Ted Lassoes the Sun!

So got on the roof and measured it.

The usable space on garage roof, with me excluding a section because of an overhang, and also about 1 tile from top/bottom, comes to about 4.7m (width) x 5.4m(length)

Using the JA Solar 540w panels as reference. (It appears 640w canadian solar are similar in size) .. I should be able to mount 10 panels as shown below. I exceed the height limit of 5.4m by 30cm (but it would mean the top two panels would be nearly in line with the ridge)


1654952809064.png

I measured the other north facing areas I have (if I don't move existing solar heating panels for pool) and I could squeeze in another 6-9 panels there. (that will be phase 2)

Below are my calculations for MPPT panel sizing in using the link provided. I think I got it right. Coldest our area can be is -3 degrees .. but who knows . With a string size of 8 , we will be within the 450V sweet spot range (for SunSynk 8KVA) on the COLDEST day, but generally the voltage is going to be around 397V

1654956486262.png

Putting in 9 panels on 1 string appears to be the one to go for, but if the temp drops more then -3 degrees - game over.

So then the question considering I have space to put 10:-
Install them in two strings ? (5 per string) ... I don't know what to do on the A calculation, but I assume will be fine. Below specs from the JA Solar 540w

1654956592312.png


My head really hurts doing this !!
 
TedLasso said:
So got on the roof and measured it.

The usable space on garage roof, with me excluding a section because of an overhang, and also about 1 tile from top/bottom, comes to about 4.7m (width) x 5.4m(length)

Using the JA Solar 540w panels as reference. (It appears 640w canadian solar are similar in size) .. I should be able to mount 10 panels as shown below. I exceed the height limit of 5.4m by 30cm (but it would mean the top two panels would be nearly in line with the ridge)


View attachment 1328536

I measured the other north facing areas I have (if I don't move existing solar heating panels for pool) and I could squeeze in another 6-9 panels there. (that will be phase 2)

Below are my calculations for MPPT panel sizing in using the link provided. I think I got it right. Coldest our area can be is -3 degrees .. but who knows . With a string size of 8 , we will be within the 450V sweet spot range (for SunSynk 8KVA) on the COLDEST day, but generally the voltage is going to be around 397V

View attachment 1328556

Putting in 9 panels on 1 string appears to be the one to go for, but if the temp drops more then -3 degrees - game over.

So then the question considering I have space to put 10:-
Install them in two strings ? (5 per string) ... I don't know what to do on the A calculation, but I assume will be fine. Below specs from the JA Solar 540w

View attachment 1328560


My head really hurts doing this !!
Click to expand...
You want to aim for 370v to 390v per string, that is where the 8kw Synsink is the most efficient. I have 8 x 455w Canadian solar per string and hit the 370v on normal sunny days.

10 x 545w panels per string is over doing it, even 9 might be to much. Sorry, I have not read the entire thread, what is your daily usage that you are trying to cover?
 
Well done! Few are as dilligent as you.

That's a small double garage, most are 30m square plus (but you did say that you excluded a section). What type of roof is it? Pitched or flat? IBR or tile?
The only issue with spacing it so closely is that maintenance could be a PITA.

Where are you located that gets -3 degrees?

So with the 540W and very conservative spec. you seem to be able to safely do 8 per MPPT, which means a total of 16 or 8640 kWp after phase 2. You will therefore "waste" 1760W (if you consider the 8K's ability to scale to a max of 10400W). It's not too bad. It's pity that you don't have the space, otherwise you could consider far more panels at lower amperage, and create two strings in parallel per MPPT.

It is clear from this exercise that you will need to source the highest wattage panels that you possibly can.
 
RonSwanson said:
Well done! Few are as dilligent as you.

That's a small double garage, most are 30m square plus (but you did say that you excluded a section). What type of roof is it? Pitched or flat? IBR or tile?
The only issue with spacing it so closely is that maintenance could be a PITA.

Where are you located that gets -3 degrees?

So with the 540W and very conservative spec. you seem to be able to safely do 8 per MPPT, which means a total of 16 or 8640 kWp after phase 2. You will therefore "waste" 1760W (if you consider the 8K's ability to scale to a max of 10400W). It's not too bad. It's pity that you don't have the space, otherwise you could consider far more panels at lower amperage, and create two strings in parallel per MPPT.

