Northumberland wrote: » But since my 5kW of batteries were already fully charged on the night tarrif, there is nowhere for this 2kW to go, expect as a donation to ESB.
Northumberland wrote: » It is a bright sunny morning here in Belturbet Co. Cavan, and my panels are churning out 2kW. But since my 5kW of batteries were already fully charged on the night tarrif, there is nowhere for this 2kW to go, expect as a donation to ESB. So, in addition to the good arguments made earlier by Unkel and others, paying even the cheaper night rate tariff to charge the battery which prevents it being charged in the morning for free makes no sense. I am changing my set-up now!
air wrote: » You would need detailed performance data on your proposed battery as well as an estimated usage pattern in order to model various usage scenarios.
air wrote: » One thing in favour of night rate cycling is that batteries have a calendar lifetime as well as a cycle life so it may make a little more sense from that point of view to cycle them more while you have them.
air wrote: » It also gives you a bit more protection against power cuts if you have an essential load setup as the battery will be fully charged more of the time.
air wrote: » All told though I'm not convinced it's worth the hassle, charging from excess PV that would be otherwise exported for free is a much better business proposition.
Sir Liamalot wrote: » Disagree. Not cycling a battery will live longer than cycling.
Sir Liamalot wrote: » I understand it's not worth the hassle and negative return. Using a battery is neutral to negative return compared to utiliy import. Sizing & distributing our arrays according to load demand and profile is very worthwhile.
air wrote: » However a battery is another level in terms of smoothing demand and reducing import. We frequently have cloudy weather which leads to very peaky production, demand is also very peaky by it's nature. A battery really helps to bridge the gap between production and demand during the day while the solar is producing. Even a small battery is a big help in this regard.
AidenL wrote: » My head is melting. Spoke to a few installers today - prices are not cheap, I'll post details later. Just wondering if you experts could cast your eye over both of these batteries and see which seem to have best specs please? In general, for a Solax setup, looking at 4kw, 5kw investor, and 4.4kw battery at 10800 including VAT. , 7k nett. 6kw, same investor and battery, 13000 inc VAT, 9200 nett. The Alpha ESS installer was around the same price. Are Pylontech batteries to a similar standard as those on the attachments? They don't look as neat, being rack mounted. But do they perform as well?
j1mboj0nes wrote: » Anyone can recommend a Solar PV installer in Cork? Got quoted today for €6160 after the grant applied, for 2.4Kw + inverter & iboost. Seems a touch steep
garo wrote: » That is very expensive. For that money you could almost get 4kW + battery setup.
j1mboj0nes wrote: » Yeah thought it was a bit ridiculous. Any advice on how best to spend or what I could get for a budget of about €4000, with the assumption that FiT is going to be available in the next year or so
bunderoon wrote: » What's your annual electricity costs and is there anyone home during the day to benefit from the generation (if no battery). FIT price isn't going to be substantial in Ireland.
garo wrote: » Prices are ok though a touch on the higher side. It could also be a factor of how difficult your install is. I have no issue with the Pylontech but it is early days. I think Solax are also LFP. Solax batteries and inverters run on a higher voltage so lower current for some power so theoretically are more efficient.
j1mboj0nes wrote: » Average monthly bill for the last two years is €70. There's someone home 1 day during the week and both days at the weekend.
bunderoon wrote: » That's not really much. Say you spend 900 a year on power. Solar will, at best, reduce you bill by half if you get enough panels and change your usage patterns (washer,dryer&dishwasher when the sun is out) 450 per year leaves you with >12 years ROI. FIT would reduce it to ~8-9. Do you have LED lights or A rated energy appliances? If not, it would be cheaper to go that route than the huge expense. Just my 2cents.
AidenL wrote: » I do have slates which were quoted as 500 extra over tiles. So you'd think Solax would be a better bet?
garo wrote: » I really don't know. I think the difference is marginal. Yes you have smaller current flowing which should mean lower resistive losses but if the distance between the inverter and batteries is small, it should be minimal difference. Solax triple power gives you a max output of 2.5kW which is what you would get if you had two 2.4kWh Pylontech batteries. A single one gets you ~1250W. For slates that costs is ok. The 6kWp over 4kWp seems a bit high. 2200 for 6 more panels is a bit much. Especially as you say the inverter is the same. How much electricity do you use? Do you really need 6kW?
Northumberland wrote: » There was an exchange of views a week or so ago on this thread about how a regular Solis Hybrid inverter could continue to power some lights, internet, TV, phone charger, electric kettle maybe, in the event of a total mains power cut. Some said it simply could not be done, but the manufacturers 'blurb' states that it could. I am very pleased to say that after an afternoon of hard work, with the help of a great company technician working with me on Whatsapp, I got my system working perfectly. There is a separate 'off grid' output plug on the base of the inverter. The menu settings have to be changed and set 'just right'. But I now have a bank of three 13 amp ac sockets mounted on wall near the inverter which will continue to provide 230 volts supply, up to 2.4 kW approx in total, for as long as the sun shines or for as long as I have some charge left in my 2 Pylontech batteries. Those reading in Dublin who never experience power cuts might be wondering why I bothered. I live in a rural area of County Cavan and our mains power comes via an overhead cable through a nearby forest plantation - which is really hard to access by repair crews. Last winter, each of the major storms caused trees to fall on the line, and each time we were without power for hours at a time, once overnight, until the ESB crews could mobilise, find the breakage and repair it. ESB seem dis-inclined to re-route the overhead cable away from the forest, they think too small a number of people are affected and prefer just to fix it when it breaks. At least this winter, I am prepared and will not worry about power cuts at all. This is a great added benefit of a hybrid inverter and batteries of a kind that has the capability to do this, which for some reason the companies selling them do not advertise very much.
wexfordman2 wrote: » Nice work. Quick query though, as my understanding that the requirement of an install under seai guidelines is that in the event of a power cut, obviously the mains us disconnected and you are left with your "essential load" circuit still running, but that also the dc input into the inverter is disconnected, so even if the solar is producing, you cannot charge your battery from it ? Any chance you could post up a bit of how you wired your backup circuits ?
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