Solar panels, inverter and battery question

[@offroad]

I presume the OP has evolved into a 'general' discussion on the topic.

I was hoping to get some input. I received the following quote and I would like to know if the pricing is in line with what is out there.

Thx

View attachment 823414

I am not that familiar with the Kodak inverter, but when looking at the description there is a key word missing and that is "hybrid".

The Kodak seems to be more an off-grid inverter and if that's what you want then fine. It just means you on either drawing power from the inverter (loadshedding) or drawing power from the grid, not both at the same time which is what the hybrid inverter does.

The hybrid inverters are pretty fancy pieces of kit - while there is a grid supply, they will supply power to the load from solar and if there is a shortfall then will draw the balance of the required power from the grid.

This just means you are getting far better use of your system and saving more on electricity costs when using a hybrid inverter.

If it were me I would ask more questions about the capabilities of the Kodak inverter.

 

[Tigershel]

I presume the OP has evolved into a 'general' discussion on the topic.

I was hoping to get some input. I received the following quote and I would like to know if the pricing is in line with what is out there.

Thx

View attachment 823414

Not sure on how the individual components compare, but a local installer has a set offering of R120K to R130K (depending on installation variables) for a similar sized system. But he can ask whatever he wants, he's booked 3 months in advance.

 

[madmax]

i would not pay 90k deposit unless a guarantee of supply and dates signed in blood..3 of my neighbours have paid 90k deposit on 120k installation and 6 or 7 weeks later still nothing apart from vague promises and storys like ..the truck broke down..im on my way..see u tomorrow till finally new stock arrived..oh sorry wrong stuff..more stock coming..oh not delivred yet ....meantime im sure deposits long gone and spent..this is from pensioners so money gone is gone i reckon

 

[@offroad]

My little effort being installed:



Specs:

1x 8kw Sunsynk hybrid inverter
2x Hubble AM5 5kW unlimited cycle batteries
8X Qcell 675W solar panels

Price: ~R200k

 

[RobD]

My little effort being installed:

View attachment 823547

Specs:

1x 8kw Sunsynk hybrid inverter
2x Hubble AM5 5kW unlimited cycle batteries
8X Qcell 675W solar panels

Price: ~R200k

Wow, pricing has moved upwards..

Congrats, you will wonder how you have managed without it! Life changer for sure....

 

[m0lt3n]

pricing in our little town is still constant.
basically R175k for:
8ke Deye
2x 5kw SHOTO batteries
12x 460W panels
Installation and COC included.

 

[RobD]

pricing in our little town is still constant.
basically R175k for:
8ke Deye
2x 5kw SHOTO batteries
12x 460W panels
Installation and COC included.

Exactly what I got and paid.....

 

[Chrisl]

pricing in our little town is still constant.
basically R175k for:
8ke Deye
2x 5kw SHOTO batteries
12x 460W panels
Installation and COC included.

Goeie prys daai.

 

[Straatkat]

In December I bought a pallet (30) Canadian panels 545w and paid R6.50/watt and that includes VAT.
Grunder your installer is charging you R8.36/watt, maybe prices went up crazily or your installer is seeing you come.
Can't comment on the Kodak, other than if you are going to spend money go Deye or Sunsynk. Kodak is basically an Axpert and they are not feature rich. They will not be much more, and hybrid.

 

[Grunder]

My little effort being installed:

View attachment 823547

Specs:

1x 8kw Sunsynk hybrid inverter
2x Hubble AM5 5kW unlimited cycle batteries
8X Qcell 675W solar panels

Price: ~R200k

Love how you use the word "little" and R200k in the same sentence

 

[m0lt3n]

Love how you use the word "little" and R200k in the same sentence

it happens when you spend to much time with guys mentioning 'victron' all the time...and you go the Sunsynk/Deye route

 

[@offroad]

Love how you use the word "little" and R200k in the same sentence

Ja compared to some of the systems the guys are installing mine is not too noteworthy

 

[KiLRoy]

My little effort being installed:

View attachment 823547

Specs:

1x 8kw Sunsynk hybrid inverter
2x Hubble AM5 5kW unlimited cycle batteries
8X Qcell 675W solar panels

Price: ~R200k

I'm lokking at about half yours --- 1 5kw batt/4kw inverter and 4 panels of that size --- iow about 2500w in total. does that sound about right?

