Planning a solar system

RonSwanson said:
What was the coldest recorded temperature for your Karoo location at, say, 08H00 - 09H00 in the past 10 years?
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It generally doesn't get all that cold. I'd guess around -3C as the coldest temp. Mostly around 10C or so on pretty cold days.

If I go for 12 panels would 1 string of 6 per MPPT work?
 
semaphore said:
You think it's viable for me to add 18 panels per MPPT ? :p 36 sounds like a nice number.
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It would be an interesting experiment. My guess is that the MPPT will start clipping amps for anything over 10.4 kW, even though it is under 22A.
 
RonSwanson said:
It would be an interesting experiment. My guess is that the MPPT will start clipping amps for anything over 10.4 kW, even though it is under 22A.
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Yeah, mostly just want it for the winter months and when I eventually add another inverter.
 
any reason you've decided on paying R35k for a Sunsynk 8kw invertor? The hybrid 5kw Growatt invertor is around R12k... huge price difference, any benefits?
 
Wrath of Khan said:
any reason you've decided on paying R35k for a Sunsynk 8kw invertor? The hybrid 5kw Growatt invertor is around R12k... huge price difference, any benefits?
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You can add a larger array before you need to add another one...
 
Wrath of Khan said:
any reason you've decided on paying R35k for a Sunsynk 8kw invertor? The hybrid 5kw Growatt invertor is around R12k... huge price difference, any benefits?
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Look at your peak requirements. I have the 5.5kw Sunsynk and in theory that limits the amount of power I can draw through the inverter (grid, panels, batteries) at any time.

I've pushed past 6kw at a time without as much as a beep from it.

A family member has a Growatt (4kw) and they constantly have to keep an eye on what they do to ensure they don't trip the inverter.
 
yeah 4kw is easy enough to fly past in a house. As long as its a new Hybrid inverter it'll just draw the excess needed from Eskom. Maybe it's been wired wrong or is not a Hybrid inverter just a normal one that will trip if overloaded, as will any inverter.

With regards to the panels, does it justify the price tag? I could put 3x 5kw Growatts linked = 15kw + I think they can accept 6kw of panels each so 18kw I guess... Almost identical price for 3 Growatts to 1 Sunsynk
 
Wrath of Khan said:
any reason you've decided on paying R35k for a Sunsynk 8kw invertor? The hybrid 5kw Growatt invertor is around R12k... huge price difference, any benefits?
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The Sunsynk seems to be the most highly regarded inverter aside from Victrons and looks like it will have all the functionality I require. The integrated MPPTs are a huge bonus and at 8KW I shouldn't have to worry too much about what I've got switched on. Since the investment is large I need something which can grow and handle everything I can throw at it.

Haven't looked at Growatt so can't compare directly.
 
Crusader said:
The Sunsynk seems to be the most highly regarded inverter aside from Victrons and looks like it will have all the functionality I require. The integrated MPPTs are a huge bonus and at 8KW I shouldn't have to worry too much about what I've got switched on. Since the investment is large I need something which can grow and handle everything I can throw at it.

Haven't looked at Growatt so can't compare directly.
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I had the same approach when I bought mine.
 
Received a quote and it looks like I've got a lot more saving to do - R195 820. Seems I severely underestimated the cost of all the mounting and DB panels etc. Was hoping more along the lines of R160 000

Solar System Planning.png
 
Crusader said:
Received a quote and it looks like I've got a lot more saving to do - R195 820. Seems I severely underestimated the cost of all the mounting and DB panels etc. Was hoping more along the lines of R160 000

View attachment 1233170
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Nah, they ripping you a solid on the inverter and batteries, also those panels look suspect.
 
Crusader said:
Received a quote and it looks like I've got a lot more saving to do - R195 820. Seems I severely underestimated the cost of all the mounting and DB panels etc. Was hoping more along the lines of R160 000

View attachment 1233170
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semaphore said:
Nah, they ripping you a solid on the inverter and batteries, also those panels look suspect.
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Yeah some of those prices are a bit high... sample quote from solar advice for similar items

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Crusader said:
Received a quote and it looks like I've got a lot more saving to do - R195 820. Seems I severely underestimated the cost of all the mounting and DB panels etc. Was hoping more along the lines of R160 000

View attachment 1233170
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And the mounting system does not cost R1 000 per panel.

You are looking at less than R500 per panel for a mounting kit.

They need to tell you what mounting kit they will be installing so you can compare prices.

You paying them for installation and no need for them to make a big markup on the equipment also. It's a different story if you just buying equipment from them.

This was mine over 18 months ago so prices may have increased slightly. I also bought a decent mounting kit with anti theft brackets. Screenshot_20220126-180653_Acrobat%20for%20Samsung.jpg
 
Mzezman said:
Yeah some of those prices are a bit high... sample quote from solar advice for similar items



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csm_lms-products-subpages-cards-light-microscopes_7cbb2badfe.jpg
 
Crusader said:
Received a quote and it looks like I've got a lot more saving to do - R195 820. Seems I severely underestimated the cost of all the mounting and DB panels etc. Was hoping more along the lines of R160 000

View attachment 1233170
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The inverter and batteries are quite high. Can also look at going with 455w panels to bring that down a bit more.

Here's mine. Total with installation is R178k...

Screenshot_20220126-180938_Gallery.jpg
 
Just looked at your price for the 8kw sunsynk inverter and I'm just glad I got in before the demand took off for sunsynk.
 
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