Home solar power - not worth cutting Eskom off completely if you don't have to

[Snyper564]

ok now i'm confused.

I was seriously thinking of going with solar+inverter+batteries on a grid-tied solution (8kw) but now I don't know - also however my quotes have not been as high as they are saying in the article?

I feel like i'm back to square 1 and i've got people coming to give me a final estimate tomorrow lol.

When ppl sitting in the dark again which is going to happen and your system is running you will not regret it one bit.


I have had my system for half a year and my only regret not doing it earlier.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

ok now i'm confused.

I was seriously thinking of going with solar+inverter+batteries on a grid-tied solution (8kw) but now I don't know - also however my quotes have not been as high as they are saying in the article?

I feel like i'm back to square 1 and i've got people coming to give me a final estimate tomorrow lol.

This is just one provider, and they seem to be on the higher side. Don't let it stop you. You obviously chose to do this for a reason...

 

[neoprema]

When ppl sitting in the dark again which is going to happen and your system is running you will not regret it one bit.


I have had my system for half a year and my only regret not doing it earlier.

Thanks that is true.

If anything its the "there's light at the end of the tunnel" syndrome that makes you question it. But I don't think this is the last time Eskom hits Stage 4.

PS - anyone recommend a good website for adding up appliances to estimate load? I know its best to measure it but I just want a ballpark to check something.

 

[neoprema]

This is just one provider, and they seem to be on the higher side. Don't let it stop you. You obviously chose to do this for a reason...

True.

 

[Snyper564]

Thanks that is true.

If anything its the "there's light at the end of the tunnel" syndrome that makes you question it. But I don't think this is the last time Eskom hits Stage 4.

PS - anyone recommend a good website for adding up appliances to estimate load? I know its best to measure it but I just want a ballpark to check something.

Go look at your electricity meter, same time two days if you have typical days if not go over one week and /7.

This will give you the best indication of what to expect.

Also its best to know your own house all appliances are different we have ultra low power siemens fridge less than 30w an hour to run, but our oven runs perfectly on the 8kw sunsynk too, no issues. But we know that its 2-3kw.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Except when the substation down the road trips after loadshedding and it takes another 24hrs to be fixed.

We just came out of loadshedding and power went out 3 minutes after coming back on. Street lights are still on so its most likely the substation in our area.

I did choose today to install a new battery and I should have let it charge from the grid just to be on the safe side.

Still have 5kwh of battery charge left to get me through the night.

We had a 36 hour doozi earlier this year.

 

[neoprema]

Go look at your electricity meter, same time two days if you have typical days if not go over one week and /7.

This will give you the best indication of what to expect.

Also its best to know your own house all appliances are different we have ultra low power siemens fridge less than 30w an hour to run, but our oven runs perfectly on the 8kw sunsynk too, no issues. But we know that its 2-3kw.

Hmm yeah that is true. We have a Bosch Fridge and a Defy and i've seen both get turned back on with the generator and the Defy hits it way harder than the Bosch.

Interesting about the oven. I thought they're a complete no-no.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Go look at your electricity meter, same time two days if you have typical days if not go over one week and /7.

This will give you the best indication of what to expect.

Also its best to know your own house all appliances are different we have ultra low power siemens fridge less than 30w an hour to run, but our oven runs perfectly on the 8kw sunsynk too, no issues. But we know that its 2-3kw.

I have a 5 and can run oven and tumble drier no worries. We do try avoid those scenarios but we have done it. We prefer the Gas oven for most stuff but love the electric oven when the sun is shining - cheaper than gas!

 

[Snyper564]

Hmm yeah that is true. We have a Bosch Fridge and a Defy and i've seen both get turned back on with the generator and the Defy hits it way harder than the Bosch.

Interesting about the oven. I thought they're a complete no-no.

Not at all!

We went full house on essential. Including normal oven, induction hob, microwave, geysers etc.

Its a no no if its not managed properly. The goal of our system was minimal reliance on eskom, so far we use 10% over the last 183 days (these are on extreme days for example we used less than 25kw last dec). This can be reduced to 0 if needed but thats our choice. Also no disruption - use as you want only real change was running dishwasher in the morning.

Midday peak - geyser top ups to 65 deg
Evening peak - oven and stove used




SOC of battery now included

 

[Willie Trombone]

Eskom bill for the past month...
Bearing in mind that I kept battery at 80% on weekdays for work emergencies and let it go down to 20 over weekends AND we've had a ton of rain and overcast days this month...
R500
We used to spend R2000-R2500 on average.

 

[AchmatK]

Eskom bill for the past month...
Bearing in mind that I kept battery at 80% on weekdays for work emergencies and let it go down to 20 over weekends AND we've had a ton of rain and overcast days this month...
R500
We used to spend R2000-R2500 on average.

Convenience of having power is first prize. The savings is secondary but worth it and will only increase as electricity prices increase.

My total savings thus far is nearly R70k for the 21 months its been running. My current cost per kWh is just under R10 but will be cheaper than what CoCT would be charging in a couple of years time.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Convenience of having power is first prize. The savings is secondary but worth it and will only increase as electricity prices increase.

My total savings thus far is nearly R70k for the 21 months its been running. My current cost per kWh is just under R10 but will be cheaper than what CoCT would be charging in a couple of years time.

View attachment 1296232

That's not even factoring the cost per kWh will keep decreasing to zero at the break even point, at which point your electricity is free when everyone else is paying whatever Eskom demands...

 

[ADrunkTeddyBear]

When ppl sitting in the dark again which is going to happen and your system is running you will not regret it one bit.


I have had my system for half a year and my only regret not doing it earlier.

Exactly this. My only regret is not going big in 1 go. I paid R2300 per panel in June 2021, Now I paid R2700 per panel and a lot more for a reel of DC cable

 

[LCBXX]

Sure, but taxed based on what? Trying to be environmentally friendly? Choosing not to use their unreliable, legally protected monopoly to secure our right to electricity (which amounts to extortion)?

I'm sure they will find some way to introduce it, but it won't pass constitutional muster...

Any idea what the Western Cape's requirements are to register your generator/panels/etc attracts in terms of levies/cost?

 

[Gaz{M}]

I wouldn't want to over size my solar system just to be completely off grid. That's why a 25k generator makes sense. It's there for prolonged cloudy days.

If you oversized your batteries and solar to go completely off grid, you would never pay off the system, because you would not be able to consume all the stored power on a daily basis.

 

[Magnum]

Try going a week without Eskom.

I'm not going without Eskom just paying them as little as possible

 

[extrusion]

Can you guys recommend lithium batteries ? Best priced best value for money (I know they are not cheap, not expecting that, but surely certain reliable batteries are priced better than others).

 

[Snyper564]

Can you guys recommend lithium batteries ? Best priced best value for money (I know they are not cheap, not expecting that, but surely certain reliable batteries are priced better than others).

Hubble (I use these), pylontech and freedom won

 

[leonb]

Hubble (I use these), pylontech and freedom won

Has the Hubble/Sunsynk inverter "issue" been sorted out? I've seen some complaints on the Power forums a while back. I also want to use the Hubble due to size, but wondering whether its not better to stick with the trusted Polontechs.

 

[Snyper564]

Has the Hubble/Sunsynk inverter "issue" been sorted out? I've seen some complaints on the Power forums a while back. I also want to use the Hubble due to size, but wondering whether its not better to stick with the trusted Polontechs.

I just run mine on agm v and no issues