After a couple weeks without electricity, load shedding, Tariff increases and a few other issues experienced resulting in darkness has made me realise that it is time to invest, yes invest in solar.
I have been involved in a few solar audits, which have resulted in really expensive upgrades, due to a lack of research into the customers usage, or just bad design.
Before you go price hunting, which seems to be another issue with these systems, people try make a plan and cut costs, by not doing time of use energy audits. Instead they go for a one size fits all. If you have a R150 000.00 to waste on a system, that might do what you require, go wild.
Something that I try tell all my customers, be it in a house, commercial building or factory, create a solid foundation then build on it.
A couple of examples of why I say build a solid foundation:
A CCTV system, dont get a "twister" (a name for installers who dont use junction boxes or mechanical means to secure joints, they just twist and tape) to do the foundation work, why, because when you decide to upgrade or add in devices etc, there is a good chance the connection will be twisted, the wire will be the cheapest tinned copper, there will be no camera boxes and no structured wiring layout, etc etc.
An electrical installation, there is a good chance the twin+E is plastered directly into the wall, so if you want to add a switch or light point, you will have to cut the wall again or stick the wire to the wall, the Db will have no spare pipes in the wall and there is a good chance it will already to full to capacity, there are just so many issues we encounter which result in expensive solutions.
I have found the same with solar/ PV (whatever you want to call it), if the installer has cut costs it could mean that the panel supports are screwed directly into a rectangular tube with rooking screws, no earthing, no surge protection, the type of wire is not suitable and not double insulated, the batteries inside the box are not what you were quoted, the electrical wiring is not up to code, the list just goes on and on.
This applies to anything, do the foundation right and build on it rather than cut costs and fit a cheap crap system installed by a dodgy installer or supplied by some salesman only interested in making a quick buck.
Make sure you understand what you looking for, do your homework, understand that unless you are prepared to spend a lot of money, there is not such thing as an off grid system.
Understand the difference between a backup system and a hybrid system.
IF you decide to include a generator in the backup system, which is recommended if you want to your system to function without the mains during blackouts or long power outages or days of rain. Make sure the generator is designed to charge the battery and keep the lights on or setup correctly.
One the most common problems I come across, people panic buy during load shedding or long power outages. they rush out and pay premium price for crap which is just not suitable for their application, and boy do suppliers know when to load prices.
I cant tell you how many generators are rusting in garages around the country, most wouldnt start if there was an outage. LED backup lights with dead batteries, because they have been left unplugged or not charged since the last outage. Fortunately for supplier people have credit cards and funding to piss against the wall, so there is a huge market to dump stuff.
Here is a basic video of units of one of the systems we will be supplying and installing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzD0...hannel=Sunsynk
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