Residential setup advice please

[DieBeer]

Good evening
I hope you are well.
I do not have R 200 000 to go off grid, but I do have savings and I would like to improve and protect my house and family during loadshedding. This is where I need ideas, please.
I would like to have a solar system to run the following
Lights in and around the house, for security CCTV
system, for continued security TV Wi-Fi for TV and
security Pressure pump for water (my reasoning here is for the municipality would not be able to fill reservoirs due to
loadshedding as we have seen before.)
I have gas for cooking and heat. Are there kits that can help with this list? Are there other options? Can I replace my geysers with 201 gas ones and expect to save?
I really look forward to hearing from you.

 

[Mzezman]

Good evening
I hope you are well.
I do not have R 200 000 to go off grid, but I do have savings and I would like to improve and protect my house and family during loadshedding. This is where I need ideas, please.
I would like to have a solar system to run the following
Lights in and around the house, for security CCTV
system, for continued security TV Wi-Fi for TV and
security Pressure pump for water (my reasoning here is for the municipality would not be able to fill reservoirs due to
loadshedding as we have seen before.)
I have gas for cooking and heat. Are there kits that can help with this list? Are there other options? Can I replace my geysers with 201 gas ones and expect to save?
I really look forward to hearing from you.

How much can you afford to spend right now?

You could get something like this to start and then expand

Solar Power Kit

Visit the post for more.

solaradvice.co.za

Or this if you need the extra power of an 8kw

Solar Power Kit

Visit the post for more.

solaradvice.co.za

To know for sure you need to do an energy audit, understand your peaks and daily draw

 

[DieBeer]

Thanks
How can i do an audit?

 

[rh1]

Thanks
How can i do an audit?

You need something to monitor your electricity usage.

I was in the same boat as you. I decide to temporarily get a generator.

For wifi router and ont, a mini ups which is under R1000 will keep the internet on.

But for the forumites to be able to help, they need to know how much electricity is needed for how long. That way they can give you options.

 

[wingnut771]

Thanks
How can i do an audit?

With something like this:

Gadgets

Buy Gadgets online at the Best Prices! Door to Door and Overnight Delivery. Voted the best online store in SA. View Here

www.geewiz.co.za

 

[Katelknaap]

Do u know how many units of electricity u use per month? Then work out how many per day and you'll have a starting point.
A full on energy audit will take some time and I assume you want something quickly to help with loadshedding.

We use just over 20 per day and went for the 5kw Sunsynk with a 5kwh Hubble battery. Stock of everything is hard to source now due to the excessive loadshedding and you'll have to be patient.

I also didn't have the funds to go all in now, but started with a backup system that can be expanded later. The 5kw inverter will be more than sufficient for us. My geysers and stoves are not connected to it, but everything else is. So far the lowest the battery has gone during a bout of loadshedding is 75%. Loadshedding has no impact on us now.

System installed and connected cost R 63k which for me was still a lot of money, but it had to be done. Most people think electricity supply issues are only going to get worse.

Good luck!

 

[Ianvn]

2 years ago we installed a 5kw Growatt inverter and 3.6kwh Dyness battery.

I had an electrician install some extra plugs throughout the house connected to the inverter system. I also run all lights (inside and outside), tv, my study which include the wifi, cctv, nas and my computer through the inverter.

The total costs were about 50k. I am currently in the process of getting quotes to expand the system by adding 8 solar panels and also hooking up our 2 fridges.

We 1st decided to just be loadshed proof as during lockdown my company also moved to remote work. Now we are starting with some cost saving options and getting everything that runs from the inverter to be powered for free during the day.

 

[Lupus]

Do u know how many units of electricity u use per month? Then work out how many per day and you'll have a starting point.
A full on energy audit will take some time and I assume you want something quickly to help with loadshedding.

We use just over 20 per day and went for the 5kw Sunsynk with a 5kwh Hubble battery. Stock of everything is hard to source now due to the excessive loadshedding and you'll have to be patient.

I also didn't have the funds to go all in now, but started with a backup system that can be expanded later. The 5kw inverter will be more than sufficient for us. My geysers and stoves are not connected to it, but everything else is. So far the lowest the battery has gone during a bout of loadshedding is 75%. Loadshedding has no impact on us now.

System installed and connected cost R 63k which for me was still a lot of money, but it had to be done. Most people think electricity supply issues are only going to get worse.

Good luck!

I went with similar, panels will be done sometime in the next 2 weeks.
But on my side I also use 16 to 25 units a day, so I went with a 5kw inverter + 2 4.8kw/h batteries, I've not hit 75% yet, though my usage during shedding is 300 to 1.2kw at most.

