Solar generation in rain/cloudy conditions

Lupus said:
Looks like I'll probably go into the evening with 62 to 65% will see when it cuts over if it does.
This is twice my old system size and 65% would technically be 130% my old one and I used to go down to 30% on it.
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If you were into the whole off grid thing it definitely looks like a heat pump might get you almost there. A generator would run less than 2 weeks a year I suspect.
 
denmendez65 said:
If you were into the whole off grid thing it definitely looks like a heat pump might get you almost there. A generator would run less than 2 weeks a year I suspect.
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Yeah, currently the generator only gets used when there is no power and cloudy.
Which means it's not been used since Feb which means it probably needs a start but I'm so lazy
 
8.2 kWp, peaked at 2.9 kW today. It's still fairly manageable with clouds, the issue is when it rains - then you get close to nothing irrespective of how big your system is. Mid-December 2024 to April 2025 in Jhb was a nightmare with it raining pretty much constantly...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
8.2 kWp, peaked at 2.9 kW today. It's still fairly manageable with clouds, the issue is when it rains - then you get close to nothing irrespective of how big your system is. Mid-December 2024 to April 2025 in Jhb was a nightmare with it raining pretty much constantly...
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Feb and Apr were really really bad this year
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
8.2 kWp, peaked at 2.9 kW today. It's still fairly manageable with clouds, the issue is when it rains - then you get close to nothing irrespective of how big your system is. Mid-December 2024 to April 2025 in Jhb was a nightmare with it raining pretty much constantly...
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If I did get a generator I wouldnt get a big one. In an ideal world I wouldnt need one but you are right, I am planning on disconnecting in May so will see how I survive the Feb to April period.

If I free up funds for a genie before that then might disconnect sooner. 2 hours of run time (5.5Kw) should be enough a day taking into account the little solar would produce. 4 to 6 days on a tank wont make it an expensive exercise for a 24 litre tank. Thats some 500 rand in fuel.
 
denmendez65 said:
If I did get a generator I wouldnt get a big one. In an ideal world I wouldnt need one but you are right, I am planning on disconnecting in May so will see how I survive the Feb to April period.

If I free up funds for a genie before that then might disconnect sooner. 2 hours of run time (5.5Kw) should be enough a day taking into account the little solar would produce. 4 to 6 days on a tank wont make it an expensive exercise for a 24 litre tank. Thats some 500 rand in fuel.
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Put the money for the gas geyser towards the gennie and connect geyser to system.
 
wingnut771 said:
You can also run a gennie off LPG to make costs even cheaper.
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The maths adds up. I was planning on spending up to 15 for the genie (petrol and gas) and I can get a 5kw petrol one for 5k so can get a decent size for 15. It’s actually not a bad idea!
 
denmendez65 said:
Compared to your load I think you are more than fine with the PV area you have. Between 9 and 12 was nice. After that you were mostly still above your load. Your base load seems to be around 300W.
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Yeah 300w is around my base load, and i work from home too.
on "normal" sunny days i'm full by 11am, thats with geyser having run too.
On rainy days i make my base load for the most part, As you can see I do not touch eskom, on the 3rd day of rain i would need to use eskom, however that is proper rainy days no sun, what we had today was not full rainy/cloudy.
 
So far cloudier then yesterday at this time and I'm on 32%
 
Lupus said:
I'm on 30% and there is a trickle right now
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I think we will survive. I’m generating about 300W now which is far more than yesterday at this time. So I’m inclined to believe the weather will clear.
 
isie said:
5.4KWp capacity

been averaging PV generation for Sep around 20KWh a day

24 Sep only generated 9.5KWh
25 Sep Only 5.2KWh😭

Today Sun looked like it was peeping through this morning and then the clouds said FU
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Last night around 5pm sun popped out, managed to push me to 65% overall :-) in that last hour or so, this morning thick blanket of clouds, maybe it's moving through to Buccleau side now.
 
denmendez65 said:
I think we will survive. I’m generating about 300W now which is far more than yesterday at this time. So I’m inclined to believe the weather will clear.
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Yeah but you're such a small consumer ;-) but yeah up at about 800 or so, which is less then normal but more then yesterday.
 
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