GrootBaas' Solar

[eepr0m]

Lastly the solar geyser (has its own separate solar flat panel)heats the water to over 70 degrees most days provided the element switched on at 9-10 am to give it a boost to 58 degrees. When we wake up most mornings the geyser would still be above 40 degrees which is warm enough for a quick hot shower. At the house where I'm at atm. (We move around between our 3 houses) we have a inline gas geyser connection that would heat the water comming from the geyser if the water temp is below 40 degrees.
Ps. I should prob buy some units for my meter as I use eskom as a backup.
It's been stuck on 2. Something odd units for more than 6 weeks now as we have not had the need to use eskom.

 

[GrootBaas]

My non essential loads are connected to the Aux port. And set to stop working when the battery bank drops to 66% 10kwH of storage to carry us through the night.This way, even if my wife uses the oven at night it will stop when the battery drops tto those levels. The 1 geyser heats between 6-7am but we only shower in the evenings unless it's summer then we might shower twice daily.

I had no idea about the aux port and how it can be configured! Thanks, now I have some more reading up to do!

Yeah evening showers only is the best way to do this. Unfortunately I'm not going to win that battle in my household.

 

[eepr0m]

I had no idea about the aux port and how it can be configured! Thanks, now I have some more reading up to do!

Yeah evening showers only is the best way to do this. Unfortunately I'm not going to win that battle in my household.

You could potentially supplement hot water with a gas geyser. The gas geyser ie. If water is less than x degrees then the gas geyser switches on and heats the water. If water is ove x degrees then ot does nothing.

 

[eepr0m]

I had no idea about the aux port and how it can be configured! Thanks, now I have some more reading up to do!

Yeah evening showers only is the best way to do this. Unfortunately I'm not going to win that battle in my household.

The aux port would require a seperate circuit.

Watch this video

 

[Katelknaap]

Peak generation today 3.25kw, which is 75% of 4.32kWp. Seeing that my panels are angled pretty well, I'm going to guess that's decent for this time of year.

That's very decent for Cape Town for August. Your panel angle and alignment must be decent.

 

[GrootBaas]

That's very decent for Cape Town for August. Your panel angle and alignment must be decent.

Yeah, I'm fortunate to have a decent enough size north facing roof which I maxed out with the 8x540W panels. At a great angle with only a little bit of trees coming into play very late in the day, but almost immaterial. If I do increase the panels in future, it will probably have to be east or west though.

Interesting one though, let's say I want to add 4 panels will it be possible to do 2 East and 2 West (guessing separate strings)?

I'm assuming my setup currently is that all 8 panels are on 1 mppt, not sure if they split it into 2 strings. Probably should have asked. But should have 1 mppt available still.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Yeah, I'm fortunate to have a decent enough size north facing roof which I maxed out with the 8x540W panels. At a great angle with only a little bit of trees coming into play very late in the day, but almost immaterial. If I do increase the panels in future, it will probably have to be east or west though.

Interesting one though, let's say I want to add 4 panels will it be possible to do 2 East and 2 West (guessing separate strings)?

I'm assuming my setup currently is that all 8 panels are on 1 mppt, not sure if they split it into 2 strings. Probably should have asked. But should have 1 mppt available still.

No reason why you can't. You can check the connection into the inverter whether it was split to use two strings. Each MPPT will have two inputs into the inverter...

 

[Katelknaap]

Interesting one though, let's say I want to add 4 panels will it be possible to do 2 East and 2 West (guessing separate strings)?

Probably won't work as the inverter has a startup voltage of 150V (I think the 5kva & 8kva Sunsynk's are similar). 2 panels wont reach that. If you have 1 more string available, my suggestion would be 4 or 5 facing West as your current string already starts producing pretty early in the day. Better to grab those afternoon rays, especially in the Summer in the Cape.

 

[GrootBaas]

Can this be accurate? It's been cloudy and rainy today, but the sun started peaking through the clouds and I caught this moment.

Also saw a 4.03 now.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Can this be accurate? It's been cloudy and rainy today, but the sun started peaking through the clouds and I caught this moment.

Also saw a 4.03 now.

Cloud edge effect...

 

[DawieZA]

My 5.52kWp PV array overperformed earlier as well. Likes me some cloud edge effect here in Boston at the moment.

 

[GrootBaas]

So much to learn!

 

[GrootBaas]

A bit concerned w.r.t. the certification and registration of the system. How long is this process supposed to take?

My friend who used the same installer told me now that he had to wait a very long time to get this. He suggested I withhold the final payment until I have this. I still owe the installer R10k which I was planning on paying, but now thinking of holding off until I have the necessary unless it's unreasonable?

Feedback from the installer on Friday after I enquired was: We are waiting for the Single line drawing back from the engineer

I also remembered over the weekend that the one guy working with the installer mentioned to me that they have to install lightning protection (or something to that effect), even for Cape Town. But I don't see anything that was installed. Any idea if this is a requirement or what the story is?

