The Battery Thread (Solar / Inverter)

[Neuk_]

Apart from some Kodak inverters (I'm told), I believe none of the above inverters can blend power seamlessly. Things might have changed, but this is based on my research from early last year. To get seamless blending you're looking at 5kVA inverters in the R25k+ range, so there is a case to be made for 'brand obsession'

Our 'little' Victron MultiPlus I 3kVa blends power from mains, battery and solar seamlessly, one of the reasons I wasn't too worried when my fiancé bought it.

 

[TheChamp]

Apart from some Kodak inverters (I'm told), I believe none of the above inverters can blend power seamlessly. Things might have changed, but this is based on my research from early last year. To get seamless blending you're looking at 5kVA inverters in the R25k+ range, so there is a case to be made for 'brand obsession'

The Axpert King can blend AC and Solar, I assume the King version from all the others can.

 

[Priapus]

They are, none of them does anything extra above the other, they all have 4000 to 5000W single mppt, can be paralleled for 6 to 9 units, you can either get power through a combination of battery +solar, battery+mains but they can't blend mains and solar, unless you get the much more expensive type.

If you have seen one you have seen them all, even the programming is the same and I pretty sure someone who can repair an Axpert can repair all of them.

They don't blend AC at all, unless its the King version. So, I can blend PV + Battery, only. The Kodak is the battery one out of them all. They all have variant degrees of hardware differences. So no, they're not 100% identical.

I have the Kodak version, non king one as I didn't care much for blending mains + PV / Battery. Also the King has a constant load of 200w, which I didn't want.

 

[TheChamp]

They don't blend AC at all, unless its the King version. So, I can blend PV + Battery, only. The Kodak is the battery one out of them all. They all have variant degrees of hardware differences. So no, they're not 100% identical.

I have the Kodak version, non king one as I didn't care much for blending mains + PV / Battery. Also the King has a constant load of 200w, which I didn't want.

Which Kodak is the better one, compared to what and why is it better?

 

[Speedster]

Apart from some Kodak inverters (I'm told), I believe none of the above inverters can blend power seamlessly. Things might have changed, but this is based on my research from early last year. To get seamless blending you're looking at 5kVA inverters in the R25k+ range, so there is a case to be made for 'brand obsession'

Sunsynk 5kw is R20k. And it blends.

 

[Gielie01]

Which Kodak is the better one, compared to what and why is it better?

Small hardware and firmware changes within the "PIP" range of inverters and clones. The kodak MKSII that both @Tander and I use for one seems to have kept the Neutral Earth bonding relay that was removed on some PIP/Axpert models and clones.

 

[Gielie01]

What specific info are you looking for regarding the Axperts? They are just inverters and they do what they claim to do in the spec sheet, nothing more nothing less.

This is the best statement about the PIP inverters one can make. You need a basic understanding of your needs and requirements to make the best informed decision possible. For me, the "axpert" serves all my needs.

 

[TheChamp]

Small hardware and firmware changes within the "PIP" range of inverters and clones. The kodak MKSII that both @Tander and I use for one seems to have kept the Neutral Earth bonding relay that was removed on some PIP/Axpert models and clones.

What's the advantage of the neutral earth bonding?

 

[AxField]

Sunsynk 5kw is R20k. And it blends.

Ah, pricing has come down since I looked then. At the time the Sunsynk was more expensive.

 

[AxField]

The Axpert King can blend AC and Solar, I assume the King version from all the others can.

I was referring to the Kodak King, I'm not aware of the other Axpert (PIP) type inverters that can do blending. They generally more expensive as well.

 

[Speedster]

This is the best statement about the PIP inverters one can make. You need a basic understanding of your needs and requirements to make the best informed decision possible. For me, the "axpert" serves all my needs.

I've heard really good things about the sunsynks, and it seems these Axperts just work. I'm looking to buy within the next month or so, so am asking questions all round. Does yours have an aux output or something to this effect where I'd be able to hook up a pool pump / geyser if there is excess solar?

 

[AxField]

What's the advantage of the neutral earth bonding?

