Small solar advice (5KVA hybrid system)

[NR7]

Hi,

Looking at a small 5KVA hybrid solar system for my folks essentials.

Was looking at a Deye 5KVA hybrid inverter with a 5.12KWH Deye battery and 6 x 500ish panels on a zinc roof.
Installer recommended to consider a Luxpower hybrid inverter instead to keep costs more reasonable.

They are quite happy to continue with municipal power especially since loadshedding has reduced, however the practicality of powering the essentials without having to waste petrol on the current generator is attractive.

Advice?

 

[TheChamp]

Hi,

Looking at a small 5KVA hybrid solar system for my folks essentials.

Was looking at a Deye 5KVA hybrid inverter with a 5.12KWH Deye battery and 6 x 500ish panels on a zinc roof.
Installer recommended to consider a Luxpower hybrid inverter instead to keep costs more reasonable.

They are quite happy to continue with municipal power especially since loadshedding has reduced, however the practicality of powering the essentials without having to waste petrol on the current generator is attractive.

Advice?

I know someone who installed the Luxpower, no issues, the system is working like a charm, so I think that's good advice from your guy in terms of costs.

But if you are installing Solar make sure some stuff is moved over as just using it for backup while using municipality power will just be a waste, take off as much as you can.

 

[wingnut771]

Let’s clarify why you need hybrid? Only if you want to feed back into the grid does one need hybrid afaik. A R4k 5kW nava solar inverter from Amazon would do the same thing in powering essentials.

 

[NR7]

I know someone who installed the Luxpower, no issues, the system is working like a charm, so I think that's good advice from your guy in terms of costs.

But if you are installing Solar make sure some stuff is moved over as just using it for backup while using municipality power will just be a waste, take off as much as you can.

The goal was to run roughly half the house on solar (kitchen, dining area, second lounge, spare bedroom+bathroom) plus the house lights.
5KVA would be suitable as all that is on one 4.5kva plug circuit which has never tripped, and the lights are all LED and don't take more than more than 350w in total if the sums from all the boxes are correct (they're never all on anyway).

Municipal only used on overcast days when the batteries would be down to their recommended minimum and not enough sun to top up. Using various plug watt-meters I calculated their 4pm-to 8am usage to be around 3-4KWH.

Let’s clarify why you need hybrid? Only if you want to feed back into the grid does one need hybrid afaik. A R4k 5kW nava solar inverter from Amazon would do the same thing in powering essentials.

Was recommended the hybrid, I was under the impression it's needed to have access to municipal power.
The other type I saw was the full off-grid inverter which is cheaper as it doesn't connect to the municipal grid at all but quite limited to a max of 6 panels only.

 

[TheChamp]

Let’s clarify why you need hybrid? Only if you want to feed back into the grid does one need hybrid afaik. A R4k 5kW nava solar inverter from Amazon would do the same thing in powering essentials.

Argh, don't get bogged down on those terms, we have been through this before.

 

[TheChamp]

Was recommended the hybrid, I was under the impression it's needed to have access to municipal power.
The other type I saw was the full off-grid inverter which is cheaper as it doesn't connect to the municipal grid at all but quite limited to a max of 6 panels only.

Don't stress about the terminology, the inverter your guy is going to install will work just fine, if you Google Luxpower inverter, the results are going to come up with what is termed a hybrid inverter, cracking your head on the technicalities is a waste of time, it will do the job.

The hybrid/non hybrid argument is as old as die berge here on the forum, for your own sake, just think of a hybrid as an inverter that can work with or without utility power.

 

[wingnut771]

Don't stress about the terminology, the inverter your guy is going to install will work just fine, if you Google Luxpower inverter, the results are going to come up with what is termed a hybrid inverter, cracking your head on the technicalities is a waste of time, it will do the job.

The hybrid/non hybrid argument is as old as die berge here on the forum, for your own sake, just think of a hybrid as an inverter that can work with or without utility power.

What is wrong with this inverter, this doesn't work with utility power?

 

[DTBA]

Hi,

Looking at a small 5KVA hybrid solar system for my folks essentials.

Was looking at a Deye 5KVA hybrid inverter with a 5.12KWH Deye battery and 6 x 500ish panels on a zinc roof.
Installer recommended to consider a Luxpower hybrid inverter instead to keep costs more reasonable.

They are quite happy to continue with municipal power especially since loadshedding has reduced, however the practicality of powering the essentials without having to waste petrol on the current generator is attractive.

Advice?

Luxpower SNA6.5 PRO Eco Hybrid Inverter

Luxpower SNA6000 Inverter: The Luxpower 6Kw Off-Grid Inverter SNA6000 is an Off-Grid inverter that can be used for both on-grid and off-grid solar systems.

www.inverter-warehouse.co.za

Very nice inverter for the price. ALSO way less noisy with mobile app to monitor.

 

[wingnut771]

Luxpower SNA6.5 PRO Eco Hybrid Inverter

Luxpower SNA6000 Inverter: The Luxpower 6Kw Off-Grid Inverter SNA6000 is an Off-Grid inverter that can be used for both on-grid and off-grid solar systems.

www.inverter-warehouse.co.za

Very nice inverter for the price. ALSO way less noisy with mobile app to monitor.

Yes there’s no doubt luxpower offers better value than deye/sunsynk.

 

[TheChamp]

What is wrong with this inverter, this doesn't work with utility power?
View attachment 1900989

Eish, You are committed to dragging me into that argument again, and I was honestly not keen, off grid inverter in pure technical terms means an inverter to use where there is no Eskom power, as in off grid, which might imply it doesn't come with an AC charger or a functionality to use AC.

