GrootBaas' Solar

[GrootBaas]

Why is there no costing on the quote for the sub DB and the DC combiner box? Those were pretty pricey on my install. Labour cost is reasonable, but you could save some money by sourcing the major components yourself. That all takes time though and not all installers will be willing to assist then with installation. If there is a failure on a component you sourced yourself, your installer might also not be willing to assist, whereas if he supplied everything you just get him in to assist if something goes wrong. It might this be risky to go that route to save some upfront costs.

Why 450W panels on a 8kw inverter? 545/550 Watt panels would be ideal and I've recently seen ads for Canadian panels in that range for as low as R 3k per panel. You could thus get a 4400W array for the quoted price of a 3600W array. In Cape Town every bit helps in the Winter.

PS. I'm also in the Northern Subburbs and have had my 11 x 460W panels now for about a month. Mine is on a 5kw inverter though.

Yeah, already asked for higher wattage panels and he confirmed he will do 8 x 545W Canadian. Just need to check on the price difference.

I have no idea about the sub DB and DC combiner box. What was the priced with your installation? Not maybe included in the R5k "materials" they quoted me?

 

[kolaval]

@Katelknaap I think installers want to source cause then they get to add some markup.

 

[Katelknaap]

Yeah, already asked for higher wattage panels and he confirmed he will do 8 x 545W Canadian. Just need to check on the price difference.

I have no idea about the sub DB and DC combiner box. What was the priced with your installation? Not maybe included in the R5k "materials" they quoted me?

I'll have to go and look up the price for the sub DB that was installed last year when I got my inverter & battery. The DC combiner box that was installed recently with my panel expansion was nearly R 5k.

 

[Katelknaap]

@Katelknaap I think installers want to source cause then they get to add some markup.

Yes, nou doubt. If the installer is large enough, he should however get better prices from the suppliers than what we as individuals could get. He can thus still sell the major components with a markup included, at nearly the same price than what we as individuals can buy it for.

 

[PsyWulf]

June I went through close to R4k worth of electricity - so that's more than 30kwh per day if my calcs are right. The problem with that is most if it was for heating as my girlfriend often works throughout the night and needs to stay warm -

2 things:
Gas - if you need to heat up a room
Heated blanket - most electrically efficient option,like 10-50watts

 

[GrootBaas]

2 things:
Gas - if you need to heat up a room
Heated blanket - most electrically efficient option,like 10-50watts

Had a gas heater, but she struggled with it causing headaches unfortunately. But we now bought single electric blankets and tied it down to our chairs in the last week. Game changer. I can even run it off the small inverter I have at the moment.

 

[newby_investor]

If you go for a 5kW inverter you can get another one in parallel later. Just sayin.

I've got a 5kW Deye. Budget didn't quite stretch to an 8kW.

 

[PsyWulf]

Had a gas heater, but she struggled with it causing headaches unfortunately.

CO/CO2 Buildup,you're supposed to ventilate the room,not seal up everything tighter than a nun's ass

 

[Park@82]

But we now bought single electric blankets and tied it down to our chairs in the last week. Game changer. I can even run it off the small inverter I have at the moment.

Wich ones do you have?

 

[Tradezzz]

8kw deye/ss with 10kwh storage and 4.4kwp should come in around R110k now. Seen as low as R104k online reputable site, without delivery and based in Gauteng. R101k if I take best deals from various sites..
Check solarwaysuppliers, jcsolarpanels (careful there's a scam site with similar name), powerforumstore, solar&inverter warehouse (haven't used this one but some good prices and read of others using them, I can't personally confirm if legit).

 

[GrootBaas]

Wich ones do you have?

I think just cheap Pure Pleasure ones from Takealot - GF bought them.

Already purchased R3.5k of electricity this month and don't think the units will last until the end. So will probably end up close to R4k again this month.

8kw deye/ss with 10kwh storage and 4.4kwp should come in around R110k now. Seen as low as R104k online reputable site, without delivery and based in Gauteng. R101k if I take best deals from various sites..
Check solarwaysuppliers, jcsolarpanels (careful there's a scam site with similar name), powerforumstore, solar&inverter warehouse (haven't used this one but some good prices and read of others using them, I can't personally confirm if legit).

Yeah I actually saw that scam site - can't remember the exact name now. Was looking at prices a few night ago and it stood out for being so much cheaper. But it didn't take much digging to see it's not legit. The guy's Truecaller also lists him as a scammer.

CO/CO2 Buildup,you're supposed to ventilate the room,not seal up everything tighter than a nun's ass

Believe you me, I tried to make it work but that ship has sailed.


Now reading up on the threads around SolarAssistant, but will probably add this at a later stage. Keen though.


Reached out to another company that is coming to do a quote on Monday. However, they can only do installation around 20 September as they are already booked until then. They seems to be quite reputable though. But every month I don't have the system I reckon it's costing me around R3k in electricity costs. Let's see.

