Battery charging.

[Derlyn]

When do you think we going to reach the point when loadshedding is going to be pushed up a level or 2 as a result of all the batteries being charged ?

I don't have any proof, but from my personal observations, not even 2 or maybe 3% of inverter owners have solar panels. Most rely on charging batteries when power comes back on after loadshedding.

All these batteries being charged must be adding to the demand significantly.

Your thoughts ?

[Justloadit]

It already is creating a problem when the power is restored. All of a sudden, there is a huge increase in energy requirement as all the inverters start charging the batteries. It is similar to the geysers all heating up simultaneously.

What gets my goat, is that ESKOM can not provide the power required, we install solar inverters, so that we reduce the power required from the grid, they lose now on reduced consumption, and now ESKOM/Municipalities complain that they can not raise sufficient profits because of the reduction in energy used, so now they want to charge a fee on your solar system.
If you can not provide the service, you should not look at others ways to penalise your customer because he has found an alternative supplier.

[GCE]

The charging of batteries is a problem and reality for many municipalities and installers are not helping by not knowing the requirements

Installers can help further by setting grid reconnection times up way above the required 1 minute , to run another 10 to 30 min on batteries which should not be an issue and then set charge currents down
Most bylaws stipulate no more than 15Amps on a 60Amp supply and no more than 20Amps on a 80Amp supply
Charging batteries slowly is better for the battery as it keeps the heat factor down so why try to recharge the batteries in 30 to 60 min

[Blurock]

Very valid comments made here. The reality is that Escom will fade away just like all the other Govt departments; Post Office replaced by couriers, Trains replaced by road transport, Hospitals replaced by private hospitals, Police replaced by private security, SAA no more, air force no more, navy no more, army in decline. All govt functions are being replaced by more efficient and effective private enterprise.

The more this dysfunctional government of Ain't No Consequences try to hang on and control, the more they are losing.
I cannot wait for the day that they will finally fade away and be replaced by a government that works for the people.

Let's all do our bit at the ballot box from municipal level, up to parliament. Stop being complacent and too lazy to vote!

[GCE]

Let's all do our bit at the ballot box from municipal level, up to parliament. Stop being complacent and too lazy to vote!

Agree 100% with that statement

[Isetech]

It would be better if there was no load shedding, maybe they should ease off the load shedding so that the customer can reduce the charge rate. It seems it always the user, installer paying customer fault. I beleive the only reason people are not being fined for not registering their systems right now is due to the burden they must carry thanks to eskom. They know that it will create a shyte storm of note, it seems they are going to wait until the load eases then they can hammer the public and start fining and disconnecting your services.

I dont know if you understand how it works, a lead acid battery can only be charged at 10 % its capacity, 10 amps charge will take 10 hours. 3 lots of of load shedding with 4 hour disruption in between, create a new set of challenges. What do, we are forced to repalce the lead acid battery with lithium, why because they can charge a "lot" faster (at a much higher charge rate) in some installations exess of 200 amps. To "save the lithium batteries from going into shutdown,they need to be charged fast enough to "keep the lights on" and prevent damage to the batteries. IT like tit for tat, you create a problem people find a solution, which has now creatred a new problem and once again its the consumer problem

The charging of batteries is a problem and reality for many municipalities and installers are not helping by not knowing the requirements

Installers can help further by setting grid reconnection times up way above the required 1 minute , to run another 10 to 30 min on batteries which should not be an issue and then set charge currents down
Most bylaws stipulate no more than 15Amps on a 60Amp supply and no more than 20Amps on a 80Amp supply
Charging batteries slowly is better for the battery as it keeps the heat factor down so why try to recharge the batteries in 30 to 60 min