PV panels vs converting 2 of 3 geysers to start savings since my current set up takes care of loadshedding.

[Snyper564]

No - generate decently enough. Want stored power to use at night.

If one is at home, its ok BUT most usage at night when we home.

Thus buying smart washing machine to use pv during day.

What kind of washing machine are you using that you are concerned about its power usage?

I would imagine it would only be something like a speed queen or the likes that would pull "concerning" amounts of power.

I think our bosch top loader pulls less than 200-300w an hour

 

[Nerfherder]

I fitted a low voltage geyser element, powered by 2 PVs
This works very well

I'm interested in this setup - did you do a thread on it ?

 

[itareanlnotani]

I'm interested in this setup - did you do a thread on it ?

I've covered it in the past - search for DC elements.

Usually its a matter of replacing the element and then running wiring from the panels -> DC element instead of the AC.

 

[Hd7]

What kind of washing machine are you using that you are concerned about its power usage?

I would imagine it would only be something like a speed queen or the likes that would pull "concerning" amounts of power.

I think our bosch top loader pulls less than 200-300w an hour

Same here and ours is a 10 year old lg front loader - this is cold water wash only though. @Saba'a does your current machine not have an independant timer function/delay start?

 

[Snyper564]

Same here and ours is a 10 year old lg front loader - this is cold water wash only though. @Saba'a does your current machine not have an independant timer function/delay start?

yeah also cold water only, keeps clothes lasting longer

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Washing machine isn't high up on my list. Got an ancient Defy front loader and haven't had issues running it during the day. Most it draws is 2kW which isn't an issue to run off PV.

A+++ appliances aren't cheap. Would rather take that money and use it towards more panels/batteries depending on whether you need more daytime or nighttime power...

 

[Adhvik]

I need your advice. I would agree with Saba'a that if I had an option to go solar PV panels to heat geyser it would be a no brainer over over EV tubes. But that would mean you have to use more solar batteries to store to heat geyser in the morning. How would you trade offs costs with battery storage costs as batteries are more expensive than say installing panels. Would a heat pump not be a better alternative to use less energy drawing from batteries but bearing in mind the heat pump is just as expensive as a once off purchase ? Which option is better to have in the long run?

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I need your advice. I would agree with Saba'a that if I had an option to go solar PV panels to heat geyser it would be a no brainer over over EV tubes. But that would mean you have to use more solar batteries to store to heat geyser in the morning. How would you trade offs costs with battery storage costs as batteries are more expensive than say installing panels. Would a heat pump not be a better alternative to use less energy drawing from batteries but bearing in mind the heat pump is just as expensive as a once off purchase ? Which option is better to have in the long run?

Not necessarily. You can set the schedule on the inverter to run on grid in the early morning to heat the water. Get a timer to switch off in the evening, and run on PV during the day.

Chances are if your water is been heated by 5pm, it will still be hot in the morning. Especially if your geyser is insulated. You can test this right now by switching your geyser off at sunset and see how hot the water is in the morning...

 

[Saba'a]

Same here and ours is a 10 year old lg front loader - this is cold water wash only though. @Saba'a does your current machine not have an independant timer function/delay start?

1. It does not have scheduler (at least 10 to 15 years old top loader) and
2. Cold water inlet broken since late last year. Have given up on repair guy and his spare part.
3. I like gadgets so new smart LG or Candy washing machine.

Issue is more which smart washing machine the best option. Candy looks impressive but I like LG. Already own a fridge from LG. So no new app. Guess will depend on price. Candy cheap and app looks good. Just not sure if its buggy or not

 

[Saba'a]

Not necessarily. You can set the schedule on the inverter to run on grid in the early morning to heat the water. Get a timer to switch off in the evening, and run on PV during the day.

Chances are if your water is been heated by 5pm, it will still be hot in the morning. Especially if your geyser is insulated. You can test this right now by switching your geyser off at sunset and see how hot the water is in the morning...

Yep insulated main geyser today. Will do other 2 later.

Will be interesting.

