Options for Grid-Tied System

[RonSwanson]

Prepaid at a flat rate of R2.28 per unit

Your objective is to decrease your electricity bill, yet key to this objective is the inverter's ability to blend power from different sources (solar / grid / genny / wind / batteries). Is the Solis that you are looking at capable of blending power or not?

 

[gotaway]

Your objective is to decrease your electricity bill, yet key to this objective is the inverter's ability to blend power from different sources (solar / grid / genny / wind / batteries). Is the Solis that you are looking at capable of blending power or not?

The actual question for the thread!

However from two sources (one the place where I saw it first - so should discount that because of a snake oil chance) yes!

If you have own generation of 2kw, and pull 3, these inverters will apparently pull the third from the grid.

Most physical stores, and self professing experts keep on saying it cannot happen. But then (staying with metaphors) I see them all as one trick ponies. They either only sell one pattern, or have done their own and only, installation.

I definitely do not want something that will either trip or switch over to grid if own capacity is exceeded

 

[thehuman]

Prepaid at a flat rate of R2.28 per unit

That grid tie meter will have a heart attack when a grid tie feed back , so pure grid tie wont work .
Best bet would be a hybrid type inverter eg sunsync.

I believe it can run without batteries blending grid and solar .
Will need to make some lifestyle changes shift heavy loads to while sun shining.

Can add batteries later.

2nd option ask for feedback compatability power meter , most municipalities don't credit 1:1 tho.

 

[RonSwanson]

The actual question for the thread!

However from two sources (one the place where I saw it first - so should discount that because of a snake oil chance) yes!

If you have own generation of 2kw, and pull 3, these inverters will apparently pull the third from the grid.

Most physical stores, and self professing experts keep on saying it cannot happen. But then (staying with metaphors) I see them all as one trick ponies. They either only sell one pattern, or have done their own and only, installation.

I definitely do not want something that will either trip or switch over to grid if own capacity is exceeded

Cannot happen?
I agree, stay away from them, I have a cheap Sunsynk that does it, and at the price you quoted I'd expect it to wash dishes too.

If you are expecting a reasonable response from this forum to your question, don't. @Pineapple Smurf is inebriated and I don't know anything about Solis. You may want to direct your question to Solis directly, or to members of the powerforum (powerforum.co.za).

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

But you'll be doing that with the mecer? Also with the hybrid you'll be saving even with Eskom on still. Just with it you'll have piece of mind when the power does go off you'll run off the solar and it'll tap into batteries when needed.

I don't mind changing 2 batteries out for under R5k or thereabouts but to change out a big bank of batteries for a house just scares the pooh out of me especially as one nears retirement age. There just won't be spare cash lying around to go Oh here house, heres R40k for batteries

 

[B-1]

Theres a lot of mixing of terms when it comes to grid tied and hybrid inverters. True grid tied inverters are about pushing electricity back into the grid. Most of what is discussed here is more hybrid inverters.
The ones you guys are looking for have blend functionality where they can use a mix of solar, battery and grid at the same time. On the cheaper end the "axpert king" and its many clones can do it (just make sure in the specs as there are many variations) then the midrange sunsynk can also do it and lastly its quite common on the premium inverters.

 

[Neuk_]

But you'll be doing that with the mecer? Also with the hybrid you'll be saving even with Eskom on still. Just with it you'll have piece of mind when the power does go off you'll run off the solar and it'll tap into batteries when needed.

For commercial properties where there is only day time heavy use I can understand a grid tied system, ignoring load shedding, but not for residential where you can extract so much more value going for a hybrid inverter.

 

[Neuk_]

Theres a lot of mixing of terms when it comes to grid tied and hybrid inverters. True grid tied inverters are about pushing electricity back into the grid. Most of what is discussed here is more hybrid inverters.
The ones you guys are looking for have blend functionality where they can use a mix of solar, battery and grid at the same time. On the cheaper end the "axpert king" and its many clones can do it (just make sure in the specs as there are many variations) then the midrange sunsynk can also do it and lastly its quite common on the premium inverters.

Yep, our small Victron ESS blends seamlessly from grid, PV and battery, depending on settings and time of day.

 

[TheChamp]

For commercial properties where there is only day time heavy use I can understand a grid tied system, ignoring load shedding, but not for residential where you can extract so much more value going for a hybrid inverter.

I think the cost of setting up a grid tied is slightly lower so I get where they are coming from, but if it was my money I would get one of those battery independent hybrid inverters, the cost wouldn't emuch different to what he had budgeted for but he would have the option to expand it to a backup later.

 

[Neuk_]

I think the cost of setting up a grid tied is slightly lower so I get where they are coming from, but if it was my money I would get one of those battery independent hybrid inverters, the cost wouldn't emuch different to what he had budgeted for but he would have the option to expand it to a backup later.

The only cost difference is the inverter itself and I am not sure how much 'extra' hybrid inverters are versus grid tied but the flexibility a hybrid gives you must be worth the price difference. My one manager spent a small fortune on a Goodwe inverter, PV array and LFP batteries to go off grid not realising that the inverter was grid tied, so when his grid feed goes down he has a close to R200k paper weight.

 

[Lupus]

For commercial properties where there is only day time heavy use I can understand a grid tied system, ignoring load shedding, but not for residential where you can extract so much more value going for a hybrid inverter.

Yup and there are a few sites like that, though it is still a little silly.

 

[Neuk_]

Yup and there are a few sites like that, though it is still a little silly.

My fiance's family factory has a 3 phase Solis grid tied inverter and 90 Canadian Solar 360w PV panels, they only run a day shift so unless there is load shedding in which case they have a large generator, they use no mains power during the day which is the period when they use the most.

 

[Lupus]

My fiance's family factory has a 3 phase Solis grid tied inverter and 90 Canadian Solar 360w PV panels, they only run a day shift so unless there is load shedding in which case they have a large generator, they use no mains power during the day which is the period when they use the most.

Yup, things like that grid-tied is what they need to use sadly, as they cannot feed back as far as I know or some catch.

 

[Neuk_]

Yup, things like that grid-tied is what they need to use sadly, as they cannot feed back as far as I know or some catch.

Technically you can feed back wit ha grid tied inverter but CoJ/CityPower doesn't allow it at the moment from my understanding.

 

[Lupus]

Technically you can feed back wit ha grid tied inverter but CoJ/CityPower doesn't allow it at the moment from my understanding.

They don't as far as I know, as a couple of the shopping centers who did this also cannot feed back.

 

[Neuk_]

They don't as far as I know, as a couple of the shopping centers who did this also cannot feed back.

My understanding was that feeding back was one of the main features of a grid tied inverter with it not working when the grid being down as a safety feature as it is assumed that work is being carried out and you don't want to then feed back. This is based on a 1st world country where the grid 99.99% of the time only goes down for maintenance and doesn't take load shedding in to account.

Solar systems explained - On-grid, Off-grid & Hybrid — Clean Energy Reviews

Introduction to the main types of solar power systems: on-grid, off-grid, and hybrid with battery storage. We explain the main components of a solar system and describe what type of inverter, batteries and other equipment is required for each type of system.

www.cleanenergyreviews.info

 

[Lupus]

My understanding was that feeding back was one of the main features of a grid tied inverter with it not working when the grid being down as a safety feature as it is assumed that work is being carried out and you don't want to then feed back. This is based on a 1st world country where the grid 99.99% of the time only goes down for maintenance and doesn't take load shedding in to account.

Ah probably the reason yeah.

 

[Neuk_]

Ah probably the reason yeah.

I added a link in my post for reference.