High Voltage Solar Panels

[itareanlnotani]

 

[itareanlnotani]

For your particular application, I'd look at the Victron all in ones - the 48/300/35-32 is a great price, and can be legally used/registered here.


All of the below are dealer ex vat, so bargain with whomever you use.

 

[itareanlnotani]

My suggestion for you:

Get the AM5 10KW @ 60k+vat, get the Victron at 13400+vat and add panels later.

(Assuming more stock eventually becomes available...)
Otherwise check resellers, as they may have stock

 

[leon.davibe]

Far too much overkill.

6mm is fine, depending how much current you'll be pushing. If 5kw, 6mm is plenty fine.

Sounds like this will mostly be for load shedding vs generation.

i.e. 5kw inverter + batteries, mostly charged by Eskom. The 2 panels are going to be relatively worthless output wise. Maybe 1KW at best peak output (2 x 500-600w panels)., or 3-5kWh/ day summer, 1kWh/day winter.


2 x 5kWh batteries will be in the 50k + vat range.
3KW - 5KW inverter thats approved will be in the 20k +vat range.
Panels - 3k each ish, I'm not sure I'd bother with panels even, its almost not quite worth it.

Most people houses idle under 1000w

So any amount of panels will help recoup inverter /battery costs

No panels it is just an expense

And the cable thickness matters on bypass feature

ie as long as his load won't exceed the 6mm it may be fine

Not sure but he is most likely going on smallest armoured cable available

No idea what the smallest armour cable is just being devils advocate

 

[itareanlnotani]

Most people houses idle under 1000w

So any amount of panels will help recoup inverter /battery costs

No panels it is just an expense

With 2 panels, its probably not worth the initial extra cost. Yes, they'll help, but barely.

Looking at around 2-3 years before they start making a financial benefit. (assuming prices escalate YoY for power). I'd add, but they're minimal assistance. Better off saving that money initially, and buying decent equipment that will last you, vs going cheaper on all.

The other thing is good luck getting panels.

Earilest is mid April, some delayed till June.

 

[leon.davibe]

In my opinion the idle use panels cover roi faster

ie if you have 10kw of solar
And use 5kw of battery/load every 24hrs

Having the extra panels doesn't affect roi

So the few panels would be contributing 100% of their output to roi

 

[itareanlnotani]

In my opinion the idle use panels cover roi faster

ie if you have 10kw of solar
And use 5kw of battery/load every 24hrs

Having the extra panels doesn't affect roi

So the few panels would be contributing 100% of their output to roi

Op has space for 2 panels.

Panels are also completely out of stock for months.

 

[leon.davibe]

Yea all i was trying to explain is that roi isn't quicker with more panels

Roi is quickest with panels you have a constant use/load for

ie having just 2 panels isn't a pointless exercise

 

[Kroks]

My idle power is about 300 watts at night, and probably at 600 to 800 watts in the day time. (Not going to move any heavey loads, so no geyser, oven over).
I know that the ROI will be like 10 years, but it is more a case of combatting loadshedding and other power issues. Myself and my wife work from home 80% of the time, so power is really key for us.

I do like the idea of doing a 5kw unit with external MTTP.

I'm up in Joburg, so dont have the humidity issues as in Cape Town. A ducted fan, to pull air into the hut, and expel will work. Will install seperate panel fans to gently flow air over the inverter, but wont push outside air direcrly over it.

All the feedback has been great, and I have to get over the hurdle with the body corporate, but that will have to wait for a bit.

 

[wingnut771]

My idle power is about 300 watts at night, and probably at 600 to 800 watts in the day time. (Not going to move any heavey loads, so no geyser, oven over).
I know that the ROI will be like 10 years, but it is more a case of combatting loadshedding and other power issues. Myself and my wife work from home 80% of the time, so power is really key for us.

I do like the idea of doing a 5kw unit with external MTTP.

