Planning a solar system

AchmatK said:
8kw sunsynk plus 6 x 500w panels is a good start.

5kw sunsynk is also good enough.

What's your peak load?
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Indeed.

I haven't done any fancy measuring of peak load.

Also in the process of putting in aircon which will hopefully also efficiently heat the place in winter. Last year, oil fin heaters cost so very much to run to keep us warm, it was crazy. Peak load in winter using those would have been quite high indeed. We also have two dwellings on one erf.
 
hj2k_x said:
Also in the process of putting in aircon which will hopefully also efficiently heat the place in winter. Last year, oil fin heaters cost so very much to run to keep us warm, it was crazy. Peak load in winter using those would have been quite high indeed. We also have two dwellings on one erf.
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Blankets also work well :P #justsaying. I don't use heaters at all during winter.
 
hj2k_x said:
Indeed.

I haven't done any fancy measuring of peak load.

Also in the process of putting in aircon which will hopefully also efficiently heat the place in winter. Last year, oil fin heaters cost so very much to run to keep us warm, it was crazy. Peak load in winter using those would have been quite high indeed. We also have two dwellings on one erf.
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I run 3 aircons from my 8kw sunsynk. Mostly it's the two inverter aircons running at the same time powered from solar or batteries.

12000btu non inverter aircon
12000btu inverter aircon in the main bedroom
24000btu inverter aircon in the lounge.
 
AchmatK said:
I run 3 aircons from my 8kw sunsynk. Mostly it's the two inverter aircons running at the same time powered from solar or batteries.

12000btu non inverter aircon
12000btu inverter aircon in the main bedroom
24000btu inverter aircon in the lounge.
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Good news indeed. We currently have 1 x 12 000 and 1 x 18 000btu but will eventually land on 3-4 x 12 000 and 2 x 18 000 (they shouldn't all be on at the same time, though).
 
hj2k_x said:
Indeed.

I haven't done any fancy measuring of peak load.

Also in the process of putting in aircon which will hopefully also efficiently heat the place in winter. Last year, oil fin heaters cost so very much to run to keep us warm, it was crazy. Peak load in winter using those would have been quite high indeed. We also have two dwellings on one erf.
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Gas heaters work very well, and do not use batteries.
 
So first week with the Efergy although. It's only one phase, but covers most of the plugs and lights in the apartment. I think the other phases which I can't yet monitor has 2 other rooms and the geyser on it.

Averages:
Night (17:00 to 08:00): 6.47
Day (09:00 to 17:00): 3.19
Daily total: 9.67
Highest
Night: 8.32
Day: 6.81
Daily total: 13.94

I think it would be reasonably safe to double the numbers to account for the other phases. Looks like our highest usage happens during the 'night' from 17:00 until 23:00.
 
RonSwanson said:
Gas heaters work very well, and do not use batteries.
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Agreed. Problems with gas: 1) sometimes we have shortages here and it's unnecessarily hard to find the stuff. 2) you have to go and find the stuff at all 3) sometimes it explodes. Sure, maybe not often, but sometimes...
 
hj2k_x said:
Agreed. Problems with gas: 1) sometimes we have shortages here and it's unnecessarily hard to find the stuff. 2) you have to go and find the stuff at all 3) sometimes it explodes. Sure, maybe not often, but sometimes...
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A few years ago there were shortages, but these days not so much, if one plans. I have 4 9Kg in use, and two spares just in case, but in winter I ensure that I have 3 spare. I insist on Afrox because they seem to be the fussiest when shortages do come. And #3 is true for lithium batteries as well, not sure which one is worse...
The advantage is that due to price regulation, gas is relatively cheap. Batteries are magnitudes more expensive.
 
Crusader said:
After 24 hours without power over the weekend and another 8 hours last night it looks like it's finally time to start looking at getting a solar system.

What should I be looking at in determining size of the system required. Our total usage is about 1500 kWh a month for the entire property (1 main house + apartment).

There's a 3-phase main distribution board and the house and apartment have their own DB boards. I'll be looking at doing the initial system for the apartment only as I assume it would be better to do separate systems for each.

Would it be possible for the property to downgrade to single phase power once solar has been installed since the basic usage fee for 3-phase power is quite expensive?

Any recommended installers I can look at who'll cover small Karoo towns between Outshoorn and Beaufort West?
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images
 
Crusader said:
So first week with the Efergy although. It's only one phase, but covers most of the plugs and lights in the apartment. I think the other phases which I can't yet monitor has 2 other rooms and the geyser on it.

Averages:
Night (17:00 to 08:00): 6.47
Day (09:00 to 17:00): 3.19
Daily total: 9.67
Highest
Night: 8.32
Day: 6.81
Daily total: 13.94

I think it would be reasonably safe to double the numbers to account for the other phases. Looks like our highest usage happens during the 'night' from 17:00 until 23:00.
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That's very close to my whole home's consumption (including hot water), and my single phase 5K Sunsynk handles all, with plenty to spare. I easily waste 50-65% of generation due to simply not using it. If you don't have plans to install some industrial machines, then you should seriously consider a downgrade to single phase, I am sure that it will also be cheaper.
 
