The Battery Thread (Solar / Inverter)

charlieharper

charlieharper

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So we have 4x Omnipower 12V 240Ah lead-acid batteries installed late October 2020.
As discussed on another thread, we noticed it's suddenly not lasting nearly as well as it did in the first 2 months or so.

So our neighbourhood was lucky, we didn't have a single power cut all week despite loadshedding...

This afternoon I decided to run some tests, I swiched off all major appliances at the mains, and switched the solar + eskom off to simulate a night time loadshedding session.
Only things that stayed on was a few important things like wifi routers, 2x tv and a few computers.... it drew about 0.20kwh.

(Normal idle usage in our house with fridges and stuff is around 0.8kwh)

I switched everything off at 13:50 and by 15:10 it was already at 60% and I switched the power back on.

Considering it's lead-acid, you're not suppose to take it down further than 60%.... in which case, it now clearly wouldn't even last a single 2 hour load shedding session.

So yea not even 5 months old and batteries already buggered... Now fighting with installer cause it's suppose to have a year warranty.

To put in perspective.. brand new, the batteries would keep everything powered at 0.8kwh idle during a loadshedding session and it would have dropped to around 75% by the time the loadshedding session ends.
 
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Drager

Drager

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Speedster said:
That's a pretty big battery if you're only wanting to cover a 2 hour load shedding shift. Depending of course on what needs to be powered during LS.

Never heard of the inverter so can't comment on that.
Click to expand...
The inverter appears to be an Axpert rebrand based on this thread. Are they good? Is there an app or web interface to see stats/graphs?

Synapse Inverters

Anyone know / own / worked with these inverters? Seems pretty competitive price wise, similar to Axpert range.
www.4x4community.co.za

While I'll be leaving the geyser on grid the stove will be on the inverter so I can use it for 20 minutes to make a pizza (3000W x 20m = 1000Wh). I don't want to convert to gas.

I'm not installing solar initially due to budget constraints so the battery will work harder.
 
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Stokstert

Stokstert

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Drager said:
The inverter appears to be an Axpert rebrand based on this thread. Are they good? Is there an app or web interface to see stats/graphs?

Synapse Inverters

Anyone know / own / worked with these inverters? Seems pretty competitive price wise, similar to Axpert range.
www.4x4community.co.za

While I'll be leaving the geyser on grid the stove will be on the inverter so I can use it for 20 minutes to make a pizza (3000W x 20m = 1000kWh). I don't want to convert to gas.

I'm not installing solar initially due to budget constraints so the battery will work harder.
Click to expand...

(3000W x 20m = 1000kWh)? 1000Wh or 1kWh if my math is correct.
 
TheChamp

TheChamp

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Drager said:
The inverter appears to be an Axpert rebrand based on this thread. Are they good? Is there an app or web interface to see stats/graphs?

Synapse Inverters

Anyone know / own / worked with these inverters? Seems pretty competitive price wise, similar to Axpert range.
www.4x4community.co.za

While I'll be leaving the geyser on grid the stove will be on the inverter so I can use it for 20 minutes to make a pizza (3000W x 20m = 1000Wh). I don't want to convert to gas.

I'm not installing solar initially due to budget constraints so the battery will work harder.
Click to expand...
It's a basic inverter that does the basic job of inverting, that's why it's only R11k.
And yes, it's part of the Voltronic/Axpert family.
 
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AchmatK

AchmatK

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Drager said:
Hi all,

Planning on sorting out the load shedding and were quoted on this inverter and battery, what is your opinion on these products?

Synapse 5.0+ (Hybrid Inverter 5kW 48V DC, 80A MPPT) - R11,591

Hubble X100-48 (BATTERY 48V LITHIUM (LiFeP04) 4.8KWH) - R29,302
Click to expand...

Hubble Am2 5.5kw is a bigger battery and cheaper as well.

Why the x100 instead of the Am2?
 
