Solar solutions to counter loadshedding

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macbeth

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Hi, I'm looking for someone to help with a solar solution and recommendations for solar suppliers/installers.

I basically want to run the following
- 20 odd lights around the garden (10w each)
- gate motor
- 2 garage motors
- 0.75kw fishpond pump (runs 24/7)
- lights in the house.
- one room plugs - tv/dstv/wifimodem


that would be ideal
can anyone have suggestions as to what system i am looking at, cost etc
 
Solar is going to be overkill for your requirement.

I'd look at an inverter/battery configuration.

Also- are you only planning on covering this load for period of load shedding?

Scratch that : just noticed that 0.75kw pump
 
As an example:

My requirements pretty much match yours. I have a 55Inch LED Tv, every house light wired in to the inverter config, my front gate and garage motor, a few alexa devices, android tv box, Router, 2 cell phones charging.

A pure Sine Wave inverter in a 2 battery config covers my load perfectly for the entire load shedding period. of course I'm not running all my lights at once. Entrance light continuously turned on during the loadshedding period and a bedroom light stays on. use other room lighting as and when needed during the loadshedding period.

I don't feel the need to run my pool pump during load shedding. I'm assuming theres fish in that fishpond :D ...so I do see your need.

I do know that there are solar powered pumps with a battery backup, I was looking at implementing something like that a few years ago for my pool. Costs are high though.

Must be one big fishpond for a .75kw pump. Can you not perhaps get away with a lower draw pump?
 
Thats a monster fishpond pump you have there. Thats the same power as what my swimming pool pump works.
 
you have a pool pump on your fish pond O_o

also 200w worth of lights in the garden, bliksem!

the gate and garage imo you can get away with if they have battery back up.

the lights inside the house it is very dependent as to what you have and how many etc
 
Steamy Tom said:
you have a pool pump on your fish pond o_O

also 200w worth of lights in the garden, bliksem!

the gate and garage imo you can get away with if they have battery back up.

the lights inside the house it is very dependent as to what you have and how many etc
Click to expand...


Haha, its 19 lights, and most are on lower wattage globes, but used 10w/light as a guide
 
ambroseg1 said:
Thats a monster fishpond pump you have there. Thats the same power as what my swimming pool pump works.
Click to expand...

I'm open to looking at a solar pump for it, because you can work out it costs a fair bit on electricity
 
MEIOT said:
As an example:

My requirements pretty much match yours. I have a 55Inch LED Tv, every house light wired in to the inverter config, my front gate and garage motor, a few alexa devices, android tv box, Router, 2 cell phones charging.

A pure Sine Wave inverter in a 2 battery config covers my load perfectly for the entire load shedding period. of course I'm not running all my lights at once. Entrance light continuously turned on during the loadshedding period and a bedroom light stays on. use other room lighting as and when needed during the loadshedding period.

I don't feel the need to run my pool pump during load shedding. I'm assuming theres fish in that fishpond :D ...so I do see your need.

I do know that there are solar powered pumps with a battery backup, I was looking at implementing something like that a few years ago for my pool. Costs are high though.

Must be one big fishpond for a .75kw pump. Can you not perhaps get away with a lower draw pump?
Click to expand...


I'm happy to try and do the fishpond separate if it works out better.
But also likely to go and buy batteries for the garage motors/gate, but find they wear down quickly, and seems when loadshedding hits, they're suddenly dead.


What sort of cost would an inverter/batteries be then?
 
You need to calculate your total power requirement to size the inverter (in your case 3 kW would do but may be overkill) and you need your average power consumption to size your batteries.

You need to identify the circuits you want on the inverter, you need to make sure you split the neutrals etc etc. Adhere to SANS10142-1 2017 Ed2
 
MEIOT said:
As an example:

My requirements pretty much match yours. I have a 55Inch LED Tv, every house light wired in to the inverter config, my front gate and garage motor, a few alexa devices, android tv box, Router, 2 cell phones charging.

A pure Sine Wave inverter in a 2 battery config covers my load perfectly for the entire load shedding period. of course I'm not running all my lights at once. Entrance light continuously turned on during the loadshedding period and a bedroom light stays on. use other room lighting as and when needed during the loadshedding period.

I don't feel the need to run my pool pump during load shedding. I'm assuming theres fish in that fishpond :D ...so I do see your need.

I do know that there are solar powered pumps with a battery backup, I was looking at implementing something like that a few years ago for my pool. Costs are high though.

Must be one big fishpond for a .75kw pump. Can you not perhaps get away with a lower draw pump?
Click to expand...


I'm open to looking at that, thought perhaps something a bit more permanent would be better?

I take it an electrician needs to wire up the lights?

I'm happy with my tv room - which has the wifi, cctv, dstv and tv - and a light - to be the only real things i would like in a loadshedding moment.

And lights outside for security. gets rather dark around here.
 
macbeth said:
I'm open to looking at that, thought perhaps something a bit more permanent would be better?

I take it an electrician needs to wire up the lights?

I'm happy with my tv room - which has the wifi, cctv, dstv and tv - and a light - to be the only real things i would like in a loadshedding moment.

And lights outside for security. gets rather dark around here.
Click to expand...

you are just making light for the crooks to see :p rather put up motion lights maybe?
 
I'd honestly start by properly measuring your draw. I'd also start reducing those garden lights by either number or changing to lower energy saving LED bulbs without compromising lumens.
 
Athos said:
You need to calculate your total power requirement to size the inverter (in your case 3 kW would do but may be overkill) and you need your average power consumption to size your batteries.

You need to identify the circuits you want on the inverter, you need to make sure you split the neutrals etc etc. Adhere to SANS10142-1 2017 Ed2
Click to expand...


thanks. appreciate the advice
although some of it sounds greek to a lemming like me :)
 
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