If the grid falls away, you want the inverter's output Neutral to bond to earth (and only when the grid falls away, not when it's present). Failing this, you could have a scenario where there's a floating Neutral that's not referenced to earth, compromising the Earth Leakage Breaker's ability to do its job

 

[Gielie01]

If the grid falls away, you want the inverter's output Neutral to bond to earth (and only when the grid falls away, not when it's present). Failing this, you could have a scenario where there's a floating Neutral that's not referenced to earth, compromising the Earth Leakage Breaker's ability to do its job

Precisely this, having a permanent bond between the inverter neutral and earth would also not comply to SANS standards as you are not allowed a double earth neutral bond, and typically they are done at the feed into your property.

 

[buyeye]

I've heard really good things about the sunsynks, and it seems these Axperts just work. I'm looking to buy within the next month or so, so am asking questions all round. Does yours have an aux output or something to this effect where I'd be able to hook up a pool pump / geyser if there is excess solar?

Most of the time the problem is budget , of we all had limitless budgets we would have a tesla model s a powerwall with a tesla solar roof.

There are good options in 15k-20k range ,the deye/ sunsynk 5kw being one of the best.

But the deye/ sunsynk 8,8kw at R34k if you can afford 8kw of panels and 20kw lithium batteries would be my choice as you could connect your entire house including geyser and an induction stove.

 

[jezzad]

So for interest sake just had a quote from north face solar.

Guys seem super clued up and attached a device to measure my usage over a couple days. After that the provided the below costs.

• 5kw inverter (sun sync) - R 24k
• 10 panels - Canadian solar R1728
• Installation - R18k
• 10.2kw lithium battery - R 43k

Total with ancillaries - R160k

I use on average 16kwh daily but want additional headroom for the future (thus 5kw inverter)

Thoughts?

Edit - quote attached

 

[Speedster]

So for interest sake just had a quote from north face solar.

Guys seem super clued up and attached a device to measure my usage over a couple days. After that the provided the below costs.

• 5kw inverter (sun sync) - R 24k
• 10 panels - Canadian solar R1728
• Installation - R18k
• 102kw lithium battery - R 43k

Total with ancillaries - R160k

I use on average 16kwh daily but want additional headroom for the future (thus 5kw inverter)

Thoughts?

That is a LOT of battery.

Edit: also, how does that come to R160k?

 

[AchmatK]

So for interest sake just had a quote from north face solar.

Guys seem super clued up and attached a device to measure my usage over a couple days. After that the provided the below costs.

• 5kw inverter (sun sync) - R 24k
• 10 panels - Canadian solar R1728
• Installation - R18k
• 102kw lithium battery - R 43k

Total with ancillaries - R160k

I use on average 16kwh daily but want additional headroom for the future (thus 5kw inverter)

Thoughts?

Probably a typo but it would be 10.2kWh of batteries.

That's a decent quote. My mostly self install set me back R200k with 8kw sunsynk, 28 x 305w panels and 3 x 3.5kw pylontech batteries.

 

[AchmatK]

Most of the time the problem is budget , of we all had limitless budgets we would have a tesla model s a powerwall with a tesla solar roof.

There are good options in 15k-20k range ,the deye/ sunsynk 5kw being one of the best.

But the deye/ sunsynk 8,8kw at R34k if you can afford 8kw of panels and 20kw lithium batteries would be my choice as you could connect your entire house including geyser and an induction stove.

I have the 8kw setup. It can in fact take 10.5kw of solar panel so I'm looking at adding a further 2kw is solar to my current setup before winter arrives. Only thing I short is the lithium of which I only currently have 10.5kwh and hoping to increase this as savings starts to materialise. Already at R18k savings since commissioning the system.

 

[Tun@]

Probably a typo but it would be 10.2kWh of batteries.

Seems a bit cheap tho don't it?
3 x 3.5 Pylontech (10.5kWh) got to be at least 60k unless price has dropped or there's some other cheaper alternative around?

 

[Speedster]

I have the 8kw setup. It can in fact take 10.5kw of solar panel so I'm looking at adding a further 2kw is solar to my current setup before winter arrives. Only thing I short is the lithium of which I only currently have 10.5kwh and hoping to increase this as savings starts to materialise. Already at R18k savings since commissioning the system.

How are you calculating the savings? Simple difference between historical and current electricity bill?