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 .
semaphore said:
I might need to up my batteries to turn Eskom off entirely in the evening, I have 1kw loads till around midnight then drops to around 400-500 watts constantly (marine tank).
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I popped in a 3rd battery last moment before the installation that was the dif between on the line and almost off grid.

I also went round the house the last few days and unplugged all the random power hogs laptop transformers unplugged at night and managed to drop it to 300w (with 200w miner running)

1637308249723.png

i have four fridges and a chest freezer that create those odd peaks. see if there is anything on the tank that you can switch off for a bit (only if possible)
 
Snyper564 said:
I popped in a 3rd battery last moment before the installation that was the dif between on the line and almost off grid.

I also went round the house the last few days and unplugged all the random power hogs laptop transformers unplugged at night and managed to drop it to 300w (with 200w miner running)

View attachment 1196400

i have four fridges and a chest freezer that create those odd peaks. see if there is anything on the tank that you can switch off for a bit (only if possible)
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1637308515335.png

I've set the power hog devices to start up at 7am.
 
Snyper564 said:
ah ok then battery is the only option if you wanna go further off grid. no need to rush this now tho
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Yeah, we have designed the layout to allow for an additional 2 * 5.5 batteries might get them next year sometime when budget allows.
 
semaphore said:
Yeah, we have designed the layout to allow for an additional 2 * 5.5 batteries might get them next year sometime when budget allows.
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Sweet did the same our side panels also placed to allow for additional panels and well set up for another inverter and batteries etc
 
Snyper564 said:
Sweet did the same our side panels also placed to allow for additional panels and well set up for another inverter and batteries etc
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No more roof space for me I'm afraid, unless I go flat mount on my garage.
 
Weable Technology said:
With the current loadshedding problems in South Africa, we're looking into solar energy and what it will take to go off the grid. What are your thoughts?
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Would love to get a bit of solar going at home, currently use a generator but at almost R20/L some days I feel it would be better to just sit in the dark.
 
AstroTurf said:
Would love to get a bit of solar going at home, currently use a generator but at almost R20/L some days I feel it would be better to just sit in the dark.
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In comparison, solar power is very expensive upfront, but when it's installed it needs virtually no maintenance and lasts a long time. By taking the cost of fuel into account it can be seen that the cost of purchase and running a generator is about the same as a solar system in the medium term.
 
@ADrunkTeddyBear not sure if you want your name visible there so wont reply to the post. Haha im catching up quickly!!!

That grid feed in :( wish I had the right meter for that! so much power my side wasted
 
RiaX said:
Im currently getting quotes on my house. Heres my logic a good system can be around 150k. What you paying for is quality of life.

Now my next question is how wise would it be to invest in the system in terms of cost? Im thinking when the electric vehicles like the ID3 hit our markets. Would it be worth while ? I travel plus minus 60km a day I could easily travel on solar alone in the future saving fuel costs or am I severely over estimating the generation capacity of the system to recharge these vehicles overnight ?

with modern Li-ion batteries you get what a 10 year warranty ?

I think if you want to be fully of the grid rather have the solar system power the plugs and switch to gas stove and oven. Might work out cheaper
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Yes, it is the quality of life, who would really want to sit in the dark and wait for eishkom to flippy the switchy.

The initial investment is high looking at it but eventually, the system will net itself out on the savings from Eskom, also factoring in
the price increases that are bound to happen which will just eventually pay themselves off sooner.

Yes, electric vehicles would be worthwhile to have here in the country but then again someone does stand to lose if electric Vehicles do hit the market here. If you would plan to charge it at home then that would be at night so then you would need to have a standby battery bank to match the car so that it can be charged up and not make use of power from the grid or from your own household battery bank and save a bit from not using the grid to charge up.

Most of the modern lithium batteries do come with a 10-year warranty but not without its clauses. Every manufacture does have its own set-out requirements if the battery will still be warranted in the 10 year period or if the warranty is voided.

With the Gas use, I presume it depends on the household's usage because some might save a bit with Gas but then some might be spending more on gas than they thought.
 
Snyper564 said:
@ADrunkTeddyBear not sure if you want your name visible there so wont reply to the post. Haha im catching up quickly!!!

That grid feed in :( wish I had the right meter for that! so much power my side wasted
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Grid feed in...is that when you have the old spinning meter and any excess solar turns the meter back?

What happens when the council read the meter and its negative compared to the month before?
 
Getit said:
Grid feed in...is that when you have the old spinning meter and any excess solar turns the meter back?

What happens when the council read the meter and its negative compared to the month before?
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people usually run it down in the day and up at night making it neutral - no idea what happens in this case. If I run any power into my prepaid meter it "uses" the power and eskom charges me :p
 
Snyper564 said:
@ADrunkTeddyBear not sure if you want your name visible there so wont reply to the post. Haha im catching up quickly!!!

That grid feed in :( wish I had the right meter for that! so much power my side wasted
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Nah its fine. My address isnt there luckily lol.

Having an old spinning meter is like having gold now days
 
Getit said:
Grid feed in...is that when you have the old spinning meter and any excess solar turns the meter back?

What happens when the council read the meter and its negative compared to the month before?
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You can set the inverter to "zero" the meter, so it won't go negative. I'm sure you will have all sorts of "officials" coming around if your meter was negative.
 
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