are only being used when we are load shed and there is no PV with the plan being to get at least two PylonTech US3000C's in the near future. We can't go off grid with this setup, our oven, bedroom AC and two sets of plugs used for the iron, electric kettle, toaster, etc. are grid use only which is perfectly fine as we have gas geysers and stove top for hot water and cooking purposes if we have no grid supply.
 
ADrunkTeddyBear said:
Nope, not nearly. If I have my rigs online, then the battery dies in under 1.5 hours.

Also, our breaker in the area trips randomly when the power comes back on. Which means that if power comes back at 2AM, and it trips, we will be without power for maybe 7 hours
Click to expand...
This happens every single time in north riding, while it's tripped they "steal" the cables and it takes hours if not days to resolve. I only knew I was being load shed today when my neighbor's generator started.

giphy.gif
 
Question, why completely Off-Grid?
Is that just something you have heard?
On paper it does sounds nice, but the costs involved could be huge.
Why not rather look at a Hybrid system?
This means part of your house is on backup power, like lights and plugs.
Parts of your house still benefit from solar power, like stove, geyser and air-conditioners.
This type of system, if done correctly, does not require such a huge capital outlay, will reduce your electrical bill significantly and also offer you backup power during load-shedding.
It is a win win :D
 
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