RonSwanson said:
That's very close to my whole home's consumption (including hot water), and my single phase 5K Sunsynk handles all, with plenty to spare. I easily waste 50-65% of generation due to simply not using it. If you don't have plans to install some industrial machines, then you should seriously consider a downgrade to single phase, I am sure that it will also be cheaper.
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The 3 phase is a holdover from the days when the property was a bakery. There's 1 main house and 2 apartments now. The wiring is very strange. Half of one apartment and the main house seems to be on the same phase/breaker. Electrician said that they'd be unable to convert to a single phase as the wiring used wouldn't be able to handle 60A (I think?). So to downgrade to one phase it would mean re-wiring EVERYTHING.

The idea is to get the apartment onto solar and then later the house + smaller apartment. Hopefully then they can convert to single phase since the solar systems will handle most of the load. Basic fee for the 3phase is R1500, which is insane since that's before using any power.

If I understand correctly when they install solar here they can convert the internal apartment DB to just use a single phase as grid tie-in (without using the other 2 phases from the main DB).
 
Crusader said:
The 3 phase is a holdover from the days when the property was a bakery. There's 1 main house and 2 apartments now. The wiring is very strange. Half of one apartment and the main house seems to be on the same phase/breaker. Electrician said that they'd be unable to convert to a single phase as the wiring used wouldn't be able to handle 60A (I think?). So to downgrade to one phase it would mean re-wiring EVERYTHING.

The idea is to get the apartment onto solar and then later the house + smaller apartment. Hopefully then they can convert to single phase since the solar systems will handle most of the load. Basic fee for the 3phase is R1500, which is insane since that's before using any power.

If I understand correctly when they install solar here they can convert the internal apartment DB to just use a single phase as grid tie-in (without using the other 2 phases from the main DB).
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Are you sure that it was a bakery, and not a crematorium? :ROFL: I joke, but what is the population of the village / hamlet that you live in -- is / was the populace ever sufficient for it to be able to support a bakery? Unless it's an old asbestos mining town that boomed and died down, it could have been a Special Aparthate Deathcamp (just don't tag JuliusSeizure :laugh:)

I think that you need a reliable, accredited, honest and experienced sparky to come out and do an assessment, before deciding on any kit. Sunsynks are very flexible, and the 3phase 12K Sunsynks can do some interesting party tricks (like supporting unbalanced loads: 6kW per phase off-grid, and a full 12kW per phase on-grid). I am not sure whether the single phase Sunsynk can do what you describe.
 
RonSwanson said:
Are you sure that it was a bakery, and not a crematorium? :ROFL: I joke, but what is the population of the village / hamlet that you live in -- is / was the populace ever sufficient for it to be able to support a bakery? Unless it's an old asbestos mining town that boomed and died down, it could have been a Special Aparthate Deathcamp (just don't tag JuliusSeizure :laugh:)

I think that you need a reliable, accredited, honest and experienced sparky to come out and do an assessment, before deciding on any kit. Sunsynks are very flexible, and the 3phase 12K Sunsynks can do some interesting party tricks (like supporting unbalanced loads: 6kW per phase off-grid, and a full 12kW per phase on-grid). I am not sure whether the single phase Sunsynk can do what you describe.
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Population is around 10-11000 now including farms. They had a flour mill so a bakery makes sense.

Installer said it shouldn't be a problem to convert apartment into single phase with the Sunsynk. Not sure how they'll go about it. I'm assuming you can just use a single phase from the 3 to power the DB since there really isn't any huge load requirement. (I would have thought each phase would be used for a single DB board Phase 1 for DB 1 and Phase 2 for DB 2, but that's not how this was wired). As far as I can tell only 2 phases are actually used in the apartment. 1 phase runs lights + plugs of 4 rooms. 2nd phase for plugs and lights in 2 rooms + geyser. Why? Nobody knows.

We aren't planning to run the entire property on the 8kW just the apartment.
 
Saw in the paper today this scam artist. So please anyone thinking of Solar DON'T use this guy, stay away. In my opinion I'd just walk into a shop and buy all the hardware right then and there and walk out with it myself, then only hire an electrician to install it all. I would never pay upfront in a hope that my R200k gets delivered.. but that's just me. This guy below is on the front page of Fin24, stay away.. looks like he operates in Cape Town.

Jonathan Stephenson <-- scamster and thief
Solar Bay
Hello Solar
 
Crusader said:
Frack. Loot cancelled my order for the 2x Efergy Electricity Monitor Standard CT (13mm 90A) Sensor Clips after I had confirmed with them that their supplier had stock. 7 days after placing the order.

Anyone have an idea of any other reputable online sites that actually have stock?
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I wouldnt even bother. Just take your monthly elect bill and divide by the number of days to get a daily figure. A bit of a guestimate I know , but good enough for what you need.

Also imo move to single phase. 3 phase have a ton of additional charges. It may pay you to do that now instead of later.
 
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Gary Waterworth said:
I wouldnt even bother. Just take your monthly elect bill and divide by the number of days to get a daily figure. A bit of a guestimate I know , but good enough for what you need.

Also imo move to single phase. 3 phase have a ton of additional charges. It may pay you to do that now instead of later.
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Except in this instance it wouldn't be much help. There are 2 buildings on the property which are all included in the same municipal bill. So while it gives a very rough idea, it doesn't provide enough precision to make informed decisions regarding sizing of panels and batteries. The most important bit I'm after is to see what the actual nighttime usage figures are.
 
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