It is clear from this exercise that you will need to source the highest wattage panels that you possibly can.
Click to expand...

Thanks @RonSwanson .. I try to live up to your standards (I think yours are pretty high and I like that!)

I am located in Sandton Area and I think the coldest it ever got is -3 (thumbsucking) hence according to your previous post (for doing calcs), if NoCT of is 44 degrees and coldest day is -3 then vOC on coldest day is (44-(-3)) = 47 ...

This is the roof. I am excluding that entire section on the left where gutter and ridge from other roof can cause permanent shading issues.


1655110651461.png

Waiting for Powerforum store to confirm if they can source 640w panels and if so, then doing those calcs again and then choosing panels
 
TedLasso said:
I am located in Sandton Area and I think the coldest it ever got is -3 (thumbsucking) hence according to your previous post (for doing calcs), if NoCT of is 44 degrees and coldest day is -3 then vOC on coldest day is (44-(-3)) = 47 ...
Click to expand...
OK, so the coldest day is -3, that's a delta of 48 degrees (NOCT for the panel is at 45 degrees).
If VoC at STC is 49.6V, and Temp Coefficient is -0.275%/degree C, then theoretically 49.6 * 0.00275 = 0.1364 (voltage change for every degree celsius). Multiply by our delta and you will get 48 * 0.1364 = 6.5472 volts extra for every panel. In a string of eight panels, this will be 8 * 6.5472 = 52.377V, add that to the string at STC (49.6 * 8 = 396.8 for a total of 449.77 volts at -3 degrees. So yes it is safe. I suspectbthat you got a slightly different answer because you used NOCT at 44 degrees.

TedLasso said:
Waiting for Powerforum store to confirm if they can source 640w panels
Click to expand...
And if they can, maybe get some with IsC closer to 13A.
 
Really curious to see how accurate this is going to be ... from Home assistant

Sized at 8x 545wp at 26 degrees declination and facing north

1655277772534.png
 
TedLasso said:
Really curious to see how accurate this is going to be ... from Home assistant

Sized at 8x 545wp at 26 degrees declination and facing north

View attachment 1330646
Click to expand...
my solar forecast was pretty accurate in Summer but winter seems to be off quite a bit. estimate sits around 45kw for the day and been averaging 31/34 kw daily (18x535w JA solar panels)
 
Tinuva said:
I use solcast, its more accurate in my experience
Click to expand...
Will be checking it out soon.

In other good news:- I should be getting most of my stuff by end of next week. Rails hooks and screws for solar panels only come end of July but at least I can start the install in the meantime.

CC: @RonSwanson :- I just figured out what the kryptonite of PFS is .. their email system or email management.

I continued to use the email thread I used for quotes and stuff (which incl payment and follow up last weekend ). The subject was: ' quote'. Today I replied again but changed subject to: 'follow up on order'

Immediately got a reply via telephone call. Andre had a mini heart attack. My order had been forgotten about, so it's now all placed incl a hubble battery except for rail hooks and screws . I could have had half of it this week .

So onwards we go!
 
TedLasso said:
Will be checking it out soon.

In other good news:- I should be getting most of my stuff by end of next week. Rails hooks and screws for solar panels only come end of July but at least I can start the install in the meantime.

CC: @RonSwanson :- I just figured out what the kryptonite of PFS is .. their email system or email management.

I continued to use the email thread I used for quotes and stuff (which incl payment and follow up last weekend ). The subject was: ' quote'. Today I replied again but changed subject to: 'follow up on order'

Immediately got a reply via telephone call. Andre had a mini heart attack. My order had been forgotten about, so it's now all placed incl a hubble battery except for rail hooks and screws . I could have had half of it this week .

So onwards we go!
Click to expand...
Someone get them a decent CRM system
 
TedLasso said:
Will be checking it out soon.

In other good news:- I should be getting most of my stuff by end of next week. Rails hooks and screws for solar panels only come end of July but at least I can start the install in the meantime.