As we all agreed back then, the terms are sometines used incorrectly so that might not be the case with this one, since off look like by off grid they just mean it can use solar, which is the incorrect definition of an off grid inverter.

There is nothing wrong with it, but Luxpower is superior at a reasonable price and as I said, I know someone who is using it so at least OP has some real life recommendation.

 

[wingnut771]

Eish, You are committed to dragging me into that argument again, and I was honestly not keen, off grid inverter in pure technical terms means an inverter to use where there is no Eskom power, as in off grid, which might imply it doesn't come with an AC charger or a functionality to use AC.

As we all agreed back then, the terms are sometines used incorrectly so that might not be the case with this one, since off look like by off grid they just mean it can use solar, which is the incorrect definition of an off grid inverter.

There is nothing wrong with it, but Luxpower is superior at a reasonable price and as I said, I know someone who is using it so at least OP has some real life recommendation.

And I was just clarifying that we are all on the same page about “hybrid” and that a cheap off grid inverter can supply one circuit too seeing it sounds like they are on a budget. Why pay R9k when you can pay R4k?

 

[Crowley]

Hi,

Looking at a small 5KVA hybrid solar system for my folks essentials.

Was looking at a Deye 5KVA hybrid inverter with a 5.12KWH Deye battery and 6 x 500ish panels on a zinc roof.
Installer recommended to consider a Luxpower hybrid inverter instead to keep costs more reasonable.

They are quite happy to continue with municipal power especially since loadshedding has reduced, however the practicality of powering the essentials without having to waste petrol on the current generator is attractive.

Advice?

We have 3 x Luxpower eco-hybrid 5kva ( I think) inverters. Zero issues after a year.

 

[NR7]

We have 3 x Luxpower eco-hybrid 5kva ( I think) inverters. Zero issues after a year.

How is the noise? I see the spec sheet says 50db which seems quite high compared to the Deye at 30db but not sure if the test conditions make those figures comparable between brands.

 

[Lupus]

How is the noise? I see the spec sheet says 50db which seems quite high compared to the Deye at 30db but not sure if the test conditions make those figures comparable between brands.

Should be installed outside the house, so sound shouldn't matter.
But having had an old mecer back in the day, don't have it anywhere you want to habitat

 

[DTBA]

How is the noise? I see the spec sheet says 50db which seems quite high compared to the Deye at 30db but not sure if the test conditions make those figures comparable between brands.

the sna6000 and 5000 are very noisy compared to the linked one. I have the sna6000 they are installed in the garage set to full fan slope its noisy I would not recommend them close to your bedroom
The new pro is a lot better on the noise level

 

[Crowley]

the sna6000 and 5000 are very noisy compared to the linked one. I have the sna6000 they are installed in the garage set to full fan slope its noisy I would not recommend them close to your bedroom
The new pro is a lot better on the noise level


View attachment 1901005

Agreed. It is installed in our garage and running full tilt you can hear them when the doors are closed.

 

[denmendez65]

What is wrong with this inverter, this doesn't work with utility power?
View attachment 1900989

I believe it is actually a 4kW, not 5. That is what Cavedog said at least.

Hybrid Inverter 48v 6.2 Kva 6200w MPPT 120A Inverter Pure Sine Wave -

Hybrid Inverter 48v 6.2 Kva 6200w MPPT 120A Inverter Pure Sine Wave - Ecco The main difference between PWM and MPPT charge control devices is that the MPPT devices are more efficient. MPPT charge control devices have 30 % more efficient in charge efficiency according to PWM type. Panel voltage...

solarwarehousesa.com

I would go for the Ecco. 5200 rand for a 6.2kW. My Dad is off-grid with this inverter. 120A MPPT at 500Vdc so you can add over 5/6kW of panels without issues. Its a true 6.2kW with 2x the surge rating. They have never tripped it and he welds, runs 3kW borehole pump etc on it with zero issues.

 

[denmendez65]

And I was just clarifying that we are all on the same page about “hybrid” and that a cheap off grid inverter can supply one circuit too seeing it sounds like they are on a budget. Why pay R9k when you can pay R4k?

If spending 9k, then he can get a 11kW with 2 MPPT inputs. On powerforum guys with the Ecco brand have had zero issues over 3 years. I have the MUST which is the same as the Ecco and users have gone over 5 years without issues so its a reliable and good brand. 5 year warranty also.

Hybrid Inverter 48v 11 Kva 11000w MPPT 160A Inverter Pure Sine Wave -

Hybrid Inverter 48v 11 Kva 11000w MPPT 160A Inverter Pure Sine Wave - Ecco The main difference between PWM and MPPT charge control devices is that the MPPT devices are more efficient. MPPT charge control devices have 30 % more efficient in charge efficiency according to PWM type. Panel voltage...

solarwarehousesa.com

 

[wingnut771]

If spending 9k, then he can get a 11kW with 2 MPPT inputs. On powerforum guys with the Ecco brand have had zero issues over 3 years. I have the MUST which is the same as the Ecco and users have gone over 5 years without issues so its a reliable and good brand. 5 year warranty also.

Hybrid Inverter 48v 11 Kva 11000w MPPT 160A Inverter Pure Sine Wave -

Hybrid Inverter 48v 11 Kva 11000w MPPT 160A Inverter Pure Sine Wave - Ecco The main difference between PWM and MPPT charge control devices is that the MPPT devices are more efficient. MPPT charge control devices have 30 % more efficient in charge efficiency according to PWM type. Panel voltage...

solarwarehousesa.com

Noise levels?

 

[Lupus]

Noise levels?

All inverters are loud when at full tilt