We finally want to pull the trigger & go Solar

[BLG]

Hi everyone, we have been saving what we can here and there - yes its been a long wait and we think we have enough to start getting a few things in order while we put a bit more away to prepare for installation fees and the likes.

Looking at some pricing, things seem to have come down somewhat. Can someone on here vouch for the service to be expected by SolarWarehouseSA - does this deal look legit, or one of those "Too good to be true, stay away" type deals?

There is a similar package with another supplier that includes panels but I am hesitant as there are several unhappy reviews (Ultra Solar City).

The system we are looking at building is minimum 2 Batteries, 8Kw Hybrid Inverter (potentially a 6Kw, but preferably 8Kw - The Panels we are happy to look at very few initially (maybe 4 or so) and can add on later to reduce initial costs)

 

[Zophos]

Review Companies Online | Customer Service & Company Ratings | hellopeter.com

www.hellopeter.com

 

[TheChamp]

I have bought plenty of times from Solar Warehouse with no issues, delivery is always done in 2 to 3 days. If you are worried it looks like they have a physical warehouse, you can always go and buy directly.

 

[B-1]

Solar warehouse seems to be without solar panels and a load shedding setup only so you would need to add panels.

 

[Tomtomtom]

The system we are looking at building is minimum 2 Batteries, 8Kw Hybrid Inverter (potentially a 6Kw, but preferably 8Kw - The Panels we are happy to look at very few initially (maybe 4 or so) and can add on later to reduce initial costs)

I don't understand this at all. Are you still loadshedding where you are? If not, then panels are by far the highest priority.

Batteries are a grudge to bridge time of generation and time of use mismatch, and the inverter serves no purpose except making the DC compatible with your appliances.

You get best ROI if you go incrementally, starting with your geyser, (a) because it consumes most of your energy and (b) because you don't need an inverter for it. Get a Geyserwise or INGE type MPPT and 2 to 4 panels and with R10k invested you will have paid that off in 3 years or less.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Voltex has even better deals: https://www.voltex.co.za/category/solar-and-backup-power/subcategory/solar-kits-and-combos

These are using Sunsynk/Hubble instead of the Deye/Dyness ones, much of a muchness though.

 

[Sopbeen]

These are using Sunsynk/Hubble instead of the Deye/Dyness ones, much of a muchness though.

Until you have problems with your Hubble batts and they give you the run around. They still seem to be doing that according to powerforum users. Wouldn't touch that kak with a 10 foot pole.

If you're installing a Deye inverter, you might as well get Deye batteries for the extended warranty.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Until you have problems with your Hubble batts and they give you the run around. They still seem to be doing that according to powerforum users. Wouldn't touch that kak with a 10 foot pole.

If you're installing a Deye inverter, you might as well get Deye batteries for the extended warranty.

I was under the impression that Hubble were pretty good with after sales - I don't own any and haven't researched this just what I gleaned from solar discussions on this forum.

 

[SauRoNZA]

The system we are looking at building is minimum 2 Batteries, 8Kw Hybrid Inverter (potentially a 6Kw, but preferably 8Kw - The Panels we are happy to look at very few initially (maybe 4 or so) and can add on later to reduce initial costs)

This makes no sense whatsoever because 1 you will be paying to charge those batteries.

Two the most expensive installation IS the solar panels so to add more later is going to cost you a fortune.

You do AS MUCH SOLAR AS YOU CAN up front and rather leave the battery/ies as an upgrade.

Where's the logic in buying a 8kW inverter and then feeding it 2kW from solar?



That should just about max out each MPPT per string...can probably do 9 on each string but then you are over the inverter limit anyway and it will trim off the excess but it certainly won't hurt.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Voltex has even better deals: https://www.voltex.co.za/category/solar-and-backup-power/subcategory/solar-kits-and-combos

These are using Sunsynk/Hubble instead of the Deye/Dyness ones, much of a muchness though.