 

[@offroad]

I'm lokking at about half yours --- 1 5kw batt/4kw inverter and 4 panels of that size --- iow about 2500w in total. does that sound about right?

The ratios look about right but it does depend on what load you will be driving.

Maybe worth getting the inverter spec sheet and checking what the input/output ranges are.

As long as you have a hybrid inverter you will still be taking some of the sting out of your monthly bill (unless you go completely off grid but that is another discussion entirely) as well as keeping some essentials going during load shedding.

My personal feeling is to go as big as you can on the inverter - you can always add batteries and panels later.

 

[Straatkat]

it happens when you spend to much time with guys mentioning 'victron' all the time...and you go the Sunsynk/Deye route

Yeah it is like Merc drivers...my Toyota will also get me there at half the cost.

 

[Cracker]

I am not that familiar with the Kodak inverter, but when looking at the description there is a key word missing and that is "hybrid".

The Kodak seems to be more an off-grid inverter and if that's what you want then fine. It just means you on either drawing power from the inverter (loadshedding) or drawing power from the grid, not both at the same time which is what the hybrid inverter does.

The hybrid inverters are pretty fancy pieces of kit - while there is a grid supply, they will supply power to the load from solar and if there is a shortfall then will draw the balance of the required power from the grid.

This just means you are getting far better use of your system and saving more on electricity costs when using a hybrid inverter.

If it were me I would ask more questions about the capabilities of the Kodak inverter.

Going back a few years but from what I remember, the Kodak is a badged Axpert/Mecer, or vice versa.

And they never had a great name then. Dunno about now, maybe they've improved. I'd be sceptical.

 

[Oubones]

I had a Kodak and you get what you pay for. They are offgrid spec, but mine did the job as it is not worth my while to buy a full hybrid inverter.
My advise is to buy the biggest, best that you can in inverter as said before, you can add batteries and panels later. Lithium is the way to go as you can add more batteries as you go along!

 

[Smittie2]

Ek is besig met 'n 3kw sisteem inte sit, dit moet net die belangrike goed hardloop, soos TV, wifi, ligte. Maar gaan nie die solar paneel roete nie, dink dit raak net te duur om alles te probeer hardloop vanaf die inverter, so wil net voor bereid wees vir daai 5 dae sonder krag, so dis waar die generator inkom, hy moet dan loop vir 'n uur of 2, yskaste loop, batterye laai (wat ek nie reg kry tans nie, die inverter herken hom nie dink die frequensie is nie konstant genoeg nie), het kla die bedrading gedoen , met change over switches, amper daar.

 

[@offroad]

I'm lokking at about half yours --- 1 5kw batt/4kw inverter and 4 panels of that size --- iow about 2500w in total. does that sound about right?

Depending on your inverter specs, one thing you may want to tweak is to use 8 panels instead of 4 (keeping the wattage the same) as this will keep the MPPT above the minimum startup voltage for longer in low light conditions.

Just be aware not to overrun the max open circuit input voltage (Voc) of your inverter though.

 

[bg]

Ek is besig met 'n 3kw sisteem inte sit, dit moet net die belangrike goed hardloop, soos TV, wifi, ligte. Maar gaan nie die solar paneel roete nie, dink dit raak net te duur om alles te probeer hardloop vanaf die inverter, so wil net voor bereid wees vir daai 5 dae sonder krag, so dis waar die generator inkom, hy moet dan loop vir 'n uur of 2, yskaste loop, batterye laai (wat ek nie reg kry tans nie, die inverter herken hom nie dink die frequensie is nie konstant genoeg nie), het kla die bedrading gedoen , met change over switches, amper daar.

Ek het gevind daar is 4 stelle koste vir my stelsel min of meer dieselfde, inverter, battery, sonpanele, instellasie - as jy 3 uit die 4 gaan doen sou ek aanbeveel dat jy erenstig kyk na panele jy gaan mos ook 25% afslag daarop kry. As die son skyn gebruik jy sonkrag en laai die batterye en rekening minder- dink weer.