The Battery Thread (Solar / Inverter)

[AchmatK]

This is what a normal day for me looks like with most of the excess pv feeding into the grid.

 

[Snyper564]

I'm also 1 battery away from being able to get through the night if bonuses are good i'll get a 9.6kWh but if not i'll get a 4.8. Will also work to reduce base load - there are some guzzler lights

Yeah the third battery for us was the last minute purchase decision. It made the difference between almost making it and making it. If you can afford it get it!

 

[Koosvanwyk]

What do you have to pay CoCT?

It is about R8k to have the meter installed and a 3-4 month application process. In the case of Cape Town the amount that the city will pay you is limited to your bill (ie the electricity you purchased). The net has to be in favour of CoCT

 

[wingnut771]

It is about R8k to have the meter installed and a 3-4 month application process. In the case of Cape Town the amount that the city will pay you is limited to your bill (ie the electricity you purchased). The net has to be in favour of CoCT

@AchmatK has a spinning disk meter and hasn't registered akaik. I assume his meter hasn't ticked over much either since the install so I find it strange that they cut him off for not paying the 20 units (R50)?

 

[AchmatK]

@AchmatK has a spinning disk meter and hasn't registered akaik. I assume his meter hasn't ticked over much either since the install so I find it strange that they cut him off for not paying the 20 units (R50)?

I missed 3 months payments on the rates bill. Life just happened and my calendar reminders somehow stopped so had to set the reminders again.

My municipal account is due on the 15th every month and the only payment not part of my normal month end payments.

 

[Crush]

If only government saw the opportunity that this problem can bring them with getting all the home excess pv to feed into the grid. They could use this to run the pumps for the pumped storage dams during the day or other needs.

There's a **** load of domestic pv on private homes and office parks going to waste during the middle of the when batteries are full.

Absolutely! Myself and a few friends all have the same issue. No/low production after midday because of nowhere to put it. Geyser at 65deg, batteries full... at least CoCT give u the option to register and feed. Over here in Jhb, u can't feed anything in... period!

I have a 4.28kwp array which can product 30kwh easily on a sunny day in spring/summer. But I average around 20-24kwh because of my lower consumption. In winter I generate 18-22kwh but use 50-70kwh. Would love to add a few more panels but doesn't make financial sense for just 2 months of the year when I have spare capacity for 8 months.

 

[Tinuva]

Absolutely! Myself and a few friends all have the same issue. No/low production after midday because of nowhere to put it. Geyser at 65deg, batteries full... at least CoCT give u the option to register and feed. Over here in Jhb, u can't feed anything in... period!

I have a 4.28kwp array which can product 30kwh easily on a sunny day in spring/summer. But I average around 20-24kwh because of my lower consumption. In winter I generate 18-22kwh but use 50-70kwh. Would love to add a few more panels but doesn't make financial sense for just 2 months of the year when I have spare capacity for 8 months.

That CoCT option doesn't really make sense.

1. Over 12 month period you need to use more than you feed to the grid. If you mostly have excess this is a problem point.
2. You still need to fork out R8k-R10k for the specific meter before they allow you to send to the grid.
3. The pricing for feeding back is far lower than using.

Their goal is that they never have to pay you money or owe you money.

Maybe there is something I don't understand but for me the math do not add up, so I opted to not feed back and rather let my inverter idle and cooldown when not needing to invert.

 

[netstrider]

Absolutely! Myself and a few friends all have the same issue. No/low production after midday because of nowhere to put it. Geyser at 65deg, batteries full... at least CoCT give u the option to register and feed. Over here in Jhb, u can't feed anything in... period!

I have a 4.28kwp array which can product 30kwh easily on a sunny day in spring/summer. But I average around 20-24kwh because of my lower consumption. In winter I generate 18-22kwh but use 50-70kwh. Would love to add a few more panels but doesn't make financial sense for just 2 months of the year when I have spare capacity for 8 months.

What happens if you feed back into the grid without consent in Gauteng?

 

[Neuk_]

What happens if you feed back into the grid without consent in Gauteng?

Probably only possible with the old meters, prepaid and smart meters will flag Export Energy, I have seen it happen with our smart meter with just a few watts.

 

[Mzezman]

What happens if you feed back into the grid without consent in Gauteng?

I saw somewhere that they can fine you large amounts - will look for the link.

 

[Crush]

What happens if you feed back into the grid without consent in Gauteng?

Well in my case, the meter is not bi-direcrional. It reads flow but not direction. So if I feed back 5kwh, it will read that as 5kwh's of CONSUMPTION.

 

[netstrider]

Probably only possible with the old meters, prepaid and smart meters will flag Export Energy, I have seen it happen with our smart meter with just a few watts.

So in all of SA it's only CoCT that allows this?

 

[Koosvanwyk]

What happens if you feed back into the grid without consent in Gauteng?

If you feed back into the grid anywhere (without the necessary equiptment installed) I can only assume the consequences to be severe.

What if Eskom/ City turns off power to work on a closeby distribution box and you don't realise it?

 

[Snyper564]

Probably only possible with the old meters, prepaid and smart meters will flag Export Energy, I have seen it happen with our smart meter with just a few watts.

I tested my prepaid meter - it essentially "charges/uses" a unit you feed into the grid.

You essentially pay to feed the grid.

So stopped immediately

 

[Snyper564]

If you feed back into the grid anywhere I can only assume the consequences to be severe.

What if Eskom/ City turns off power to work on a closeby distribution box and you don't realise it?

The inverter can detect this I believe and will stop exporting to the grid same as when loadshedding hits

 

[P924]

If you feed back into the grid anywhere (without the necessary equiptment installed) I can only assume the consequences to be severe.

What if Eskom/ City turns off power to work on a closeby distribution box and you don't realise it?

Any inverter you install in SA that would pass CoC inspection would also have NRS097 certification, which means it has anti-islanding measures in place. (Not all sold has NRS097 certification, so they cannot be installed in any way in a system that can simultaneously be connected to the grid in a legal manner)

 

[RonSwanson]

If you feed back into the grid anywhere (without the necessary equiptment installed) I can only assume the consequences to be severe.

What if Eskom/ City turns off power to work on a closeby distribution box and you don't realise it?

What happened to assuming that all circuits are live before working on it? In the old days the good old City Power electricians used the wet fingers test.

 

[Neuk_]

So in all of SA it's only CoCT that allows this?

I am sure my one manager feeds back in to the grid in Centurion

 

[Neuk_]

If you feed back into the grid anywhere (without the necessary equiptment installed) I can only assume the consequences to be severe.

What if Eskom/ City turns off power to work on a closeby distribution box and you don't realise it?

If you do it without the necessary equipment installed, as you say, you are a complete imbecile.

 

[Koosvanwyk]

The inverter can detect this I believe and will stop exporting to the grid same as when loadshedding hits

My understanding is that the Sunsynk inverters does this, not sure about other models?

I guess the question is, are you willing to take the risk