View attachment 1905523

Yeah that second last one is the only sensible thing to do.

Voltex

www.voltex.co.za

I would just swop the Hubbles for a Dyness power box...but their price is outrageous for that so would buy it somewhere else and save almost 10k.

 

[Sopbeen]

This makes no sense whatsoever because 1 you will be paying to charge those batteries.

Two the most expensive installation IS the solar panels so to add more later is going to cost you a fortune.

You do AS MUCH SOLAR AS YOU CAN up front and rather leave the battery/ies as an upgrade.

Where's the logic in buying a 8kW inverter and then feeding it 2kW from solar?

View attachment 1905526

That should just about max out each MPPT per string...can probably do 9 on each string but then you are over the inverter limit anyway and it will trim off the excess but it certainly won't hurt.

Agree with your logic. Installations are expensive and if you add more panels they will have to redo the CoC, which adds more cost.

You can get the Deye 16kwh batts for R32-34k, which is more than R500 cheaper per kwh storage compared to the dyness 10kwh you listed.

I was under the impression that Hubble were pretty good with after sales - I don't own any and haven't researched this just what I gleaned from solar discussions on this forum.

Perhaps they have been good for some people... but according to powerforum some have had endless issues with certain batches and they sometimes deny warranty claims for reasons that don't even make sense. Here's a recent post of the type of nonsense you have to deal with: https://powerforum.co.za/topic/34032-hubble-am2-bulging-batteries/

 

[SauRoNZA]

Agree with your logic. Installations are expensive and if you add more panels they will have to redo the CoC, which adds more cost.

You can get the Deye 16kwh batts for R32-34k, which is more than R500 cheaper per kwh storage compared to the dyness 10kwh you listed.


Perhaps they have been good for some people... but according to powerforum some have had endless issues with certain batches and they sometimes deny warranty claims for reasons that don't even make sense. Here's a recent post of the type of nonsense you have to deal with: https://powerforum.co.za/topic/34032-hubble-am2-bulging-batteries/

What’s the warranty on those Deye batteries?

I haven’t seen them but there is a premium to be paid for the Dyness Powerbox because it’s a sealed/closed unit setup.

 

[BLG]

I don't understand this at all. Are you still loadshedding where you are? If not, then panels are by far the highest priority.

Batteries are a grudge to bridge time of generation and time of use mismatch, and the inverter serves no purpose except making the DC compatible with your appliances.

You get best ROI if you go incrementally, starting with your geyser, (a) because it consumes most of your energy and (b) because you don't need an inverter for it. Get a Geyserwise or INGE type MPPT and 2 to 4 panels and with R10k invested you will have paid that off in 3 years or less.

Yes that makes sense - no we haven't seen load shedding in some time, however had a few 3 days outages due to the usual Substations tripping and blowing things up elsewhere which takes days to resolve. We have a Gennie for backup but not very cost effective to run for very long and and also can't run it all night for obvious reasons

 

[BLG]

This makes no sense whatsoever because 1 you will be paying to charge those batteries.

Two the most expensive installation IS the solar panels so to add more later is going to cost you a fortune.

You do AS MUCH SOLAR AS YOU CAN up front and rather leave the battery/ies as an upgrade.

Where's the logic in buying a 8kW inverter and then feeding it 2kW from solar?

View attachment 1905526

That should just about max out each MPPT per string...can probably do 9 on each string but then you are over the inverter limit anyway and it will trim off the excess but it certainly won't hurt.

Thanks for the advise and it makes sense how you describe it - to put it bluntly there is no "logic" in it at the moment, we know nothing about going this route so your advise is appreciated (we learnt the hard way when buying our Generator "bigger" isn't always "better" and want to avoid making silly mistakes, this is something we are working hard towards and don't have the luxury of splashing out

 

[Sopbeen]

What’s the warranty on those Deye batteries?

I haven’t seen them but there is a premium to be paid for the Dyness Powerbox because it’s a sealed/closed unit setup.

