Loadshedding solutions

[117]

4 minutes ago, TheoG said:

I sold it together with 4x200Ah lead-acid batteries for enough to have a 80% deposit on another LiFePO4 battery , just waiting for stock ...

Ahem... I sold it. 

You're welcome

[TheoG]

9 minutes ago, 117 said:

Ahem... I sold it. 

You're welcome

Thanks Martin, I owe you !

[TheoG]

11 minutes ago, tinmug said:

Thanks. What inverter are you currently running?

It seems that the Axpert, Synerji, Mecer and Kodak inverters are all (barring a few minor differences) the same. And all of them with iffy support ... and have heard of many of them with MPPT failures. Buyer beware. 🙈

I bought a 5kW Lux-Power, very happy with it so far.  The remote manage & monitor is great, work like a charm ...  

[The Ouzo]

So a couple of weeks in with the inverter trolley and we've had a number of load sheds to test it. (although not stage 6 style just yet).

So far the biggest consumer seems to be the HT amp.

The wife loves to have one of the "radio" music channels playing in the room next door while she works. She mentioned the other day that after a 2 hour LS, with Laptop, big screen, HT amp, wifi running the inverter showed 80% battery left when the power came back on. she did say it charged up to 100% pretty quickly but could not give me a time period.

 

Last night power went off at 6, we continued watching TV and when power came back at 8 the inverter had dropped to 90%, but when I checked at 7:00 it was stll showing 100%.

 

Overall pretty satisfied with the unit and its so cool to hear the generators starting up around you yet you've not been interrupted.

[ChrisF]

29 minutes ago, tinmug said:

Thanks. What inverter are you currently running?

It seems that the Axpert, Synerji, Mecer and Kodak inverters are all (barring a few minor differences) the same. And all of them with iffy support ... and have heard of many of them with MPPT failures. Buyer beware. 🙈

 

Which inverters would you recommend - both from a quality and back-up point ?

[TheoG]

Just now, ChrisF said:

 

Which inverters would you recommend - both from a quality and back-up point ?

Lux-Power, Deye, Victron.

In that order getting more expensive from first to last.  Support on all three of these are very good.

[tinmug]

7 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

Which inverters would you recommend - both from a quality and back-up point ?

Victron. 😂 (if you can afford it)

I'm the wrong guy to ask: what I know is only from speaking with installers and much reading on various forums (powerforum.co.za is good place for local info). 

I started with a Kodak inverter; wasn't at all happy with it, then had that pulled off and replaced with a Sunsynk (seems to be rated highly by a number of people) – a lot cheaper than Victron and has appointed agents/official representation in SA. As it turns out I did have a problem, had to work via the Cape Town supplier (which was a joke), but managed to get it all sorted out in the end. Reasonable cost compared with Axpert/Mecer/Kodak etc, QUIET, manufacturer-made app (that's a big one) and very good interface. Plus the ability to shape battery charge throughout a daily cycle (better for the batteries). Construction quality looks good, and doesn't have the horror stories I've heard so much of about other makes. 

 

Edited November 24, 2022 by tinmug

[Madone69]

Greetings to all TheHubbers

Going through all the valuable info here..  advice,comments and everything else needed..

Got quoted on these.... & yes I know an installer will be able to give me what I need to know....but you guys know better😉

1x TBB RiiO Sun 5kva- S Inverter MPPT 48v

1x Greenrich GR-UP5000 lithium battery 

1. What are your opinions/experiences on these items - future plans would possibly include solar panels but not fully off grid 

2. What more would I need for connecting to DB Board ( control chargers, fuses,etc) as just a backup system for now

3. For the future plan - which Solar panels are recommended.

Thanks in advance 

 

 

[NickGM]

On 11/24/2022 at 11:23 AM, tinmug said:

Victron. 😂 (if you can afford it)

I'm the wrong guy to ask: what I know is only from speaking with installers and much reading on various forums (powerforum.co.za is good place for local info). 