CC: @RonSwanson :- I just figured out what the kryptonite of PFS is .. their email system or email management.

I continued to use the email thread I used for quotes and stuff (which incl payment and follow up last weekend ). The subject was: ' quote'. Today I replied again but changed subject to: 'follow up on order'

Immediately got a reply via telephone call. Andre had a mini heart attack. My order had been forgotten about, so it's now all placed incl a hubble battery except for rail hooks and screws . I could have had half of it this week .

So onwards we go!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I send them a Whatsapp as well which works a lot better.
 
TedLasso said:
Will be checking it out soon.

In other good news:- I should be getting most of my stuff by end of next week. Rails hooks and screws for solar panels only come end of July but at least I can start the install in the meantime.

CC: @RonSwanson :- I just figured out what the kryptonite of PFS is .. their email system or email management.

I continued to use the email thread I used for quotes and stuff (which incl payment and follow up last weekend ). The subject was: ' quote'. Today I replied again but changed subject to: 'follow up on order'

Immediately got a reply via telephone call. Andre had a mini heart attack. My order had been forgotten about, so it's now all placed incl a hubble battery except for rail hooks and screws . I could have had half of it this week .

So onwards we go!
Click to expand...

I am sorry to hear about your experience, Ted.

Looks like the Powerforumstore's MD is getting involved in the backlogs:

powerforum.co.za

Hubble battery delivery delay.

powerforum.co.za powerforum.co.za
 
Got my inverter, solar panels and all cabling today :) Some parts for solar mounting only coming end of July.

But ... no news on the Hubble as yet :( :( :(

Still crossing fingers I was included in that order Hubble allocated for PFS or else all of this is just going to be sad eye candy until battery appears. Saw this on PFS yesterday ... that you can't actually use an inverter without a battery attached

Synsynk inverters without batteries.

Super excited as my new system is in process of being installed. 23 Ja Solar 455w panels feeding through 3 strings to 3 Sunsynk 5kw hybrid inverters in parallel. This will power 3 Hubble 5.5kw batteries. Yay! I exclaimed to my installer. I will soon be out of the clutches of big bad Eskom. Not so...
powerforum.co.za powerforum.co.za
 
TedLasso said:
Got my inverter, solar panels and all cabling today :) Some parts for solar mounting only coming end of July.

But ... no news on the Hubble as yet :( :( :(

Still crossing fingers I was included in that order Hubble allocated for PFS or else all of this is just going to be sad eye candy until battery appears. Saw this on PFS yesterday ... that you can't actually use an inverter without a battery attached

Synsynk inverters without batteries.

Super excited as my new system is in process of being installed. 23 Ja Solar 455w panels feeding through 3 strings to 3 Sunsynk 5kw hybrid inverters in parallel. This will power 3 Hubble 5.5kw batteries. Yay! I exclaimed to my installer. I will soon be out of the clutches of big bad Eskom. Not so...
powerforum.co.za powerforum.co.za
Click to expand...
Do you not have 4 old LA's?
 
Tinuva said:
I use solcast, its more accurate in my experience
Click to expand...

Sorry for late reply. You had mentioned it in the HA forum too and I setup an account that day (a month or so ago)

For comparison sake (all theoretical)
Forecast Solar
1656597963707.png

Solcast
1656597983404.png
 
So since Hubble AM-2s are rarer to find than a hen's teeth currently:-

I am in two minds:-

1. Ask PFS to cancel the Hubble and I go for either a Pylontech (https://powerforum-store.co.za/coll.../pylon-up5000-4-8kwh-li-ion-solar-battery-48v) (yes 0.5C) <-- It was the dream battery since @AchmatK started his thread

2. Or what the thoughts on this? I saw this as the local ACDC today being sold for about R24.3K

You searched for BN52V-100-5.2 - BlueNova

www.bluenova.co.za www.bluenova.co.za

What stood out is 2C - it said 100Ah@2C , 5200Wh <-
10 Year warranty

I can buy one at ACDC right now which means I can start project but then I would be locked in to expanding system with them. Problem is while I think their smaller batteries are rated well - unsure of this one and if it works well with SunSynk. Will also check PowerForum later to see if anyone has posted anything about them
 
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