I'm up in Joburg, so dont have the humidity issues as in Cape Town. A ducted fan, to pull air into the hut, and expel will work. Will install seperate panel fans to gently flow air over the inverter, but wont push outside air direcrly over it.

All the feedback has been great, and I have to get over the hurdle with the body corporate, but that will have to wait for a bit.

Sub-zero temps should also be avoided for the battery, so hopefully there is enough heat generated inside during winter, or else the battery won't charge below 0 degrees.

 

[Pho3nix]

With 2 panels, its probably not worth the initial extra cost. Yes, they'll help, but barely.

Looking at around 2-3 years before they start making a financial benefit. (assuming prices escalate YoY for power). I'd add, but they're minimal assistance. Better off saving that money initially, and buying decent equipment that will last you, vs going cheaper on all.

The other thing is good luck getting panels.

Earilest is mid April, some delayed till June.

View attachment 1491917

What is this site again?

 

[itareanlnotani]

What is this site again?

That would be segen, dealer side ex. vat pricing, as i mentioned in the thread.

 

[soulie]

6

Most people houses idle under 1000w

So any amount of panels will help recoup inverter /battery costs

No panels it is just an expense

And the cable thickness matters on bypass feature

ie as long as his load won't exceed the 6mm it may be fine

Not sure but he is most likely going on smallest armoured cable available

No idea what the smallest armour cable is just being devils advocate

6mm surfix gives you 34amps max without any correction factors ,that would be around 8 kw .dependant on temp ,buried,open,horizontal or vertical ,in a roofspace or does it see the sun and distance.
it can drop by a factor of around 0.6 .sometimes as low as 0.4 .safe is 0.6 in any install it also allows a wee bit of headroom .

 

[soulie]

Not too far. Cable run will be about 20m. Will do a 10mm2 armoured cable, but that will be determined by the electrician.

10mm squared will give you around 5.5kw with a 220v single phase cable ,thats with a virtual worst case scenario power correction built in .but it still depends on how the cable is installed

 

[wingnut771]

6
6mm surfix gives you 34amps max without any correction factors ,that would be around 8 kw .dependant on temp ,buried,open,horizontal or vertical ,in a roofspace or does it see the sun and distance.
it can drop by a factor of around 0.6 .sometimes as low as 0.4 .safe is 0.6 in any install it also allows a wee bit of headroom .

Why would this have an effect?

 

[soulie]

Why would this have an effect?

effect of correction factors there are many .any cable over 30deg c is allready penalised .voltage drop over distance .some wiseasses try use multicore cable .illegal .some use 3phase cable ,load capacity is reduced .220v single phase cable is very specific .harmonics can kill a cable .cables degrade rapidly if not suitable for the application .if your cable says 30amp times it by 0.6 and you should be safe .

 

[itareanlnotani]

10mm squared will give you around 5.5kw with a 220v single phase cable ,thats with a virtual worst case scenario power correction built in .but it still depends on how the cable is installed

Say what now?

Single phase 10mm armoured should be in the 70-80a range @ 220v., that would be about 15KW carrying capacity. (Ref D in diagram below as underground)

 

[soulie]

Why would this have an effect?

H andV ,ive never asked why i just follow the regs ,ill look for you when i get a chance

 

[soulie]

w

Say what now?

Single phase 10mm should be in the 70-80a range @ 220v., that would be about 15KW carrying capacity.

add in a correction factor of 0.6 and what do you get .how can you give advice without knowing the install ,are you even a certified electrician to be giving cable advice ?

 

[itareanlnotani]

w
add in a correction factor of 0.6 and what do you get .how can you give advice without knowing the install ,are you even a certified electrician to be giving cable advice ?

Even with a correction factor of 0.6, I still get 9KW.

OP's talking about a garden shed close to his flat, distance is going to be 10-20 meters at most, we're not talking a long distance.


OP will need to get an electrician to sign off on things, and CoC, so I'm not so worried about giving off hand advice in a forum. Its a forum, you take the advice with a pinch of salt, and do due diligence.