GoSolr vs Solar

Dolby

Dolby

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As most of you know, the last 3 years has been hectic for me financially and I did my best to avoid inverters / solar ... until now

I begrudgingly needed to buy a small Ecoflow inverter (and another 2 mini inverters) a few months back for my 27" screens / Internet to work during load shedding (I work from home)- and they work perfectly, if we stick to schedule . But we never do in my area and over the past 48 hours I've had a grand total of 8 hours power. Last week was 37 hours out in a single go. My inverters die if we don't come back on after a load shed. I have to buy data and hotspot ... toss out food from fridge ... and it's just a really shitty situation.

So now I need to generate power to work without the grid and two options :

1) GoSolr which on the face of it, seem to be well priced at under R2kpm for 8 x panels / 5kw inverter / 5kw battery

2) A friend of a friend of a friend that knows my situation put something together where I can 4 x panels / 3kw inverter / 2.5kw battery @ R60k fully installed .

What's the better option?
Rent the bigger system from GoSolr or pay the R60k and own a smaller system?

Unsure if GoSolr has an install price before the R2kpm kicks in though

EDIT : I can't change the title, but basically rent larger vs own smaller system
 
In my oppinion it is better to own than rent, but that said, larger is better than smaller...

Is it a perpetual rental agreement until the end of time or is it a rent to own? If rent to own after a set period, I would then rather rent to own the system in say 5 years time?
 
I don't know how GoSolr model works, but if you can drop R60k in, surely that might help bring down the monthly cost on the bigger setup?

E.g. from GoSolr you pay for the cost of the inverter and rent the panels and battery or something like that
 
Larger is better..

However, rental/subscription agreements typically have an annual escalation of at least 10%.. have you factored this into your budget..?

Goslr is a subscription service, so you never own the equipment (which has the benefit of them maintaining the system).. you do get the option to buy out the system after some time if you do want to own it eventually..

however, buy out typically ends up being far more expensive than if you had to pay cash upfront, or finance it with finance interest included..

So factor into your decision if you want to eventually own the system or not..
 
4 panels of what size? What is it going to power? Do an energy audit and see what you want to cover and does the 60k cover that? The 2k from Gosolr might be rent it for-ever not rent to own.
 
Dolby said:
As most of you know, the last 3 years has been hectic for me financially and I did my best to avoid inverters / solar ... until now

I begrudgingly needed to buy a small Ecoflow inverter (and another 2 mini inverters) a few months back for my 27" screens / Internet to work during load shedding (I work from home)- and they work perfectly, if we stick to schedule . But we never do in my area and over the past 48 hours I've had a grand total of 8 hours power. Last week was 37 hours out in a single go. My inverters die if we don't come back on after a load shed. I have to buy data and hotspot ... toss out food from fridge ... and it's just a really shitty situation.

So now I need to generate power to work without the grid and two options :

1) GoSolr which on the face of it, seem to be well priced at under R2kpm for 8 x panels / 5kw inverter / 5kw battery

2) A friend of a friend of a friend that knows my situation put something together where I can 4 x panels / 3kw inverter / 2.5kw battery @ R60k fully installed .

What's the better option?
Rent the bigger system from GoSolr or pay the R60k and own a smaller system?

Unsure if GoSolr has an install price before the R2kpm kicks in though

EDIT : I can't change the title, but basically rent larger vs own smaller system
Click to expand...
Versofy have several rent to own, buy outright or buy out while renting options.
Their 5kW Sunsynk, 5kW LiFePO battery and 8x 465W panels also works out to about R2,300/month for 36months. 5% annual escalation and linked to repo rate. Cost includes installation, CoC and registration.
 
Since Goslt is pure rental (not rent to own) I would suggest against it.

Since you primary concern is work I would go with suggested R60k solution.
Make sure that panels (whole system) are installed in a way that you can expand at later stage.
This eskom problem will last for long so if you get some extra money at later stage you will be able to upgrade or sell components and replace inverter or batteries.

Everything that you get above ability to work stress free is bonus (lights during load shedding, fridge working, energy saving).
 
swakop_toe said:
Versofy have several rent to own, buy outright or buy out while renting options.
Their 5kW Sunsynk, 5kW LiFePO battery and 8x 465W panels also works out to about R2,300/month for 36months. 5% annual escalation and linked to repo rate. Cost includes installation, CoC and registration.
Click to expand...
Rent to own is 3599 over 60 months which is R220k for system that is according to them valued R160k which it is not. Not sure about current pricing but that same system would cost if paid outright R120k (feb prices).

