South Africa's rooftop solar explosion

Paul_S said:
Yip, I have a 9kVA genny too but never use it. I used it a lot during 2022 and then realised that the cost of fuel would quickly outweight the cost of a solar system.
Click to expand...
Should consider converting it to LPG so your fuel doesn't turn stale and is also cheaper to run apparently.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
So why wait for the inevitable and run on fuel for 7 days, when he can get it connected now and just use it to charge the batteries when it does happen...
Click to expand...
This is what I ended up doing, cost me an extra R5k for the cables and time, but thankfully it was done when we were out for 2 days, the 15 days after weren't as bad for us as others.
Plus last week when we were off for 30+ hours thanks to the tree falling on the line, I could run the gennie have a nice hot shower in the morning.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
So why wait for the inevitable and run on fuel for 7 days, when he can get it connected now and just use it to charge the batteries when it does happen...
Click to expand...
The genny is already connected. It's just that the grid is cheaper to charge the batteries than the genny.
 
leon.davibe said:
Customs/imports

Nrcs reporting
Click to expand...
Failed substations, failed mini subs, areas down for days/weeks... Plus how do you distinguish between residential vs commercial in the same area?
 
Lupus said:
Failed substations, failed mini subs, areas down for days/weeks... Plus how do you distinguish between residential vs commercial in the same area?
Click to expand...
and the extra load from the squatter camp when its cold.
 
Lupus said:
Plus last week when we were off for 30+ hours thanks to the tree falling on the line, I could run the gennie have a nice hot shower in the morning.
Click to expand...
Did you ever consider a gas geyser as a backup option, and why, or why not?
 
G.A.S said:
Did you ever consider a gas geyser as a backup option, and why, or why not?
Click to expand...
I did, a gas geyser actually doesn't work out any cheaper then an electric geyser when it comes down to it. I've got an electric stove + gas stove for cooking. But when doing the cost analysis of what we spend on electricity to keep the geyser warm vs what it would cost for gas, the electricity at the moment still wins by 100%
 
G.A.S said:
Did you ever consider a gas geyser as a backup option, and why, or why not?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't, purely out of convenience, and having to keep changing gas cylinders.

I already hate calling out people to come do work at home, this would be another annoying phone call that I'd have to make, and ensure that someone is home.

For the one day a year when it's raining and there's a power outage, it's easier to just use a generator. When the gas goes, you're having a cold shower on that day anyway...
 
wingnut771 said:
I'm talking about in the sun hours. For the other times that's what the batteries that are getting cheaper and cheaper are for.

You only have 65% sunny days?
Click to expand...
On average yeah you actually do only really get about 65%
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X