SauRoN's SomeWatt Solar Install

So interestingly I noticed last night my SOC went all the way down to 10% (like I originally wanted before discovering the Dyness restriction) for a couple of hours even though Shutdown is set at 12% and Time of Use was set at 15%.

Assuming it’s just bad reporting, doesn’t really bother me either way just found it quite random.
 
could it be worthwhile pumping excess energy into crypto, or is the capital cost too high?
 
SauRoNZA said:
So interestingly I noticed last night my SOC went all the way down to 10% (like I originally wanted before discovering the Dyness restriction) for a couple of hours even though Shutdown is set at 12% and Time of Use was set at 15%.

Assuming it’s just bad reporting, doesn’t really bother me either way just found it quite random.
Click to expand...
Hi. What is the Dyness restriction? My Dyness installation is scheduled for 8 September.
 
Botha22 said:
Dyness 4.8kWh Lithium-ion
Click to expand...

Yes but which exact model.

It does apply to the A48100 I have and likely other similar stand alone models.

Doesn’t apply to the Powerboxes (which have the same batteries inside) I suspect because of their controlled cooling parameters so they can go down to 5%.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Yes but which exact model.

It does apply to the A48100 I have and likely other similar stand alone models.

Doesn’t apply to the Powerboxes (which have the same batteries inside) I suspect because of their controlled cooling parameters so they can go down to 5%.
Click to expand...
I am not sure, not yet installed. But it says BX48100 on the invoice.
 
Botha22 said:
I am not sure, not yet installed. But it says BX48100 on the invoice.
Click to expand...

Yeah believe it’s the same as mine then, not sure what the real model differences are as I initially thought mine were those as they look identical.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Yeah believe it’s the same as mine then, not sure what the real model differences are as I initially thought mine were those as they look identical.
Click to expand...
BXs are chunkier while AXs are taller/thinner. Same chemistry and can be mixed together though
 
Lupus said:
He's in CPT so they have rain in the winter.
Click to expand...
Weather patterns are so messed up these days that it really doesn't matter. Besides, some coastal areas get rain all year around.
 
Just over a year as of this week and they are installing my 4th battery today bringing the total capacity to 19.2 kWh in total.

Real usable capacity more like 16.32 kWh.

Battery State of Health sitting at 99% according to the BMS.

Very little in the way off issues, just had to set battery reserves to a much higher 30-35% for different times of the day due to those 4 hour load sheds, which is another reason the 4th battery is happening.

I still have a notion to put in more panels East & West but we'll see if the battery does the job to take us effectively off grid then that might not happen in the very near future.

In retrospect due to the above the only thing I would have done differently is putting in 2 x Sunsynk 5kW units rather than 1 x Sunsynk 8kW because it would have meant 4 charge controllers instead of just 2 which now makes it a bit more tricky to add more solar.

Had I had the money at the point of install I would probably have put in 2 x Dyness 10kW Powerboxes for the higher capacity offered and just generally cleaner look and safer installation not to mention better weather proofing. Not that mine is installed outside...but I have one major scare with kids washing the car and going liberal with the hose pipe into the garage.

Of course the Sunsunk app is giving me crap right now but fortunately I can talk to it directly via Home Assistant.

Total PV Energy : 10,331.1 kWh

Total Grid Import : 2,429.9 kWh

Which means at the going base rate of R2,63 I paid Eskom an average of R532 a month over the R30000 I paid them before solar.

Total value of solar generation then was R27,170.79

Which brings my ROI to just over 14% for the first year, which at the going rate means I'll have completely free power at 7 years.

Of course I've just added the extra battery, but I've also learnt to use the solar more efficiently as the year went on so I expect to actually get more than 14% in the following year....and then there's the Eskom price going up if you want to get serious and compare that year on year.

All in all very happy I pulled the trigger when I did as I literally have lost nothing and gained a hell of a lot in creature comforts like having aircons and heaters running which I never did before.
 
SauRoNZA said:
321ad2192abc7cbeb254c31b6c1793ac.jpg


I’ve made 21 kWh and run out of things to push the load up. Crypto miner is on. Washing machine is on. Geyser is on but can’t get warmer.