 

[lkpat]

3 weeks ago I posted on The Battery Thread that I am considering solar purely to save energy. My neighbourhood did not get loadshedding now for several years (not sure why).

However, shortly after posting that, they found my button and now I am also experiencing the daily blackouts like the rest of the country. Maybe there is an Eskom spy on this forum. So even more reason to now get a solar system.

Yesterday I had the first person here for a quote. Still waiting on the quote to come through, but in the meanwhile I am reading up and would appreciate some inputs. I am reading through all the other threads as well, but it's a lot of information.

Still conflicted between a 5kw and 8kw inverter. I think the reality is that our electricity usage is rather significant so an 8kw system is probably the right way to go. The extra costs is just something that makes me a bit nauseous. Have run some numbers though and I estimate that even an 8kw system (used R200k as a rough number) will pay for itself in approx 5 years. Rough numbers.

The one thing (and there are discussions on this already, but now we have another one) is Sunsynk vs Deye. I would love to have as much customizability as possible and my understanding is that Sunsynk is the way to go w.r.t. that. However, the solar installer who I am waiting on a quote for begged me to go with Deye because of 2 reasons:
1) He said that Deye's after sales support is much better, in fact he indicated that Sunsynk's has really gone down the tube?
2) Apparently with the Deye inverter and battery combo you get an 11 year warranty whereas with the Sunsynk inverter it will only be 5

Are these two statements accurate?
Also, to what extend is the Deye customizable using something like Solar Man? I have a gyserwise max solar system already so also plan to upgrade that maybe with the Geyserwala system which another forum member recently launched, to be able to customise that (and hoping that I can even get the inverter and geyserwise operating as optimally as possible - not sure how that stuff works to be honest as I am completely new to this)

Yeah so will give some updates here on the journey, sure there will be lessons to learn from it. Unlike most of the forum members I am probably less technical, so a bit more nervous about what I am about to embark on.

We had a 5.5 for a year then upgraded to 11 by adding another. It was sufficient if your household is small enough to keep an eye on usage in realtime during load shedding. But if you want to 'set and forget' go with 8 up front for sure.
Sunsynk vs Deye is less of an issue. Go with the system that gives you the best support. I'm happy with my Sunsynk, but I think I would be equally as happy with Deye.
Sunsynk inverter + battery combo gives you 10 years... but as with all these things, the proof is in the pudding... check that fineprint!

 

[lkpat]

8kw deye/ss with 10kwh storage and 4.4kwp should come in around R110k now. Seen as low as R104k online reputable site, without delivery and based in Gauteng. R101k if I take best deals from various sites..
Check solarwaysuppliers, jcsolarpanels (careful there's a scam site with similar name), powerforumstore, solar&inverter warehouse (haven't used this one but some good prices and read of others using them, I can't personally confirm if legit).

That probably excludes solar and installation and extras (DB, etc)?

 

[lkpat]

You can find examples for both inverters where people had to wait months for a repair. Some of the suppliers will offer a loan inverter while you wait for a repair.

Its usually a case of which installer/supplier offer the best support not necessarily the brand.

Try find a dealer who distributes Herholdts products. They offer a two week turnaround - if it takes longer, they replace it (Sunsynk at least - not sure about Deye).

 

[Tradezzz]

That probably excludes solar and installation and extras (DB, etc)?

Yes, just includes the main components - inverter, batteries, panels.

The rest should be R27k from less experienced/known but good installers up to R37k for the pros (with possibly better parts?). This is Gauteng side, and no extra regs, besides a coc. And add more for complexity and cabling like distance between db and inverter, hard to reach places, panel orientation, I'm sure some other bits.

 

[GrootBaas]

Comparing the inverter+battery only between the quote I got and JC Solar Panels there is a R6300 difference, and this includes delivery. Cheaper to buy them online, have it delivered and then just pay for the installation.

That gap is a bit more than I would want it to be.

 

[lkpat]

Comparing the inverter+battery only between the quote I got and JC Solar Panels there is a R6300 difference, and this includes delivery. Cheaper to buy them online, have it delivered and then just pay for the installation.

That gap is a bit more than I would want it to be.

Just be aware that if you have hardware issues, your installer would possibly insist you send the stuff back yourself.

 

[GrootBaas]

Just be aware that if you have hardware issues, your installer would possibly insist you send the stuff back yourself.

Yeah. I'm okay with paying markup to installers, just thought that gap is a bit much. I'm sure they get it at even better prices.

 

[lkpat]

Ideally you want to pick the right installer up front. Having someone else work on your system after the fact gives too much leeway for buck passing IMO.

 

[Tradezzz]

Comparing the inverter+battery only between the quote I got and JC Solar Panels there is a R6300 difference, and this includes delivery. Cheaper to buy them online, have it delivered and then just pay for the installation.

That gap is a bit more than I would want it to be.

Agree, I also found the gap too wide.
If you are buying from JC, please live my dream and rock 2x 7kwh BSL Batts (price was decent iirc).