Solar opinions

isie said:
to add more there is a 10 kw single phase sunsynk model out as well


but based on what you using a 8KW should be ok just need to make sure that both geysers electric elements don't go on at the same time not that it cant handle it but you limited if you need to use the stove/ oven at the same time as that

take note The solar part of your solar geyser will probably end up being redundant
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You right about the solar geyser being redundant, well sort off.
The solar geyser has no electrical connection. The solar geyser feeds the electric geyser with hot water so i should need less solar power for the Geyser. That will give me more solar power for aircons. ;-)
 
I think something as simple as the sunsynk app would have been really helpful to determine solar requirements before making the hard decisions. Obviously not the app itself as that only comes later but a way to not only gauge overall usage but to help in seeing what uses what, daily usage habits, peaks etc. Whether something like that exists, I'm not sure. I've gained a far greater understanding since having this info at my fingertips.

I think an important lesson here is to not limit yourself with initial install if possible so that you can add to it in future if need be. For myself, I took this approach with initial install and it has served well and did what was required but now the bug has bitten and I'm definitely looking to expand.
 
qscwbt said:
You right about the solar geyser being redundant, well sort off.
The solar geyser has no electrical connection. The solar geyser feeds the electric geyser with hot water so i should need less solar power for the Geyser. That will give me more solar power for aircons. ;-)
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You can put another PV panel in the real-estate the solar geyser was in, will work in cloudy weather too.
 
Flanders said:
I think something as simple as the sunsynk app would have been really helpful to determine solar requirements before making the hard decisions. Obviously not the app itself as that only comes later but a way to not only gauge overall usage but to help in seeing what uses what, daily usage habits, peaks etc. Whether something like that exists, I'm not sure. I've gained a far greater understanding since having this info at my fingertips.

I think an important lesson here is to not limit yourself with initial install if possible so that you can add to it in future if need be. For myself, I took this approach with initial install and it has served well and did what was required but now the bug has bitten and I'm definitely looking to expand.
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Efergy
 
I would go for 2 x 5kW. They also have no fans afaik, so are much quieter while providing redundancy and more MPPT options.

Also, 5kWh battery shouldn't be more than R15k:
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qscwbt said:
You right about the solar geyser being redundant, well sort off.
The solar geyser has no electrical connection. The solar geyser feeds the electric geyser with hot water so i should need less solar power for the Geyser. That will give me more solar power for aircons. ;-)
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I was working on both geysers having electric elements
then honestly I think 8Kw might be more then enough for your needs , I would take the extra 3k and put it towards 2 more PV panels (if you have the space) will really help in winter

what's a geyser Buddy? - my goolge fu has failed
 
isie said:
I was working on both geysers having electric elements
then honestly I think 8Kw might be more then enough for your needs , I would take the extra 3k and put it towards 2 more PV panels (if you have the space) will really help in winter

what's a geyser Buddy? - my goolge fu has failed
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The Geyser buddy is intelligent timer. Different days can have different geyser times on and off. It also checks the geyser temp. and only switch on when required.

 
isie said:
I was working on both geysers having electric elements
then honestly I think 8Kw might be more then enough for your needs , I would take the extra 3k and put it towards 2 more PV panels (if you have the space) will really help in winter

what's a geyser Buddy? - my goolge fu has failed
Click to expand...

Here is a thread when i fitted the system and then post #40 the 1 year feed back
 
  • To reduce the load your geyser puts on the inverter, you can replace the element with a 2kW. This is an easy DIY job. As long as you don't have family members taking 30min showers you'll always have hot water.
  • To maximise solar usage, you can put your high current devices on smart timers and only power them during daylight hours
  • To prevent your batteries getting depleted, especially during night-time loadshedding you can install a Sonoff Loadshedder. This is basically a set of smart timers but also comes with a relay to turn off your high current devices (poolpump, geyser, etc.) during loadshedding.
 
Napalm2880 said:
  • To reduce the load your geyser puts on the inverter, you can replace the element with a 2kW. This is an easy DIY job. As long as you don't have family members taking 30min showers you'll always have hot water.
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Tested this and would not recommend
sure it doesn't tax the system as much but you just increasing the time basically stays on the whole day - you using the same amount of energy just over a longer time period
rather push 3kw element for an our or 2 to heat water instead of 4+ that the 2kw.
 
If you plan to ever put 4 x wind directions of solar up then the 2 x 5kW units makes some sense, but if that is never in your pipeline it's a bit silly.

Considering you only want to put 10 panels up to start with the 8kW would carry 9-10 panels per MPPT so there's a lot of room for expansion there already.

2 x 5kW is just extra complication especially if one day you might want to integrate it into some Smart Home stuff.

Alternatively another option would be the 12kW which has 3 x MPPT which is all the sensible wind directions anyone would ever need and therefore give you future forward capacity to fit solar E, W & N without any extra hardware down the line.

What does the roof look like? How much solar capacity could you potentially fit East, West & North respectively? Any buildings next door on any of those sides that could complicate things? Any other shadow concerns?

I know I wish I had done 2 x 5kW because I want to do East & West later and didn't understand the limitations of MPPT's fully when I bought, but now I would just do a 12kW instead.
 
isie said:
Tested this and would not recommend
sure it doesn't tax the system as much but you just increasing the time basically stays on the whole day - you using the same amount of energy just over a longer time period
rather push 3kw element for an our or 2 to heat water instead of 4+ that the 2kw.
Click to expand...

Changing it to one of the new fancy ceramic ones with lower wattage might be the difference there in time, but I don't have any personal experience doing so but that is normally their proclaimed benefit.
 
Major Boredom said:
They are real :
View attachment 1741265
Normal elements are 3 to 4kw
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Not sure what your point is you get normal 2kw geyser elements as well they just meant for smaller geysers.
I never said they not real I said I am skeptical on their proclaimed benefits ,
I am yet to find and independent test comparing 2 150L geysers one with a standard 3kw geyser and one of theses Xtend or even Geyser wise or any PTC element.
Showing that a 2kw PTC element heats the same volume of water at the same amount of time or faster then a standard 3kw element

please provide a link to this test if it does exist.
 
isie said:
Call me a sceptic but I still don't believe it :)
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For sure, I'm not running out to replace my perfectly fine working one, but when it dies I would definitely make the switch and then I can look at my own data.
 
Up those panels off the bat go for 14-16, I have 12 with my 4 batteries. You wont regret it then go for a third battery

made loads of comments on my thread with thoughts and placement along the way

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