Interesting price difference between solar with grid backup, and going off-grid

Priapus said:
Again, you're being naive.
If it were that simple, a lot of people would have left. It isn't.
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Yes, and a lot of people already have.
If you can afford a 400K solar panel upgrade on your home you, chances are that you are a highly educated and highly skilled person, the kind of person who would be in demand by international companies.
 
Interesting that in the article for the fully off grid system, there is no backup. Just lots of panels and batteries. What happens in winter when it's cloudy for days and days on end? People talking about solar production being reduced to 10% if there's lots of cloud cover...
 
hj2k_x said:
Interesting that in the article for the fully off grid system, there is no backup. Just lots of panels and batteries. What happens in winter when it's cloudy for days and days on end? People talking about solar production being reduced to 10% if there's lots of cloud cover...
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Our winter is not cloudy though, and solar panels perform much better when they are cool because the blazing sun is bad for production. I would think a generator is a necessity for such exceptions.
 
TheChamp said:
Our winter is not cloudy though, and solar panels perform much better when they are cool because the blazing sun is bad for production. I would think a generator is a necessity for such exceptions.
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You in JHB? Hadn't thought about heat being bad for production quantities...

I guess I'll be able to see for myself in a few months. Cape Town in June and July is usually more cloud and rain than anything else.
 
hj2k_x said:
You in JHB? Hadn't thought about heat being bad for production quantities...

I guess I'll be able to see for myself in a few months. Cape Town in June and July is usually more cloud and rain than anything else.
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Yes, it's rainy weather that's a problem and I do guess it could be a problem for coastal areas but generally that never lasts so there's enough sunlight to survive with a decent battery bank.
 
hj2k_x said:
You in JHB? Hadn't thought about heat being bad for production quantities...

I guess I'll be able to see for myself in a few months. Cape Town in June and July is usually more cloud and rain than anything else.
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My monthly production figures here in Somerset West.

My panels are almost flat mounted so suffer a lot in winter.

April 2021 I increased the number of panels from 8.54kwp to 10.37kwp.

I'm at 927kWh for April and should match my April 2021 production numbers.

Screenshot_20220427-175539_SOLARMAN%20Business.jpgScreenshot_20220427-175815_SOLARMAN%20Business.jpg
 
AchmatK said:
My monthly production figures here in Somerset West.

My panels are almost flat mounted so suffer a lot in winter.

April 2021 I increased the number of panels from 8.54kwp to 10.37kwp.

I'm at 927kWh for April and should match my April 2021 production numbers.

View attachment 1299306View attachment 1299310
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Thanks. Massive drop off in June and July but I guess 1/3 of peak production is still better than paying Eskom for the pleasure.

6 of my 20 panels are lying flat so they are not going to be great in winter. Seeing if I can squeeze in 3 more panels somewhere to take the output to the max this 8kw Deye can apparently handle.
 
Botha22 said:
So after sunset (when there is no PV) does your system switch over all loads to Eskom? Or the batteries & inverter continue to supply all loads until the batteries reach 20%, the switch everything over to Eskom?
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Correct, the the batteries & inverter continue to supply all loads until the batteries reach 20%, then switch everything over to Eskom.
If there is load shedding I still have 10% emergency I can use.

TIPS: Before getting a PV system:
Monitoring & measuring your consumption for correct sizing of system.
I worked out that I needed ~16kWh battery to last 16h - from 4pm to 8am.
I purchased 22kWh 20kWh of battery and 6.4kWp of PV.
Most nights I finish with ~30% SOC - so no Eskom.
The only times I use grid is when it's been raining for a full day.
The PV normally charges the battery by 13h00.
Consider East-West placement of PV vs North facing.

Reduce your electricity consumption before - eg LED globes, Evacuated Tube Thermosiphon Solar Geyser, Heatpump geyser, Gas stove, etc.

NOTE: The 22/20kWh battery is due to vendors using misleading marketing.
 
hj2k_x said:
Thanks. Massive drop off in June and July but I guess 1/3 of peak production is still better than paying Eskom for the pleasure.

6 of my 20 panels are lying flat so they are not going to be great in winter. Seeing if I can squeeze in 3 more panels somewhere to take the output to the max this 8kw Deye can apparently handle.
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What's your reason for flat panels?
 
hj2k_x said:
Interesting that in the article for the fully off grid system, there is no backup. Just lots of panels and batteries. What happens in winter when it's cloudy for days and days on end? People talking about solar production being reduced to 10% if there's lots of cloud cover...
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On the highveld it's very little clouds in winter.
You can oversize the PV to catch more energy.
 
TheChamp said:
What's your reason for flat panels?
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We have limited roof space. 14 on a large pitched part of the roof, 6 on the top of a flat outbuilding. That's where I can squeeze in 3 more (also lying almost flat). There is more roof space but it's lots of small roofs rather than one continuous piece of roof...
 
hj2k_x said:
We have limited roof space. 14 on a large pitched part of the roof, 6 on the top of a flat outbuilding. That's where I can squeeze in 3 more (also lying almost flat). There is more roof space but it's lots of small roofs rather than one continuous piece of roof...
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Why not get them mounted at an angle? I have never understood the oversizing to compensate method, it looks like a waste.
 
TheChamp said:
Why not get them mounted at an angle? I have never understood the oversizing to compensate method, it looks like a waste.
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I read that the angle of the panels does not make a big enough difference to output to justify worrying too much about it.
 
TheChamp said:
Why not get them mounted at an angle? I have never understood the oversizing to compensate method, it looks like a waste.
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Cost of angle mounting was just not worth it for me with 32 x 305w panels at the time. It's also not unsightly or visible from the road. 852090051.jpg2031534326.jpg
 
neoprema said:
The problem is solar vs emigrating is like saying the solution to your car steering wheel vibrating is to buy a boat.
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Except the power is one of at least a dozen reasons to leave this sinking hell hole of a country.
 
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