 

[DawieZA]

It is a very slow process and can take months to complete. I submitted my application in March and the process is still on-going.

Without looking at your quote, did your installer include the registration with CoCT as a line item?

I believe grounding of the panels is a requirement. My installer sunk a seperate grounding rod and wired the panels to that.

 

[GrootBaas]

It is a very slow process and can take months to complete. I submitted my application in March and the process is still on-going.

Without looking at your quote, did your installer include the registration with CoCT as a line item?

I believe grounding of the panels is a requirement. My installer sunk a seperate grounding rod and wired the panels to that.

Thanks. I will have to check with them w.r.t. the grounding then.

This is what was included on my quote, which I just assumed is everything that needs to happen:

 

[GrootVoet]

GrootBaas ask your installer to give you the application reference number from the CoCT. I got mine about 3 weeks after installation and it's your proof that the process was started for the solar registration.

 

[Katelknaap]

A bit concerned w.r.t. the certification and registration of the system. How long is this process supposed to take?

My friend who used the same installer told me now that he had to wait a very long time to get this. He suggested I withhold the final payment until I have this. I still owe the installer R10k which I was planning on paying, but now thinking of holding off until I have the necessary unless it's unreasonable?

Feedback from the installer on Friday after I enquired was: We are waiting for the Single line drawing back from the engineer

I also remembered over the weekend that the one guy working with the installer mentioned to me that they have to install lightning protection (or something to that effect), even for Cape Town. But I don't see anything that was installed. Any idea if this is a requirement or what the story is?

My panels was installed mid June. Also paid the engineering sign off fee. The installer (whom I trust 100%) assures me that it has been submitted to the CoCT. I just follow up every now and then, but would also have liked to at least have some sort of reference number. (I completed what I could on the application form and sent it to my installer who did the rest).

 

[DX'er]

Have read through all the posts and find them interesting with regards to the various installations. My system is DIY and everything was purchased via a well known electrical wholesaler. Installed a 5kw Sunsynk with two Hubble AM 10 batteries and 8 Canadian 605 watt panels. Currently the panels are all in series and I am only using one string. Thinking about splitting this into two strings of 4 panels. Reason is that we have a few trees that shade panels in the early morning and then again after 3pm. I am hoping summer will extend the full sunlight period on the panels. Stove, oven and geyser on non essentials. Rest of house on essential loads. For the last three weeks have used no eskom power for essentials. Batteries have never gone below 68%. Batteries are fully charged by around 1pm. Currently usage is around 10 to 11.5 kWh perday. With a 5kW inverter you need to think about what appliances are used together. Don't run the dishwasher, kettle and toaster at the same time. So we have made a few adjustments. Dishwasher must only be switched on after 9:30am when the PVs are in full sunlight. Even with cloudy days the batteries have been fully charged before 2pm. Busy playing with a Raspberry pi and solar assistant which is giving good data for future analysis.

The installation process was not difficult, just time consuming. If you have a technical background in the electronics/electrical field then you should be able to do your own installation. You just need to read and understand the SANS requirements and regulations. Until next time.

 

[Katelknaap]

Have read through all the posts and find them interesting with regards to the various installations. My system is DIY and everything was purchased via a well known electrical wholesaler. Installed a 5kw Sunsynk with two Hubble AM 10 batteries and 8 Canadian 605 watt panels. Currently the panels are all in series and I am only using one string. Thinking about splitting this into two strings of 4 panels. Reason is that we have a few trees that shade panels in the early morning and then again after 3pm. I am hoping summer will extend the full sunlight period on the panels. Stove, oven and geyser on non essentials. Rest of house on essential loads. For the last three weeks have used no eskom power for essentials. Batteries have never gone below 68%. Batteries are fully charged by around 1pm. Currently usage is around 10 to 11.5 kWh perday. With a 5kW inverter you need to think about what appliances are used together. Don't run the dishwasher, kettle and toaster at the same time. So we have made a few adjustments. Dishwasher must only be switched on after 9:30am when the PVs are in full sunlight. Even with cloudy days the batteries have been fully charged before 2pm. Busy playing with a Raspberry pi and solar assistant which is giving good data for future analysis.

The installation process was not difficult, just time consuming. If you have a technical background in the electronics/electrical field then you should be able to do your own installation. You just need to read and understand the SANS requirements and regulations. Until next time.

8 x 605W Canadians on a 5kw Sunsynk? My installer refused to go any larger than 460W Ja Solar's on mine. Indicated that the amps on the larger panels runs the risk of damaging the inverter when the circumstances are just right (or wrong, however you want to look at it).

 

[Speedster]

8 x 605W Canadians on a 5kw Sunsynk? My installer refused to go any larger than 460W Ja Solar's on mine. Indicated that the amps on the larger panels runs the risk of damaging the inverter when the circumstances are just right (or wrong, however you want to look at it).

Common error made by installers. Overamperage can't do any damage as the inverter only draws the amps it requires.