Solar Power Thread

I had 2x 200l solar geysers installed for R24k all in. That is evacuated tubing and a single geyserwise controller. That also included a battery and small solar panel to charge the battery during the day.
 
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.
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This is what happens when the power fails:
zsuZ5Fm.jpg


Ironically, it happened when the power was out while installing an inverter!
 
Shellyb1 said:
I had 2x 200l solar geysers installed for R24k all in. That is evacuated tubing and a single geyserwise controller. That also included a battery and small solar panel to charge the battery during the day.
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Asked the company about it. They said they used to do the 12V pumps with batteries, but they had too many problems with them and for the last 3 years they've reverted back to the 240V pumps.
 
I am running our solar controller from a ups with a big external battery
 
ambroseg1 said:
Honestly have no idea. @biena......price please.
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Honestly have no idea, my solar one was the standard quote.
edit: got a quote R280 for panel and R660 and pump

Found this, seems the same as what I have, looks like +- R650 for pump+panel
http://www.icmsa.co.za/Solar DC Hot water pump for geyzer.htm
http://www.sustainable.co.za/its-12v-ts5-10pv-solar-circulating-pump.html

If mine breaks and it will then I would want to replace it with the D5, looking at the cost that is just a pipe dream :cry: (Why you ask, this one should be pretty quiet, no shaft bearings...)
http://www.sustainable.co.za/laing-ecocirc-d5-solar-38-700b-solar-circulating-pump.html
 
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The guys arrived at my place at 7.20 this morning to install new geyser and solar panel. They are almost done with the installation now...
 
lsheed_cn said:
Make sure that you don't have partially shaded panels.
I can see in the photo that there might be a chance of that happening.


Have you mounted facing North? Angle looks ok.
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North yes, and no shade... Been studying both areas where I'm going to mount for a very long time already ;)
 
GrootBaas said:
Asked the company about it. They said they used to do the 12V pumps with batteries, but they had too many problems with them and for the last 3 years they've reverted back to the 240V pumps.
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Why would you want to put batteries on the circulation pump, it serves no purpose. If there is not enough sunlight to run the pump then there is not enough heat being collected to cause problems, In fact in that case you do not want the pump to run at all, circulating the water will just cool it down!

Just trying to understand the logic, I have my own experience to go on which is just one instance.
 
I wanted to look at solar electricity but it seems prices are prohibitively expensive. I was quoted R 150000 for a 3 kW panel with 5 kW inverter. If you guys can advice me how to bring this cost down and where to get the cheaper components and what did you spend on your system I think it will give me a head start
 
citizensa said:
I wanted to look at solar electricity but it seems prices are prohibitively expensive. I was quoted R 150000 for a 3 kW panel with 5 kW inverter. If you guys can advice me how to bring this cost down and where to get the cheaper components and what did you spend on your system I think it will give me a head start
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Find better deals by shopping around...

I bought 10 300W panels from a company that had surplus for <Rk18. Imported an inverter from an online shop in Germany. German 7kW 3-phase grid tied, <Rk21 incl transport and fees. All in with installation hw and wiring, <Rk45.

The same spec was offered by a local installer for Rk75 +vat. I should add that I'm not an importer - so don't let that stop you...
Ian
 
Arthur said:
I'm on a phone so replies brief.

I've recently gone off the grid with an 8kW PV array. 40 x 210W panels back to 230VAC 50Hz via MLT Drives PowerStar II bi-directional grid-tied inverter.

For now, I export about 20-25kWh during daylight, and reimport it at night, using the grid as a battery, so my nett consumption is pretty much zero. This is possible only because my local municipality has agreed to a pilot project and installed a four-quadrant meter to measure imports, exports and nett usage.

I have a small 1260 Ah 48V DC battery bank, which at 20% discharge is good for about 3kWh.
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Can you pls tell how much it cost you and what's the best way to start on a smaller scale
 
The season's turned so more sun and sunlight hours, which means more power generated. :)

Currently helping the grid with 5.2kW exporting. Was a nett importer every month from May to August.

attachment.php
 
Well, after nearly five years of 24/7/365 operation, the main logic board on my 12kVA MLT PowerStar II seems to have developed a fault.

Called MLT and they came round to collect the machine and take it in to the factory.

One of the main reasons for buying a locally made solution is the availability of local manufacturer's support. Should know tomorrow what the issue is and hopefully get the system back.
 
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