I know each financial situation is different but please check all very carefully!!
 
WAslayer said:
They do have a buy out option.. buy out amount will be stipulated in your contract, but you have to rent for a set period first..
Click to expand...
Thanks I did not see it on their web site.

Still I would go with R60k since main objective is to be able to work and it reduces stress since you own it not rent it.
 
I don't know much about the rental options .... I need to go though with them a fine tooth comb. I read on another thread if you move within 36 months, it's another R10,000. And there's an admin charge etc etc . There may be some small 'catch' with the renting. But on the face of it, R24,000 per year doesn't sound too bad

What you get — gosolr

www.gosolr.co.za www.gosolr.co.za

Regarding the other solution

4 x 375w Canadian Solar 375W Super High Power Mono PERC HiKU with MC4-EVO2 SF
600V Combiner Box 2 Inputs 1 Output 32A Isolator Type II SPD
Pylon US2000C 2.4kWh Li-Ion Solar Battery
EasySolar-II 48/3000/35-32 MPPT 250/70 GX

Install , fuse boxes, connector bits and pieces etc added

EDIT : Oh there's a Victron in there as well ... didn't expect that
 
Lupus said:
4 panels of what size? What is it going to power? Do an energy audit and see what you want to cover and does the 60k cover that? The 2k from Gosolr might be rent it for-ever not rent to own.
Click to expand...
4 x 375w

My house is small - lights ALL on are 160w ... TV/soundbar etc is 250w ... fridge is about 60w ... PC and monitors are like 60w ... and then small things like phone charging, aquarium heaters @ 75w etc
 
Dolby said:
4 x 375w

My house is small - lights ALL on are 160w ... TV/soundbar etc is 250w ... fridge is about 60w ... PC and monitors are like 60w ... and then small things like phone charging, aquarium heaters @ 75w etc
Click to expand...
Do you have itemized pricing?
Could you scrape another R5000 and go With Daye 5kwh inverter, since your house is small that should future proof your install.
Then as money come by you add panels and battery. Pylontech is easy to expand.
 
Dolby said:
4 x 375w

My house is small - lights ALL on are 160w ... TV/soundbar etc is 250w ... fridge is about 60w ... PC and monitors are like 60w ... and then small things like phone charging, aquarium heaters @ 75w etc
Click to expand...
Ok that might be fine for that I guess. PC and monitor only 60w?
 
Dolby said:
4 x 375w

My house is small - lights ALL on are 160w ... TV/soundbar etc is 250w ... fridge is about 60w ... PC and monitors are like 60w ... and then small things like phone charging, aquarium heaters @ 75w etc
Click to expand...
You must have the most efficient PC in the history of all PC's.. 60w for both PC and monitor..???!!
 
Buy the system is always better. Consider a bit of future proofing. If you can afford it.

I Can’t afford a 3 battery rather opting for more panels to future proof my system and if I see batteries don’t have enough juice I’ll add later on.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Option 3 - finance a system. At least then you're not sinking money into a black hole...
Click to expand...
Exactly what my reasoning was.
That and the warranties is then still with the owner and it's their responsibility to fix/swap for the duration of the lease. It is also agreed as such in the contract.
I have owned 2 solar systems before.
I have a pile of 180W panels with zero value or use. The leads acids was written off. The 20year old MPPT's have no intelligent logging capabilities.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Option 3 - finance a system. At least then you're not sinking money into a black hole...
Click to expand...

This. The GoSolr option is itself backed by a loan except some other capitalist gets the equity as its paid down.

You need to compare it with financing it yourself. Play around with a calculator and investigate the options - this is a growing space.

Also consider the difference in risk/reward with GoSolr being fully serviced vs. being responsible for your own warranties, expansion etc.
 
WAslayer said:
You must have the most efficient PC in the history of all PC's.. 60w for both PC and monitor..???!!
Click to expand...
Old Mac Mini is something like 85w max ... and since I kinda use it to mail and the odd Excel sheet it's not even half that power. Monitors are something like 20w each if I recall - so 40w in total.

Right now I have 1 monitor and the mail, and I'm sitting at less than 45w

PS Check the M1 Mac Mini

1683705289355.png
 
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