Solar Power Thread

Arthur said:
Not to rub it in or anything, but it's at times like this that I'm glad to have made the investment in adequate power that's independent of the national bulk generator.

If grid power is restored as scheduled at 16h30, I'll post a screenie of the summation graph showing the inverter resyncing with the grid.
Click to expand...

Hi Arthur, I could not find the graph you mention. Do you have a post outlining your setup? I'm looking at an inverted linked to the grid with solar panels and batteries for the evening and load shedding.
 
signates said:
So managed to test the generator this morning. I put about 4.5kw of load on it and it handled it all. Did not want to risk putting on more load. When I put on a big load like the the pool pump, there is a split second where the revs drop as the AVR kicks in.

I can easily run my whole house off this generator with the exception of anything with a heating element.

Also bought an Efergy E2 electricity monitor. My peak load according to the Efergy is 8.5kw. Thus only from two days of monitoring so will give it a couple of weeks to get some more data.

I put the generator in a small shed. Still a bit noisy but not noticeable from within the house. Still want to make it more quiet. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

where did you buy the electricity monitor?
 
Load shedding kicked in just after 8pm tonight. Caught this screenie showing the system running seamlessly.

attachment.php
 
I got a quote today for a solar geyser installation. Because my geyser is too old I need a new unit installed. So now it comes to R23,449.80 less R6,322 Eskom rebate = R17,127.80. Way more than I budgeted for. Does this sound reasonable? Way more than I was hoping for.

Xstream Geysers 150lt 1 : 10 700.00
SolarMax Flat Plate Panel 1.6sqm 2 : incl.
Electric Pump 220V 1 : 950.00

Plumbing kit : 1 500.00
Geyserwise Timer MAX 1 : 995.00
Extras
Copper Overflow Pipe 22mm : 350.00
PVC drip tray overflow pipe 40mm : 100.00
Drip Tray 150lt 1 : 300.00
TP Safety Piping - Copper 22mm 1 length : 350.00
Pressure Release Valve Cartridge 200kPa 1 : 750.00
Air Release Valve 1 : 200.00
Isolator Switch 1 : 175.00
Thermal Temporing Valve 1 : 475.00
Installation(Labour/Consumables) : 3 250.00
Electrical Certificate of Compliance : 475.00
SUBTOTAL : 20 570.00
VAT : 2 879.80
Contractual Amount : 23 449.80
Eskom Rebate : -6 322.00
Nett Amount : 17 127.80
 
spiff said:
sounds about right - but then mine was about R21k a few years ago - less rebate and install - R16k

also got a new geyser tank - mine was to old.

had them install it outside for easy maintanance
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Thanks for the feedback. If I decide to go through with this I am going to keep mine in the roof - it's easy to access though. Did you see a significant improvement on your electricity bill?

I'm currently going through R1k-R1.2k per month which feels like a lot as we are only 2 people and we don't use the kitchen appliances that much. Think pool pump and geyser are the two culprits. Hoping this will make a difference.
 
Inevitability said:
I was told the Eskom rebate was a thing of the past when i got my quote late last year
:confused:
Click to expand...

You were lied to.

The rebate still exists, Eskom only stop managing it on the 30th of April this year. After that it moves to the DoE
 
ToxicBunny said:
You were lied to.

The rebate still exists, Eskom only stop managing it on the 30th of April this year. After that it moves to the DoE
Click to expand...

Yeah, and as I understand the DoE have not implement a system yet to manage this so not sure how it is going to work then.
 
GrootBaas said:
Thanks for the feedback. If I decide to go through with this I am going to keep mine in the roof - it's easy to access though. Did you see a significant improvement on your electricity bill?

I'm currently going through R1k-R1.2k per month which feels like a lot as we are only 2 people and we don't use the kitchen appliances that much. Think pool pump and geyser are the two culprits. Hoping this will make a difference.
Click to expand...

ok firstly I live on my own and have been able to keep my electricity bill round about R400 despite eskum increases ( gas stove / gas heater / roof insulation / double glassing etc.) had a timer fitted to my old mains geyser back in 2007 already so didn't notice a mayor decrease.

the solar geyser works perfectly. I've seen temperatures on the geyserwise display up to 99 degrees - maybe hotter, in summer?

in winter it seldom gets below 45 degrees which is still perfect for showering - I still don't use eskum to heat up the geyser.

yes I changed the time on the pool pump to 6hrs a day from 8hrs. that made a difference

8hrs in case you wondering - was due to solar heater fitted to pool. I've since tossed that out.

I also tossed out my old fridge - got a new samsung AA+ inverter type pump - that also helped.
 
I paid 20k inc rebate a month ago for a evacuated tube split system . With a 200l geyser in roof
 
Thanks for the feedback. We are 2 people in the house with a 150l geyser. On average 3 showers a day. But yeah, realised yesterday my poolpump is also using more electricity than I thought. 1.1kw pump that runs 8 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Also want to change to a gas stove, but need to do some kitchen changes to do that.
 
GrootBaas said:
I got a quote today for a solar geyser installation. Because my geyser is too old I need a new unit installed. So now it comes to R23,449.80 less R6,322 Eskom rebate = R17,127.80. Way more than I budgeted for. Does this sound reasonable? Way more than I was hoping for.

Xstream Geysers 150lt 1 : 10 700.00
SolarMax Flat Plate Panel 1.6sqm 2 : incl.
Electric Pump 220V 1 : 950.00

/snip
Click to expand...

Bit concerned about the 220V pump, when electricity goes off that pump is not going to work and your temp in the solar panel is going to skyrocket, probably going to build up too much heat and the release is going to trigger.

Mine is on a 12V pump with a solar panel, 2 1/2 years and no problems yet.
 
I would say minimum for 2 person household would be 200L solar geyser.
At least 100L per person.
The more water you can heat via solar, the less electricity will be required.
It is about thermal storage!!!
 
biena said:
Bit concerned about the 220V pump, when electricity goes off that pump is not going to work and your temp in the solar panel is going to skyrocket, probably going to build up too much heat and the release is going to trigger.

Mine is on a 12V pump with a solar panel, 2 1/2 years and no problems yet.
Click to expand...

12V pump seems like the way to go. Electric pump with no backup power can be very bad during hot summer days when the power is out for 4 hours.
 
ambroseg1 said:
12V pump seems like the way to go. Electric pump with no backup power can be very bad during hot summer days when the power is out for 4 hours.
Click to expand...

I will ask them if they can do that and what it will cost. Any idea of what I should expect price wise?
 
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