Hoymiles Microinverters

Saba'a said:
But surely batteries a key consideration given:
1. Loadshedding
2. Night use of excess power generated
3. Poor solar conditions?
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Those would be the pros of batteries yes. Although we're fortunate not to have loadshedding and then it becomes a shootout between the additional cost of batteries vs simply buying the shortage from the grid.
 
Greglsh said:
Reason I went for it almost 2 years ago was starting costs and the ability to have panels connected in any location as shading only affects the shaded panel. It was the cheapest way I could start in solar. Have another guy on the powerforums who lives in a nearby area to me and he has made 10MW with his Hoymiles system which he says has paid off the panels and inverters in +_ 4 years. I also like the microinverter setup as it was very easy to setup as the inverter goes under the panels, you then run an ac cable from the inverter into the DB board and you are done. No long DC cables etc.

What my aim is in maybe a year or more is to either sell these microinverters and go full Sunsynk 8.8kw with batteries, or use them connected to a 5kw Sunsynk system. It all depends on how well this setup does for me over the next 9 to 12 months.
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Sounds like an interesting option for my intention to add East West panels to get sun earlier and later.

Then again panels connected to a Solis equivalent.

Considerations would be:
1. Cost
2. Complexity or simplicity of system and
3. Ease of installation
 
RonSwanson said:
Why compare it with a super hybrid Sunsynk, which has far more functionality and far more flexible?
The equivalent (in single phase) would be an award winning Solis 4.6kW with dual MPPT, going for under R10k.
Even a 3 phase 5kW Solis would be cheaper at under 15K.
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What are the long-term limitations of a Solis unit vs (for example) a Sunsynk unit ?

Being retired my budget is more limited than most.

That said, I have always believed in "right-sizing" so would prefer to start by purchasing a unit that will not require replacement in the long-term.
 
rrh said:
What are the long-term limitations of a Solis unit vs (for example) a Sunsynk unit ?

Being retired my budget is more limited than most.

That said, I have always believed in "right-sizing" so would prefer to start by purchasing a unit that will not require replacement in the long-term.
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No batteries, so you're limited to using the power when the sun is shining.
 
rrh said:
What are the long-term limitations of a Solis unit vs (for example) a Sunsynk unit ?

Being retired my budget is more limited than most.

That said, I have always believed in "right-sizing" so would prefer to start by purchasing a unit that will not require replacement in the long-term.
Click to expand...
Fundamentally different design objectives.

The Solis is an inverter that does 1 job: It converts solar power from panels into usable AC. It turns electricity generated by the solar panels into a form that is useful for you, and it does its job very well.

The Sunsynk Super Hybrid inverter does this also very well, and a number of other things, like:

Supplying power to important / critical loads (like your wife's blow-dryer) from multiple sources (AC and DC);

Charging batteries (managing alternate sources of DC power);

Managing and using alternate sources of AC power to keep important loads powered;

Managing excesses: Sending power generated in excess of that required to 1)keep important loads up, and 2) charge batteries to alternative (secondary importance) users, such as:
  • water heating
  • baking
  • pool pump filtering
  • borehole pump pumping
 
RonSwanson said:
Fundamentally different design objectives.

The Solis is an inverter that does 1 job: It converts solar power from panels into usable AC. It turns electricity generated by the solar panels into a form that is useful for you, and it does its job very well.

The Sunsynk Super Hybrid inverter does this also very well, and a number of other things, like:

Supplying power to important / critical loads (like your wife's blow-dryer) from multiple sources (AC and DC);

Charging batteries (managing alternate sources of DC power);

Managing and using alternate sources of AC power to keep important loads powered;

Managing excesses: Sending power generated in excess of that required to 1)keep important loads up, and 2) charge batteries to alternative (secondary importance) users, such as:
  • water heating
  • baking
  • pool pump filtering
  • borehole pump pumping
Click to expand...
Thanks for the explanation; makes perfect sense.

There is no SO, so that's one critical requirement that I can ignore for the moment :)
 
Anyone know if the Hoymiles microinverters can supply excess power back into the grid?
 
ahh thanks, I'm thinking maybe I should look at these inverters, my roof is quite shady in some areas so I don't want to lose power on all panels (I read that's what happens on a normal inverter) I do have 3 phase so thought I could install these all onto 1 phase and the excess returned to the grid as credit (for the other 2 phases so to speak) or I could install some onto each of the 3 phases, either way.. I live in Durbs so will try and find out about a bi-directional meter, I think that's what it's called..
 
Wrath of Khan said:
ahh thanks, I'm thinking maybe I should look at these inverters, my roof is quite shady in some areas so I don't want to lose power on all panels (I read that's what happens on a normal inverter) I do have 3 phase so thought I could install these all onto 1 phase and the excess returned to the grid as credit (for the other 2 phases so to speak) or I could install some onto each of the 3 phases, either way.. I live in Durbs so will try and find out about a bi-directional meter, I think that's what it's called..
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Wat type of power meter do you have?
 
Wrath of Khan said:
ahh thanks, I'm thinking maybe I should look at these inverters, my roof is quite shady in some areas so I don't want to lose power on all panels (I read that's what happens on a normal inverter) I do have 3 phase so thought I could install these all onto 1 phase and the excess returned to the grid as credit (for the other 2 phases so to speak) or I could install some onto each of the 3 phases, either way.. I live in Durbs so will try and find out about a bi-directional meter, I think that's what it's called..
Click to expand...
Most of Durban still have these meters:
1655884874563.png
The holy grail in this arena. Just don't go negative!
 
thehuman said:
Wat type of power meter do you have?
Click to expand...

I've got a Actaris meter (horizontal spinning wheel thing) that's the 3 phase meter.

Then in the electrical box next to them there are 2 other meters, one is a spinning disc one and another is a single phase digital meter.

On my monthly bill the 3 phase meter in the front is written down and I get charged from that.
 
Wrath of Khan said:
I've got a Actaris meter (horizontal spinning wheel thing) that's the 3 phase meter.

Then in the electrical box next to them there are 2 other meters, one is a spinning disc one and another is a single phase digital meter.

On my monthly bill the 3 phase meter in the front is written down and I get charged from that.
Click to expand...
Need to check that digital meter , it could have a fit with feedback
 
yeah I was reading up on that, but don't think they're in SA yet...
I never understand why companies say 3 phase / for large commercial operations etc.. I mean I have a table saw, I need 3 phase for damn power tools and an aircon unit, I'm not a big commercial operations ugh
 
Can someone confirm this is wrong, I got a quote for 2x Hoymiles inverters and they also quoted me for 2x DTU's? Please don't tell me you have to have one DTU per inverter? surely they've made a mistake...
 
Wrath of Khan said:
Can someone confirm this is wrong, I got a quote for 2x Hoymiles inverters and they also quoted me for 2x DTU's? Please don't tell me you have to have one DTU per inverter? surely they've made a mistake...
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What's a DTU?
 
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