5 year standard warranty, 10 year extended warranty

They come on wheels (and are incredibly heavy, lawd), but include stacking brackets and wall mounting rails. So its a complete kit.

 

[BLG]

I don't understand this at all. Are you still loadshedding where you are? If not, then panels are by far the highest priority.

Batteries are a grudge to bridge time of generation and time of use mismatch, and the inverter serves no purpose except making the DC compatible with your appliances.

You get best ROI if you go incrementally, starting with your geyser, (a) because it consumes most of your energy and (b) because you don't need an inverter for it. Get a Geyserwise or INGE type MPPT and 2 to 4 panels and with R10k invested you will have paid that off in 3 years or less.

Let's put it this way - will a system with let's say 10 to 12 panels and a single 5kw battery see us through the night, and into the next day where the Solar will again provide sufficient power to charge up the single 5kw battery and power a few items while doing so? That would be ideal and shift the priority to spending on panels over batteries which can be scaled out later if required ( i am hoping a COC isn't required everytime someone wants to add a second or third battery?).

 

[SauRoNZA]

Thanks for the advise and it makes sense how you describe it - to put it bluntly there is no "logic" in it at the moment, we know nothing about going this route so your advise is appreciated (we learnt the hard way when buying our Generator "bigger" isn't always "better" and want to avoid making silly mistakes, this is something we are working hard towards and don't have the luxury of splashing out

Yeah like was said above you will be paying for a new COC when you add panels and getting the guys out to book time to come do the work etc is where the real cost comes in.

So I would either say save your money longer so you can do it all at once, or just compromise on the batteries and add another one later.

Also bear in mind the solar will help you save the money so putting what you have in there makes sense because then your electricity becomes free most days and that's money you can put away to upgrading the batteries.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Let's put it this way - will a system with let's say 10 to 12 panels and a single 5kw battery see us through the night, and into the next day where the Solar will again provide sufficient power to charge up the single 5kw battery and power a few items while doing so? That would be ideal and shift the priority to spending on panels over batteries which can be scaled out later if required ( i am hoping a COC isn't required everytime someone wants to add a second or third battery?).

This all depends on what you are running at night and a universal answer simply isn't possible.

My baseline at night is anywhere from 400W-800W and I have 20kWh of battery and just barely make it when trying.

BUT I run 2 x Fridges and a Deep Freezer along with an enterprise network stack and a server as well as my Geyser through the inverter and while the geyser turns off at 19:30 that is still eating a lot of battery this time of year.

What you should rather ask is what electricity you are using at the moment you could shift to day time when it's all free. Stuff like running your dishwasher at 10:00 in the morning instead of overnight etc.

My opinion is that you shouldn't worry too much now about being "Eskom free" the battery is there to save you during load shedding, later down the line you can add more batteries to reduce your reliance on Eskom.

And no, COC doesn't care about the batteries just the panels.

 

[vastrap1]

Let's put it this way - will a system with let's say 10 to 12 panels and a single 5kw battery see us through the night, and into the next day where the Solar will again provide sufficient power to charge up the single 5kw battery and power a few items while doing so? That would be ideal and shift the priority to spending on panels over batteries which can be scaled out later if required ( i am hoping a COC isn't required everytime someone wants to add a second or third battery?).

My 2 cents, I agree, put at least 12 panels on from the start and get that done.
Adding a second battery is plug and play diy imo.
Don't make same mistake as me, and oversize the inverter (ie 8+kw)..
Get at least a 10kwh battery for your use case as I read it.

 

[SauRoNZA]

5 year standard warranty, 10 year extended warranty

They come on wheels (and are incredibly heavy, lawd), but include stacking brackets and wall mounting rails. So its a complete kit.

Yeah all depends what you want really.

I don't love the open connector nature of my current Dyness and pretty much every other lower powered battery setup. I would happily pay more for the sealed Powerbox option that is not only neater looking but safer and above all else more waterproof.