Need advice on a smaller solar system...

Pho3nix

Pho3nix

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Hi all,

I'll be moving in the next year or so but need something that will carry me through Stage ?? until then.
I don't want to spend R100K plus on this property and need advice on brands for following use-case.

Sun power during the day without a battery. I'll maybe add one in the future if my needs change but looking for a 3kw Hybrid Inverter and some help on panel sizing for 50x5w LED downlights, TV (120w) and 500w of laptop charging throughout the day, ideally also spinning my meter back as it's still the disc version.

Sunsynk doesn't seem to have the 3.6kw version anymore and don't think I need one any bigger.
 
I would rather go inverter and battery than inverter and panels.
 
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Reactions: rh1
W@P said:
Why not rather get an inverter plus battery mounted on a panel, mounted to the wall. Something like the blue nova kits. You can always take it with when you move.
Click to expand...

This can definitely work. Issue is if I add another R20k for panels I’d be R50k in the hole and had I just committed to a starter Deye system it would be R70k odd.

I’ll give it some thought though. Really like this implementation.

Synapse a rebrand of the Kodak/Axpert inverters?
 
Pho3nix said:
Sunsynk doesn't seem to have the 3.6kw version anymore and don't think I need one any bigger.
Click to expand...
Sunsynk hybrids don't work without a battery.
A 5K Kodak Axpert-type with UPS or Luxpower SNA5000 is probably what you are looking for, it's cheap so it won't break the bank, reliable with local support.

​

 
Moving panels is a ball ache. Moving inverter + batteries is easy. If you just need to get through load shedding then start with batteries. Add panels after you move...
 
Seems I'm stuck with the following but I'll most likely request fewer panels :
Screenshot 2022-09-22 at 21.02.36.png

Would the above get the job done?
 
Pho3nix said:
At night I already have a Mecer for TV. Darkness doesn’t bother me that much.
Click to expand...

What Mecer is it? Can always just add MPPT charge controller and panels to it if its big enough.

I have a 3kw mecer axpert inverter, 2x 305w panels and 4x 100aH LA batteries and it runs a lot of things without issue. (All lights, wifi/fiber, chest freezer, bar fridge laptop, TV, fish tank etc)
During sunlight hours the batteries stay full and it does 4h loadshedding without issue. Its normally the heating and cooling devices that nail you the rest are easier to run.


What you have above should give you a good amount of usability if you just do the lights and a couple of plug points. Just make sure you get enough panels to fit in the MPPT range for that inverter (125-425V.)
 
Last edited:
Pho3nix said:
@Lupus I think you started on something similar?
Click to expand...
I went the other way, inverter and batteries first, as storage is way more important during shedding.
www.geewiz.co.za

3000VA Mecer Axpert Pure Sine Inverter + 2x 100Ah LITHIUM Battery Trolley (12 HOUR BATTERY LIFE) KIT - 3000W With LITHIUM Battery (+-4000 cycles) 2560Wh

Inverter: Mecer Axpert Type 3000VA (3000W) PURE Sine Wave Inverter (1200W PWM Solar Controller) Batteries: 2x 100Ah LITHIUM LIFEPO4 Batteries (Hubble/Revov/Securiprod/GeeWiz) Cabinet: Geewiz Black Powder Coated Steel Cabinet + Wheels All cabling and connectors included Unit Dimensions(l,w,h)...
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za
Basically something like this would be a starting point as you'll have the storage, than slap on 1200w of panels and it'll be a small solar system.

Solar Panels

Buy Solar Panels online at the Best Prices! Door to Door and Overnight Delivery. Voted the best online store in SA. View Here
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za
So 3 of these should do, unless you get another charge controller for more panels.
That totals up up 34400 or so, plus you'll need the sundries that might add another 4k, and labour can be 4 to 9k.
www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za

5KW GROWATT DYNESS 4.8KWH LITE

This Package Includes: 1 x Growatt 5Kw Hybrid Inverter Es Model 1 x Dyness 4.8kwh Li-Ion Battery 1 x Ac Protection 1 x Dc Disconnector 2 x 35mm Battery Cable 4 x 35mm Lugs 1 x Avs Protection
www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za
Could go for this as a 5kw system, put on about 4kw of panels.
 
What can I do with this?

Can I connect 3/5 000 watt inverter and batteries, stove and geysor off?

What does DED Circuit stand for?

IMG_20220927_155955.jpg

IMG_20220927_155943.jpg

I opened this switch and it is already wired to the DB. Just need a red and black connection, I assume is a generator or inverter.

How do I test the total power being used through the DB currently?
 
Lupus said:
www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za

5KW GROWATT DYNESS 4.8KWH LITE

This Package Includes: 1 x Growatt 5Kw Hybrid Inverter Es Model 1 x Dyness 4.8kwh Li-Ion Battery 1 x Ac Protection 1 x Dc Disconnector 2 x 35mm Battery Cable 4 x 35mm Lugs 1 x Avs Protection
www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za
Could go for this as a 5kw system, put on about 4kw of panels.
Click to expand...
That's not a bad price, the battery alone is R27k.

Is that inverter grid-tied or hybrid? That's probably the most important part. Grid-tied would be useless when the grid goes down...
 
RedViking said:
What can I do with this?

Can I connect 3/5 000 watt inverter and batteries, stove and geysor off?

What does DED Circuit stand for?
Click to expand...
Probably stands for dedicated circuit. Check to see if there's another DB somewhere.

As an example I have one in the pool pump enclosure, and another in the garage which runs the flat...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
That's not a bad price, the battery alone is R27k.

Is that inverter grid-tied or hybrid? That's probably the most important part. Grid-tied would be useless when the grid goes down...
Click to expand...
Looks like it's hybrid, not sure they'd include a battery with grid-tied solutions as you'd essentially be using the grid as your backup.
This isn't with an install though this is just the parts, so you'd still need to get an installer for it and that's probably going to be 5k. No panels either so for 5kw panels you're looking at another 30kish.
 
Lupus said:
Looks like it's hybrid, not sure they'd include a battery with grid-tied solutions as you'd essentially be using the grid as your backup.
This isn't with an install though this is just the parts, so you'd still need to get an installer for it and that's probably going to be 5k. No panels either so for 5kw panels you're looking at another 30kish.
Click to expand...
Sure but R12k for a 5 kW inverter + sundries is still decent. If it's hybrid then that's a very good deal...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Sure but R12k for a 5 kW inverter + sundries is still decent. If it's hybrid then that's a very good deal...
Click to expand...
Does say Hybrid
  • 1 x Growatt 5Kw Hybrid Inverter Es Model
Perhaps the Growatt is an Axpert clone, as I paid that for mine.
And it does only seem to be in their bundle deals, so perhaps they mark it down for the bundles.
 
Wasn't getting notifications for this thread. Thanks for the updates so far.
Was playing around on sizing and got to this. LuxPower is R1k more over the Growatt. I do like their setup though and will chat to SolarAdvise @Lupus
Screenshot 2022-09-30 at 15.24.16.png
 
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