South African solar users may have to replace inverters to meet the grid code's requirements

[acidrain]

They need to be specific because a law cannot be generalized. I don't see how they can demand any registration for the examples I have given here. Nor should there be registration for it. In the end of the day, if the house is isolated and can't send power to the grid in any way, we should be allowed to hook up a generator in a properly installed and COC hookup point. What we hook up to is our business. It can be a generator or a portable inverter system. As long as it is not part of the house they shouldn't have a say.

They don't need registration for your examples, and anyone who says they do doesn't know what the requirements are.

As an example, here is a snip from one of the sections on the application.


No where is Off-Grid stated, so if you are meant to register an off-grid system then what do you select from the above.

Also the electricity department confirmed this to me when I went to enquire about AMI meters. If the system is not tied to the grid then it needs no registration.

Edit: Stating an off-grid system must be registered is as rediculous as stating an evacuated tube geyser must be registered purely because it is a solar geyser.

 

[wingnut771]

Yes, when the AC input side is plugged into a wall socket it operates as a UPS. But then you could not have it connected to your DB. It would need to power the required items from extension leads. Now in theory you could wire your DB to have a single plug separate from the rest of the wiring and the run the inverter on the "other side" of the DB. I did have some discussions around this with COCT a few years ago and their stance then was, "if it's connected in the DB it's grid-tied, end of story".

I feed my whole house through my wall socket lol. Thank goodness I don’t have solar panels or else I would be a criminal because I didn’t register.

 

[Jackal46]

They don't need registration for your examples, and anyone who says they do doesn't know what the requirements are.

As an example, here is a snip from one of the sections on the application.
View attachment 1803743

No where is Off-Grid stated, so if you are meant to register an off-grid system then what do you select from the above.

Also the electricity department confirmed this to me when I went to enquire about AMI meters. If the system is not tied to the grid then it needs no registration.

Edit: Stating an off-grid system must be registered is as rediculous as stating an evacuated tube geyser must be registered purely because it is a solar geyser.

Do you need a engineer to determine if my roof can handle the solar panels?
Do you still need to resister with with Spatial Planning?

The answer is yes to both. Will I end up paying more? I don't know our municipalities are making up rules as they go.

Does your municipality implement "time of use pricing" if so you might end up paying more when you use your power.

Laws needs to be specific, municipalities need to give clear guidance on what they consider off grid to be. because Hybrid systems "with an isolation switch" may or may not require registration depending on local rules. this is based on the documents we have from the municipalities. If the law does not explicitly say evacuated tubes are excluded then it is reasonable for me to assume they are included because laws are strange. If they don't explicitly exclude something then their must be a ruling that will cost someone a **** load of money. I don't want to pay that bill so Eskom and the municipality succeeded in introducing enough doubt that I am considering a very expensive alternative not because I want to but because they refuse to give clear guidance.

I am not going to **** around and find out, I rather build a solar system on a trailer and know that I am in the clear then take any risk that can cost me thousands.

 

[acidrain]

Do you need a engineer to determine if my roof can handle the solar panels?
Do you still need to resister with with Spatial Planning?

The answer is yes to both. Will I end up paying more? I don't know our municipalities are making up rules as they go.

If you need an engineer to determine if your roof can handle the panels then you have bigger issues than worrying whether a 28Kg panel can be held up by your roof.

Installation requires no building plans, and it would be through that process where an engineer would be involved anyways.

Spatial planning gets involved when you need approval on building works. A solar panel on a roof does not require building plans so I don't know where you see you need to register with spatial planning.

Does your municipality implement "time of use pricing" if so you might end up paying more when you use your power.

Laws needs to be specific, municipalities need to give clear guidance on what they consider off grid to be. because Hybrid systems "with an isolation switch" may or may not require registration depending on local rules. this is based on the documents we have from the municipalities. If the law does not explicitly say evacuated tubes are excluded then it is reasonable for me to assume they are included because laws are strange. If they don't explicitly exclude something then their must be a ruling that will cost someone a **** load of money. I don't want to pay that bill so Eskom and the municipality succeeded in introducing enough doubt that I am considering a very expensive alternative not because I want to but because they refuse to give clear guidance.

I am not going to **** around and find out, I rather build a solar system on a trailer and know that I am in the clear then take any risk that can cost me thousands.

Off-grid is quite clear. Zero connection or potential connection to the grid. The problem is people try to overcomplicate something that is not complicated.