Going to turn the tumble dryer on just because.
Click to expand...
Have you fixed your capacity setting yet? I doubt you have 6300 kWp installed :laugh: Unless you own a small solar farm.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Just over a year as of this week and they are installing my 4th battery today bringing the total capacity to 19.2 kWh in total.

Real usable capacity more like 16.32 kWh.

Battery State of Health sitting at 99% according to the BMS.

Very little in the way off issues, just had to set battery reserves to a much higher 30-35% for different times of the day due to those 4 hour load sheds, which is another reason the 4th battery is happening.

I still have a notion to put in more panels East & West but we'll see if the battery does the job to take us effectively off grid then that might not happen in the very near future.

In retrospect due to the above the only thing I would have done differently is putting in 2 x Sunsynk 5kW units rather than 1 x Sunsynk 8kW because it would have meant 4 charge controllers instead of just 2 which now makes it a bit more tricky to add more solar.

Had I had the money at the point of install I would probably have put in 2 x Dyness 10kW Powerboxes for the higher capacity offered and just generally cleaner look and safer installation not to mention better weather proofing. Not that mine is installed outside...but I have one major scare with kids washing the car and going liberal with the hose pipe into the garage.

Of course the Sunsunk app is giving me crap right now but fortunately I can talk to it directly via Home Assistant.

Total PV Energy : 10,331.1 kWh

Total Grid Import : 2,429.9 kWh

Which means at the going base rate of R2,63 I paid Eskom an average of R532 a month over the R30000 I paid them before solar.

Total value of solar generation then was R27,170.79

Which brings my ROI to just over 14% for the first year, which at the going rate means I'll have completely free power at 7 years.

Of course I've just added the extra battery, but I've also learnt to use the solar more efficiently as the year went on so I expect to actually get more than 14% in the following year....and then there's the Eskom price going up if you want to get serious and compare that year on year.

All in all very happy I pulled the trigger when I did as I literally have lost nothing and gained a hell of a lot in creature comforts like having aircons and heaters running which I never did before.
Click to expand...
The 2x5kw DO give you a lot more flexibility - i currently have 2 free mppts (one on each inverter) on which i plan to add panels. Those Dyness batteries are rock solid though eh - you never hear a peep from them - they just keep motoring - i DO get you though about possibly installing the larger Powerboxes upfront - i think you were like me in that the budget limited / dictated what we could install in phase 1
 
SauRoNZA said:
Just over a year as of this week and they are installing my 4th battery today bringing the total capacity to 19.2 kWh in total.

Real usable capacity more like 16.32 kWh.

Battery State of Health sitting at 99% according to the BMS.

Very little in the way off issues, just had to set battery reserves to a much higher 30-35% for different times of the day due to those 4 hour load sheds, which is another reason the 4th battery is happening.

I still have a notion to put in more panels East & West but we'll see if the battery does the job to take us effectively off grid then that might not happen in the very near future.

In retrospect due to the above the only thing I would have done differently is putting in 2 x Sunsynk 5kW units rather than 1 x Sunsynk 8kW because it would have meant 4 charge controllers instead of just 2 which now makes it a bit more tricky to add more solar.

Had I had the money at the point of install I would probably have put in 2 x Dyness 10kW Powerboxes for the higher capacity offered and just generally cleaner look and safer installation not to mention better weather proofing. Not that mine is installed outside...but I have one major scare with kids washing the car and going liberal with the hose pipe into the garage.

Of course the Sunsunk app is giving me crap right now but fortunately I can talk to it directly via Home Assistant.

Total PV Energy : 10,331.1 kWh

Total Grid Import : 2,429.9 kWh

Which means at the going base rate of R2,63 I paid Eskom an average of R532 a month over the R30000 I paid them before solar.

Total value of solar generation then was R27,170.79

Which brings my ROI to just over 14% for the first year, which at the going rate means I'll have completely free power at 7 years.

Of course I've just added the extra battery, but I've also learnt to use the solar more efficiently as the year went on so I expect to actually get more than 14% in the following year....and then there's the Eskom price going up if you want to get serious and compare that year on year.