Drager

Drager

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Ok, so that quote looks like it's not the right match for me. Could I ask for an inverter+battery recommendation based on this:

1. 500W baseline
2. Add 3000W for a peak of 20min per day during one LS
3. Get through 3 LS of 2h per 24h
4. Not installing solar for v1, if ever
5. Geyser on grid
6. Want an app/graphs
7. Seamless LS handover
 
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T

thehuman

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Drager said:
Ok, so that quote looks like it's not the right match for me. Could I ask for an inverter+battery recommendation based on this:

1. 500W baseline
2. Add 3000W for a peak of 20min per day
3. Get through 3 LS of 2h per 24h
4. Not installing solar for v1, if ever
5. Geyser on grid
6. Want an app/graphs
Click to expand...
iccsoftware.co.za

ICC Pi V4 (Software only) - ICC Software

iccsoftware.co.za iccsoftware.co.za
This should work with the axpert type inverter
Nice read here too

Axpert and Hubble RS232 ports

First time posting, so hope this is the correct spot... I have a question regarding interfacing a Voltronic (VOLTEX rebrand) Axpert 5kva inverter and Hubble 4,8kW lithium battery. Both units have RS232 ports, but no other points of commonality. I would prefer not to rely on voltage measuring alon...
powerforum.co.za
 
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Speedster

Speedster

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Drager said:
Ok, so that quote looks like it's not the right match for me. Could I ask for an inverter+battery recommendation based on this:

1. 500W baseline
2. Add 3000W for a peak of 20min per day
3. Get through 3 LS of 2h per 24h
4. Not installing solar for v1, if ever
5. Geyser on grid
6. Want an app/graphs
Click to expand...
During the loadshedding, is that just the 500W? If so you'll need 1.25kWh effective capacity, make that 2kWh LiFePo4 or 4kWh lead acid.

Personally I'd look at the Pylontech US2000 battery and 3.6kW Sunsynk. If you want seamless handover during LS then you'll need a hybrid inverter, otherwise an off-grid with changeover switch will do.
 
Last edited:
Drager

Drager

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Speedster said:
During the loadshedding, is that just the 500W? If so you'll need 1.25kWh effective capacity, make that 2kWh LiFePo4 or 4kWh lead acid.

Personally I'd look at the Pylontech US2000 battery and 3kW Sunsynk. If you want seamless handover during LS then you'll need a hybrid inverter, otherwise an off-grid with changeover switch will do.
Click to expand...
That is a must, will add to my list.
 
TheChamp

TheChamp

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Drager said:
That is a must, will add to my list.
Click to expand...
Don't worry about it, most inverters have that so it's not really a feature anymore, unless you are shopping at China mall. Even the Synapse that you were quoted for has an automatic switchover.
 
T

thehuman

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Nov 2, 2004
Messages
4,240
Speedster said:
During the loadshedding, is that just the 500W? If so you'll need 1.25kWh effective capacity, make that 2kWh LiFePo4 or 4kWh lead acid.

Personally I'd look at the Pylontech US2000 battery and 3kW Sunsynk. If you want seamless handover during LS then you'll need a hybrid inverter, otherwise an off-grid with changeover switch will do.
Click to expand...
He would like to "grill" a piza for 20 minutes @ 3kw + base load of 500w ( 3.5kw ) 2kWh effective capacity , 5kw sunsync could be better
 
The_Traveller

The_Traveller

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Drager said:
That is a must, will add to my list.
Click to expand...
Using the words of another muppet on this forum, he is talking through his nostrils.

Almost all inverters automatically switch over, with decent transfer time so your electronics won't power off and on.
 
Speedster

Speedster

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thehuman said:
He would like to "grill" a piza for 20 minutes @ 3kw + base load of 500w ( 3.5kw ) 2kWh effective capacity , 5kw sunsync could be better
Click to expand...
5kW is definitely better, but 3.6kW is more budget friendly and should suffice on the specs.
 
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