Solar generation in rain/cloudy conditions

wingnut771 said:
For R400, indeed!
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Yeah, and they have these mini switches also, the size of a highlighter cap. That's what is controlling my geyser and kitchen. Want to add in for the pumps outside just because. They do energy monitoring. Manual on and off, and a whole lot of timer options. I have the 16A option.

Screenshot 2025-11-07 144526.png
 
Still no power, and with the rain pouring down like this, I don't see them fixing it any time soon. Especially if it is a cable fault.
 
denmendez65 said:
Still no power, and with the rain pouring down like this, I don't see them fixing it any time soon. Especially if it is a cable fault.
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Which area is this? Still no rain our side
 
Lupus said:
How was your first time off grid?
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🤣. Not too concerned to be honest. I think if I had never run off the house fully off solar I would be worried.

But the main breaker to the house has been off since I did the geyser conversion so I trust the system now.
 
denmendez65 said:
. Not too concerned to be honest. I think if I had never run off the house fully off solar I would be worried.

But the main breaker to the house has been off since I did the geyser conversion so I trust the system now.
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Ah so you were lucky :)
 
Lupus said:
Ah so you were lucky :)
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You could say that.

It was first backup, then worrying if my batteries could last over the night. Then connecting the kitchen and worrying if the batteries and inverter can handle the microwave etc.

Then it was the oven, anxiety over that and the inverter and batteries handled it very well.

And anxiety over the Geysertech actually being able to take the geyser off grid.

A long term power outage is now a non issue. But it was a gradual progression.
 
denmendez65 said:
It was first backup, then worrying if my batteries could last over the night. Then connecting the kitchen and worrying if the batteries and inverter can handle the microwave etc.

Then it was the oven, anxiety over that and the inverter and batteries handled it very well.

And anxiety over the Geysertech actually being able to take the geyser off grid.
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Woman's wrath?
 
denmendez65 said:
You could say that.

It was first backup, then worrying if my batteries could last over the night. Then connecting the kitchen and worrying if the batteries and inverter can handle the microwave etc.

Then it was the oven, anxiety over that and the inverter and batteries handled it very well.

And anxiety over the Geysertech actually being able to take the geyser off grid.

A long term power outage is now a non issue. But it was a gradual progression.
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Yeah went through that as well :(
 
wingnut771 said:
Woman's wrath?
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She added to that stress. I was being reminded everyday that solar doesn’t work and it will leave her without power (like Eskom was better).

Then it’s the stuff you read online about how Gel batteries are crap and can’t run a kitchen and oven.

Had to wake up the engineer in me to do some studying in Solar and battery tech to see online it was just a bunch of ill informed people giving opinions to prove to myself it will work.
 
denmendez65 said:
She added to that stress. I was being reminded everyday that solar doesn’t work and it will leave her without power (like Eskom was better).

Then it’s the stuff you read online about how Gel batteries are crap and can’t run a kitchen and oven.

Had to wake up the engineer in me to do some studying in Solar and battery tech to see online it was just a bunch of ill informed people giving opinions to prove to myself it will work.
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How long have you had the gel batteries?
 
denmendez65 said:
End of this year it will be 1 year with them
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I'll have to check to confirm but ours lasted 2 or so years before needing to be replaced. We used them at first as backup only connected to a Victron Multiplus 3kVa inverter, then put PV panels, the MPPT and control unit in. I tried to limit peak loads on them as well as taking their SOC down too low but we had one period where we had no CP supply for around 3 days.
 
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