Off-grid system prices from Solar Advice

w1z4rd said:
I live in the Eastern Cape on a large private property with many houses on it (Around 150). Its all walled in and next to the beach. I dont know of any connection fee. Isnt that a WC thing?
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Maybe, so far I have only heard from people who never had Eskom hooked up from the start who got away from connection fees. Everyone including myself who is connected to Eskom simply cant cancel it. Even if I converted to prepaid, prepaid still carries a connection fee either directly paid by tenant or paid by property owner.
 
John Tempus said:
Maybe, so far I have only heard from people who never had Eskom hooked up from the start who got away from connection fees. Everyone including myself who is connected to Eskom simply cant cancel it. Even if I converted to prepaid, prepaid still carries a connection fee either directly paid by tenant or paid by property owner.
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Well we still pay Eskom a small amount each month, not for running solar but because we have a grid tied system where we can fall back to the grid if something happens to our batteries. But afaik its normal rates, not extra rates.
 
John Tempus said:
Ok so you originally started without any Eskom feed. I think that might be the only way to not be hooked up to Eskom in fees for life.

The issue starts and never ends the moment anything is hooked up. I have yet to find a way to completely get rid of Eskom after the fact, I was told its not possible to completely disconnect and if I have my own electricity source I still have to pay the connection fee.
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Have you tried not paying?
 
McGuywer said:
I think if you get your electricity directly through Eskom, it is different.
But for me, for instance, I live in a suburb in Tshwane, I cannot "cut" the power supply requirement.
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In dbn, when I forgot to pay they cut me off. I admit this was in 1999.
 
Anyone know if it would be possible to switch to solar-only or at least a hybrid with emergency use from Eskom for a house consuming 50 kw/h per day?

Would it be above or below 200k? This value includes a Bosch stove-top and 6x AC's (5x 12 000 BTU Inverter, 1 x 24000 BTU Inverter)
 
neoprema said:
Anyone know if it would be possible to switch to solar-only or at least a hybrid with emergency use from Eskom for a house consuming 50 kw/h per day?

Would it be above or below 200k? This value includes a Bosch stove-top and 6x AC's (5x 12 000 BTU Inverter, 1 x 24000 BTU Inverter)
Click to expand...

My initial thought is above R200k as you'll need a sizeable inverter and PV array to run the stove top and AC's but my first question would be, what is your max instantaneous kW draw?
 
neoprema said:
Anyone know if it would be possible to switch to solar-only or at least a hybrid with emergency use from Eskom for a house consuming 50 kw/h per day?

Would it be above or below 200k? This value includes a Bosch stove-top and 6x AC's (5x 12 000 BTU Inverter, 1 x 24000 BTU Inverter)
Click to expand...
You are looking at about R200k. My usage is ±55kWh per day and have the following running from my inverter. Not all on at the same time though.

12000btu inverter aircon
24000btu inverter aircon
12000btu non inverter aircon
4kw geyser
Deep freezer
Two fridges
Kettle
Been to cup coffee machine
Water dispenser
Two water pumps feeding my house from my well
Pond pump on 24/7

Other normal household appliances.

My batteries last till about 5am and I need 2 more to get me through a full night.

Stove and oven is on gas already.

8kw sunsynk
10.37kw of solar panels
4 x US3000 pylontech batteries
 
Neuk_ said:
My initial thought is above R200k as you'll need a sizeable inverter and PV array to run the stove top and AC's but my first question would be, what is your max instantaneous kW draw?
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I don't know how to measure that? I have an Efergy - would I assuming turning EVERYTHING ON and then turning off mains, and turning on Mains and seeing what the Efergy says initially would = max instantaneous draw?
 
AchmatK said:
12000btu inverter aircon
24000btu inverter aircon
12000btu non inverter aircon
4kw geyser
Deep freezer
Two fridges
Kettle
Been to cup coffee machine
Water dispenser
Two water pumps feeding my house from my well
Pond pump on 24/7

Other normal household appliances.

My batteries last till about 5am and I need 2 more to get me through a full night.

Stove and oven is on gas already.

8kw sunsynk
10.37kw of solar panels
4 x US3000 pylontech batteries
Click to expand...

Interesting thanks.
Two questions;

1. Is that with 0 draw from Eskom? i.e no topups?
2. Do you know if any electricians will install on labor-cost only? I have a contact where I can get the equipment for about 15% cheaper which for that kind of price is quite a bit. So i would prefer to buy it all and get an installer to do it and pay for installation.
 
neoprema said:
I don't know how to measure that? I have an Efergy - would I assuming turning EVERYTHING ON and then turning off mains, and turning on Mains and seeing what the Efergy says initially would = max instantaneous draw?
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There should be some daily graphs you can share from it. I used an efergy to monitor my home before going to solar.
 
neoprema said:
Interesting thanks.
Two questions;

1. Is that with 0 draw from Eskom? i.e no topups?
2. Do you know if any electricians will install on labor-cost only? I have a contact where I can get the equipment for about 15% cheaper which for that kind of price is quite a bit. So i would prefer to buy it all and get an installer to do it and pay for installation.
Click to expand...

1. I need 2 more batteries to have zero Eskom topups. I could get my nighttime usage lower though but currently it's just too much of a PITA. I use about 10kwh from the grid every day.

2. There are some that would. Most should be OK if its a well known brand and they've installed it before.
 
neoprema said:
I don't know how to measure that? I have an Efergy - would I assuming turning EVERYTHING ON and then turning off mains, and turning on Mains and seeing what the Efergy says initially would = max instantaneous draw?
Click to expand...

I would assume the Efergy could help, I am not familiar with it but simulating what you will realistically run at the same time is a good start. The instantaneous max kw draw will give you an idea of the size of the inverter that you need and also the size of the PV array. We get away with a small 3kVa inverter, although I would have bought a 5kVa given the choice, partly due to managing what we run in the house, partly due to our small load due to minimal high draw appliances and partly due to splitting our DB which see's our bedroom AC, oven and two sets of plugs used for the toaster, kettle and iron only drawing from mains supply.
 
neoprema said:
Anyone know if it would be possible to switch to solar-only or at least a hybrid with emergency use from Eskom for a house consuming 50 kw/h per day?

Would it be above or below 200k? This value includes a Bosch stove-top and 6x AC's (5x 12 000 BTU Inverter, 1 x 24000 BTU Inverter)
Click to expand...
Similar usage to mine, and my estimate on the calculator on their site comes to around R170k including installation...
 
neoprema said:
Interesting thanks.
Two questions;

1. Is that with 0 draw from Eskom? i.e no topups?
2. Do you know if any electricians will install on labor-cost only? I have a contact where I can get the equipment for about 15% cheaper which for that kind of price is quite a bit. So i would prefer to buy it all and get an installer to do it and pay for installation.
Click to expand...

If you find an electrician in cape-town then send to me I also want labor only as I have the accounts with distributers
 
neoprema said:
Anyone know if it would be possible to switch to solar-only or at least a hybrid with emergency use from Eskom for a house consuming 50 kw/h per day?

Would it be above or below 200k? This value includes a Bosch stove-top and 6x AC's (5x 12 000 BTU Inverter, 1 x 24000 BTU Inverter)
Click to expand...
Suggest read what I wrote here - https://goingsolar.co.za/2014/12/05/eskom-municipality-vs-solar-pricing-maths/

First steps would be to reduce usage.

Gas cooking. Solar Hot Water
More insulation roof / walls, and/ or double glazing (so you can reduce your AC needs).

That's cheaper than a solar setup. Go for the easy targets first, then look at solar. Will be cheaper long term.
 
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