 

[Snyper564]

I crank my geyser the day before midday and its still hot enough in the morning without top up

 

[DuracellBunny]

I also want a hybrid solar gas geysers installation. I think @Sinbad had this at his parents place.

Advantage is that in winter, if no solar power, the gas heats up the water temperature difference.

Not sure why, but it could only be done with a solar geyser setup and not normal geyser setup.

My preference:

PV panels plus gas backup for geyser.

http://palomagas.co.za/gas-wat...oosted-solar-hot-water-system/

Another link.
https://gas-geysers-johannesbu...ter-with-rinnai-water-heaters/

You could fit the gas heater after your current geysers and have the sunsynk Aux load to heat these puppies up on your excess solar and if a chance they dont really heat up to temps then the gas heater can take over from there and it wouldnt need to work as hard with Cold water as the current geyser storage systems usually stay hot for around 8 hours.

They can be completely off the grid or partially and save both sides I believe on gas and grid cost.

 

[Adhvik]

Not necessarily. You can set the schedule on the inverter to run on grid in the early morning to heat the water. Get a timer to switch off in the evening, and run on PV during the day.

Not necessarily. You can set the schedule on the inverter to run on grid in the early morning to heat the water. Get a timer to switch off in the evening, and run on PV during the day.

Chances are if your water is been heated by 5pm, it will still be hot in the morning. Especially if your geyser is insulated. You can test this right now by switching your geyser off at sunset and see how hot the water is in the morning...

Thanks Mike for this advice. Just to clarify, so I should run the geyser on the non essential load ?

 

[itareanlnotani]

Thanks Mike for this advice. Just to clarify, so I should run the geyser on the non essential load ?

Run it on the Aux load.

Configure the Aux Load as per your needs (i.e. turn on when battery voltage > X, and solar > Y).

The Sunsynk will turn on power when its sufficient, then turn off power when its not.
Thats how mine is currently set to supplement my 2nd house solar setup.

Remarkably simple to setup (other than running cabling!)

 

[Adhvik]

Run it on the Aux load.

Configure the Aux Load as per your needs (i.e. turn on when battery voltage > X, and solar > Y).

The Sunsynk will turn on power when its sufficient, then turn off power when its not.
Thats how mine is currently set to supplement my 2nd house solar setup.

Remarkably simple to setup (other than running cabling!)

Many thanks for the advice

 

[itareanlnotani]

Many thanks for the advice

To be honest, the best advice I can give is don't cheap out, especially on inverters.

 

[deesef]

What kind of washing machine are you using that you are concerned about its power usage?

I would imagine it would only be something like a speed queen or the likes that would pull "concerning" amounts of power.

I think our bosch top loader pulls less than 200-300w an hour

Just bear in mind that the Speed Queen only takes 10 to 15 minutes per BIG load...

 

[Hd7]

1. It does not have scheduler (at least 10 to 15 years old top loader) and
2. Cold water inlet broken since late last year. Have given up on repair guy and his spare part.
3. I like gadgets so new smart LG or Candy washing machine.

Issue is more which smart washing machine the best option. Candy looks impressive but I like LG. Already own a fridge from LG. So no new app. Guess will depend on price. Candy cheap and app looks good. Just not sure if its buggy or not

Would suggest google candy after sales service and have a look on hellopeter. I was also looking at them because of price. You can make up your own mind...

 

[Saba'a]

Would suggest google candy after sales service and have a look on hellopeter. I was also looking at them because of price. You can make up your own mind...

Scary! Only one positive review.

So Samsung LG or Bosch I guess.

 

[Koosvanwyk]

yeah also cold water only, keeps clothes lasting longer

Here is the total power used by by 9Kg Samsung per month . Average number of wash cycles per week is 18 as reported by the app. Cold wash only and we seperate the items being washed, basically 2 cycles per day and 3/4 per day over weekend. So that is 72 cycles per month. Most of this is on battery power apart from the weekends. Included in the stats is 2.5 hour 70°C drum cleam each month.