The enforcement of law can only be done on something that has been specified, so going back to the evacuated tube, since it is not specified, it is not enforceable. To have to go and explicitly exclude every thing that is not included is a silly game.

 

[Jackal46]

If you need an engineer to determine if your roof can handle the panels then you have bigger issues than worrying whether a 28Kg panel can be held up by your roof.

Installation requires no building plans, and it would be through that process where an engineer would be involved anyways.

Spatial planning gets involved when you need approval on building works. A solar panel on a roof does not require building plans so I don't know where you see you need to register with spatial planning.

Off-grid is quite clear. Zero connection or potential connection to the grid. The problem is people try to overcomplicate something that is not complicated.

The enforcement of law can only be done on something that has been specified, so going back to the evacuated tube, since it is not specified, it is not enforceable. To have to go and explicitly exclude every thing that is not included is a silly game.

My house is almost a 100 years old it has more problems then a nun missing her period. Thanks but no thanks.

 

[ghaye]

My house is almost a 100 years old it has more problems then a nun missing her period. Thanks but no thanks.

Then the roof is probably well overdesigned.

 

[People Power]

Once again, this was already done in CPT and is now somehow magically being dreamt up after the DA joined the DANC GNU-GNU. They need to get their cash back from solar owners. Therefor they need all systems to be registered. Therefor they can not allow inverters that can`t feed in to be installed because these do not require registration by law. Therefor ban this type of inverter to enforce registration, so that they can get the AWOL cash cows to pay up again. This was already done by the DA in CPT, and I was told by the little Eskom defenders that I was mad to suggest that this will be rolled out nationally. Vavi DA socialism! AmanDA!

 

[Benedict A55h0le not]

They don't need registration for your examples, and anyone who says they do doesn't know what the requirements are.

As an example, here is a snip from one of the sections on the application.
View attachment 1803743

No where is Off-Grid stated, so if you are meant to register an off-grid system then what do you select from the above.

Also the electricity department confirmed this to me when I went to enquire about AMI meters. If the system is not tied to the grid then it needs no registration.

Edit: Stating an off-grid system must be registered is as rediculous as stating an evacuated tube geyser must be registered purely because it is a solar geyser.

They require registration of all fixed pv panels capable of a certain wattage. How will they know if it is off-grid or hybrid otherwise? They are taking aerial photos to catch unregistered systems. It is also needed for solar tax. According to socialism you need to keep paying for Eskom even if you do not use them, just like with SABC, but SABC is not on the rates & taxes bill (yet), and Eskom is, so there is no avoiding that.

 

[Jackal46]

They require registration of all fixed pv panels capable of a certain wattage. How will they know if it is off-grid or hybrid otherwise? They are taking aerial photos to catch unregistered systems. It is also needed for solar tax. According to socialism you need to keep paying for Eskom even if you do not use them, just like with SABC, but SABC is not on the rates & taxes bill (yet), and Eskom is, so there is no avoiding that.

Not worth it, decided against solar, or any kind of power generation. Managed to grab my oldest a good laptop. We tested it and for studies it hold 4 hours. Got one of these 12V to 220V Car Power Inverter - 300W So my oldest can recharge laptop in car.

Problem solved. Solar can go to hell along with all its regulations and whatever it is they want to dream up next. Got the gas contractor in. We will be moving as much of the house as we can to gas. For lights I am thinking Rechargeable LED Desk Lamp with Lithium Battery & Soft Tones - White two for each room gives total of 6 hours that is more then enough for homework.

We don't need TV or computer games 24/7 so when there is power we will use what we have, when there is not so be it.

Now the local DA spy can sleep easy and yes he is on this forum. Hi buddy

 

[Bliksis]

Once again, this was already done in CPT and is now somehow magically being dreamt up after the DA joined the DANC GNU-GNU. They need to get their cash back from solar owners. Therefor they need all systems to be registered. Therefor they can not allow inverters that can`t feed in to be installed because these do not require registration by law. Therefor ban this type of inverter to enforce registration, so that they can get the AWOL cash cows to pay up again. This was already done by the DA in CPT, and I was told by the little Eskom defenders that I was mad to suggest that this will be rolled out nationally. Vavi DA socialism! AmanDA!

I hope the DANC GNU magically dreams up things that work, like Cape Town's water supply. LOL