I started with a Kodak inverter; wasn't at all happy with it, then had that pulled off and replaced with a Sunsynk (seems to be rated highly by a number of people) – a lot cheaper than Victron and has appointed agents/official representation in SA. As it turns out I did have a problem, had to work via the Cape Town supplier (which was a joke), but managed to get it all sorted out in the end. Reasonable cost compared with Axpert/Mecer/Kodak etc, QUIET, manufacturer-made app (that's a big one) and very good interface. Plus the ability to shape battery charge throughout a daily cycle (better for the batteries). Construction quality looks good, and doesn't have the horror stories I've heard so much of about other makes. 

 

As I understand it Sunsynk and Deye inverters are made in the same factory. Sunsynk have just been customized a bit for the western market but the same internals I believe.

Also spending more time on powerforum.co.za than bikehub these days. 

[tinmug]

@Madone69 You will likely have your DB split between essentials (lights, plugs) and non-essentials (stove, geyser) - this is pretty basic and straightforward to do (or rather: have done). You'll need override switches between DB and inverter (allowing grid feed to inverter, inverter feed to DB etc). Isolator switches between battery and inverter. And that's about it. 

 

Edited November 26, 2022 by tinmug

[tinmug]

1 minute ago, NickGM said:

As I understand it Sunsynk and Deye inverters are made in the same factory. Sunsynk have just been customized a bit for the western market but the same internals I believe.

Also spending more time on powerforum.co.za than bikehub these days. 

Yep, sounds about right. That's why we all want Victron-level stuff. 😉

[Madone69]

6 minutes ago, tinmug said:

@Madone69 You will likely have your DB split between essentials (lights, plugs) and non-essentials (stove, geyser) - this is pretty basic and straightforward to do (or rather: have done). You'll need override switches between DB and inverter (allowing grid feed to inverter, inverter feed to DB etc). Isolator switches between battery and inverter. And that's about it. 

 

Thanks for this....so my bemused face for a 17k connection fee is justified ( DB board is in garage and easily accessible)

[Dicky DQ]

44 minutes ago, Madone69 said:

Thanks for this....so my bemused face for a 17k connection fee is justified ( DB board is in garage and easily accessible)

Yes that does not sound to far off depending on the quality of the switch-gear used. As an example you can get a 60A changeover switch for between 120 ZAR and 800 ZAR and Surge protectors from between 200  and 1k.  then the battery fuses also have an extreme range of prices
Also note the battery cables that come with the inverter only get to the fuses and then you normally need cable from the fuse to the battery. AND Boy those cables cost a bomb.

[tinmug]

2 hours ago, Madone69 said:

Thanks for this....so my bemused face for a 17k connection fee is justified ( DB board is in garage and easily accessible)

Yep, and ask for a COC (insurance likes that, even  if it's not yet required). As mentioned above the cables, switches and lugs are pricey. It will probably take them better part of a day to wire the whole lot up, but then you can chuckle when load-shedding hits (until we get 8+ hour sheds, then you're going to need more batteries and PV panels ... and that's coming). 

[Madone69]

5 hours ago, Madone69 said:

Greetings to all TheHubbers

Going through all the valuable info here..  advice,comments and everything else needed..

Got quoted on these.... & yes I know an installer will be able to give me what I need to know....but you guys know better😉

1x TBB RiiO Sun 5kva- S Inverter MPPT 48v

1x Greenrich GR-UP5000 lithium battery 

1. What are your opinions/experiences on these items - future plans would possibly include solar panels but not fully off grid 

2. What more would I need for connecting to DB Board ( control chargers, fuses,etc) as just a backup system for now

3. For the future plan - which Solar panels are recommended.

Thanks in advance 

 

 

So another spanner in the spokes.....

Got quoted on the Hubble 5.5 battery for R25500 new from a reputable vendor.......any thoughts or real world experiences 

[Theunissa]

1 hour ago, tinmug said:

AN Electrical Coc is complusory on all types of electrical work. Thus the person installing it shall issue a COC on any work done. And scary part is that you as the lessor or user is responsible in this regard. To make sure yiy use someone qualified to do this and get your coc. And if you suspect the person took a shortcut amd did half work you can contaxt an AIA ( inspector) and they can be held liable and even loose their license. If the work is not up to standard. Your insurance can refuse claims and you can be sued if someone gets hurt and it's.ot complaint