All in all very happy I pulled the trigger when I did as I literally have lost nothing and gained a hell of a lot in creature comforts like having aircons and heaters running which I never did before.
Click to expand...
Congrats. Even if you use 4 kWh from the new battery, it's 120 kWh a month which will bring your breakeven down even quicker because you have 120 kWh more to generate.

Have no regrets with going Dyness and adding 2 more of them. Even though there's the weird 14% hard shutdown, in hindsight it will prolong the battery life.

6.3 kWp is a bit limiting though in winter. It's a struggle to get them charged before sundown. So another 6 panels would do nicely...
 
SauRoNZA said:
Just over a year as of this week and they are installing my 4th battery today bringing the total capacity to 19.2 kWh in total.

Real usable capacity more like 16.32 kWh.

Battery State of Health sitting at 99% according to the BMS.

Very little in the way off issues, just had to set battery reserves to a much higher 30-35% for different times of the day due to those 4 hour load sheds, which is another reason the 4th battery is happening.

I still have a notion to put in more panels East & West but we'll see if the battery does the job to take us effectively off grid then that might not happen in the very near future.

In retrospect due to the above the only thing I would have done differently is putting in 2 x Sunsynk 5kW units rather than 1 x Sunsynk 8kW because it would have meant 4 charge controllers instead of just 2 which now makes it a bit more tricky to add more solar.

Had I had the money at the point of install I would probably have put in 2 x Dyness 10kW Powerboxes for the higher capacity offered and just generally cleaner look and safer installation not to mention better weather proofing. Not that mine is installed outside...but I have one major scare with kids washing the car and going liberal with the hose pipe into the garage.

Of course the Sunsunk app is giving me crap right now but fortunately I can talk to it directly via Home Assistant.

Total PV Energy : 10,331.1 kWh

Total Grid Import : 2,429.9 kWh

Which means at the going base rate of R2,63 I paid Eskom an average of R532 a month over the R30000 I paid them before solar.

Total value of solar generation then was R27,170.79

Which brings my ROI to just over 14% for the first year, which at the going rate means I'll have completely free power at 7 years.

Of course I've just added the extra battery, but I've also learnt to use the solar more efficiently as the year went on so I expect to actually get more than 14% in the following year....and then there's the Eskom price going up if you want to get serious and compare that year on year.

All in all very happy I pulled the trigger when I did as I literally have lost nothing and gained a hell of a lot in creature comforts like having aircons and heaters running which I never did before.
Click to expand...

I've had mine for 6 months now and only made around 3.2MWh so I'll probably end up near 7MWh at the end of the year.
 
Mzezman said:
The 2x5kw DO give you a lot more flexibility - i currently have 2 free mppts (one on each inverter) on which i plan to add panels. Those Dyness batteries are rock solid though eh - you never hear a peep from them - they just keep motoring - i DO get you though about possibly installing the larger Powerboxes upfront - i think you were like me in that the budget limited / dictated what we could install in phase 1
Click to expand...

Exactly I always had the plan for 20kWh but at the time 2 x 10kWh Powerboxes was too much and 1 x 10kWh was too little.

Hence 3 x 5 kWH.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Congrats. Even if you use 4 kWh from the new battery, it's 120 kWh a month which will bring your breakeven down even quicker because you have 120 kWh more to generate.

Have no regrets with going Dyness and adding 2 more of them. Even though there's the weird 14% hard shutdown, in hindsight it will prolong the battery life.

6.3 kWp is a bit limiting though in winter. It's a struggle to get them charged before sundown. So another 6 panels would do nicely...
Click to expand...

I have no issue charging the 3 even in winter, so we’ll see how it does with 4.

The only reason I want more panels is so I can carry load earlier in the morning and then later in the afternoon.

Thing is I’ll need to move panels off the one string so that the one MPPT can be north facing with 10 panels and then I’ll need to do 5+5 in parallel East and West.

Or add an external MPPT on Aux and then just do 5+5, but need to see if I can feed those stats into HA otherwise it will annoy me.
 
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