 

[Katelknaap]

I went with similar, panels will be done sometime in the next 2 weeks.
But on my side I also use 16 to 25 units a day, so I went with a 5kw inverter + 2 4.8kw/h batteries, I've not hit 75% yet, though my usage during shedding is 300 to 1.2kw at most.

That 75% was during a 18:00 to 20:30 session when the wife was cooking, airfryer and microwave was running

 

[Lupus]

That 75% was during a 18:00 to 20:30 session when the wife was cooking, airfryer and microwave was running

Oh wow, I'm still hesitant to run the big stuff, wife keeps saying I should suck it up, but it's like I just never know.

 

[Katelknaap]

Oh wow, I'm still hesitant to run the big stuff, wife keeps saying I should suck it up, but it's like I just never know.

The wife even had the one aircon running the other day (in dehumidifier mode) during loadshedding .
One quickly forgets when loadshedding is on with the convenience of these systems.

 

[rh1]

The wife even had the one aircon running the other day (in dehumidifier mode) during loadshedding .
One quickly forgets when loadshedding is on with the convenience of these systems.

Luckily, my daughter ask me, if she can run the aircon. Wife does not really use it.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Oh wow, I'm still hesitant to run the big stuff, wife keeps saying I should suck it up, but it's like I just never know.

You have 9.6 kWh of storage, you should easily be able to run big stuff in a 2 hour slot.

I've even resorted to running the heater during evening load shedding because the kid is sick. We got an IR heater which is much more energy efficient and effective. 4 heat settings, starting at 500W on the lowest, increasing by 500W for each subsequent level. During normal use we keep it at L2 (1000W), and during load shedding drop it to L1...

 

[wingnut771]

You have 9.6 kWh of storage, you should easily be able to run big stuff in a 2 hour slot.

I've even resorted to running the heater during evening load shedding because the kid is sick. We got an IR heater which is much more energy efficient and effective. 4 heat settings, starting at 500W on the lowest, increasing by 500W for each subsequent level. During normal use we keep it at L2 (1000W), and during load shedding drop it to L1...

IR heats the surface and not the air, they’re great outdoors too!

 

[Lupus]

The wife even had the one aircon running the other day (in dehumidifier mode) during loadshedding .
One quickly forgets when loadshedding is on with the convenience of these systems.

This is true, but wow and it didn't moan, i know mine starts to moan if the dishwasher and microwave are on but than again it's almost 5kw.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

IR heats the surface and not the air, they’re great outdoors too!

Yep, you feel it hitting you wherever you are in the room. The surfaces that it heats in turn warms the air to a comfy level. Probably one of my better purchases and glad I didn't go gas...

 

[Lupus]

You have 9.6 kWh of storage, you should easily be able to run big stuff in a 2 hour slot.

I've even resorted to running the heater during evening load shedding because the kid is sick. We got an IR heater which is much more energy efficient and effective. 4 heat settings, starting at 500W on the lowest, increasing by 500W for each subsequent level. During normal use we keep it at L2 (1000W), and during load shedding drop it to L1...

I know... But the paranoid part of me is like what if the power doesn't come back.
Apparently these are really good

Compare All System air conditioners | Samsung Business South Africa

Discover all Samsung system air conditioners. Compare models by product type and features that matter to your business.

www.samsung.com

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I know... But the paranoid part of me is like what if the power doesn't come back.
Apparently these are really good

Compare All System air conditioners | Samsung Business South Africa

Discover all Samsung system air conditioners. Compare models by product type and features that matter to your business.

www.samsung.com

Then you set a limit and call it an early night once you hit that threshold. Whatever that threshold is will come with trial and error.

If you're on a backup system, it's going to run out eventually. You just need enough to keep your security going for the night. If you have panels then you wait for morning.

But I've learnt that it's pointless having power if you're going to make yourself and your family live uncomfortably, especially in winter. You just need to be able to cook, bath and chill comfortably with some TV for an hour or 2...

 

[Lupus]

Then you set a limit and call it an early night once you hit that threshold. Whatever that threshold is will come with trial and error.

If you're on a backup system, it's going to run out eventually. You just need enough to keep your security going for the night. If you have panels then you wait for morning.

But I've learnt that it's pointless having power if you're going to make yourself and your family live uncomfortably, especially in winter. You just need to be able to cook, bath and chill comfortably with some TV for an hour or 2...

Yeah I know, I'm still on the old inverter and battery mentality :-( I mean I moan at them for putting the kettle on which with 9.6 I shouldn't worry for +-5 hours or so. Bathing is an issue as that is not hooked up to the inverter.

 

[Lupus]

Though inverter did beep today when the dishwasher was on, seems the voltage dropped to suddenly, will need to check that out, as the dishwasher shouldn't really do that.