They have no right to call it a solar system. Maybe a spacecraft with panels in orbit around the sun, otherwise it's not on.

chimera wrote on Oct 6^th, 2023 at 8:29pm:


Hee hee. 

There will be a knock on your front door soon by two big men in black.

Looks like a massive system. Why is it charging at 20% in the middle of the night? Or is that how full the battery is?

freediver wrote on Oct 7^th, 2023 at 9:28am:


That is how full the battery is.

The system stops drawing from the battery when it gets down to 20% to allow the system to kick in if we have a power outage. We have all circuits covered for power black-out coverage.

The Solar array is 12 panels - around 6 kW capacity but in reality we get 4.5 kW from the inverter in good sun.

The battery is a BYD 11 kWh one, so it can take us a good way into the night before it stops being drawn from.

Funny thing ... weeks ago we advised Origin Energy (our energy retailer) that we were ditching our old system and getting a new one put in. So we were fully aware that our Premium Feed-In Tariff 66c / kWh would be gone.   

They said, OK no problem, the plan would have the new FIT applied once they receive the official paperwork from the installer.

Good-oh

Then, when the system was installed, we again rang them to remind them that we would no longer qualify for the 66c /kWh FIT.

OK, thanks, we will fix that when we get the paperwork.

Good-oh

Then, when the system had passed the inspection and was turned on during Thursday, we again called to make sure they were aware that we would now be on the measly 4.9c / kWh FIT.

No worries, it will be changed on your next bill. So, any extra earning you make? Good luck to you.

Good-oh

Well, sure enough, just checked our billing on-line and they are continuing to pay us 66c /kWh FIT   

Won't last for long, but very nice while it lasts.



We have gone from around 15 kWh daily draw from the grid down to around 3.5 kWh 

Instead of a daily bill for around $5.50 they are going to pay us $5.00 credit - until the FIT officially changes.




Ah! life's good.   

Guy down the road pays no electricity bill, sells enough power to cover power used.

BUT he cooks and heats on woodfired burner.

freediver wrote on Oct 7^th, 2023 at 10:17am:


All good, we installed a hot water heat-pump and so far it looks like the battery covers it. Runs about 3hrs when it needs to do its thing.

Heating water takes a LOT of power. Mass and high specific heat.

My Saxon woodheater—I can put a pan of stew on the front of it, it will slowly cook it so will try that rather than my slowcooker

Yes, I would like to install a heat pump for hot water. Stuff paying the electric retailer.

Gooday Nemo

I had a 6.6Kw system installed this year, just wondering what the battery installation cost, as i wouldnt mind doing that as well?

John Smith wrote on Oct 7^th, 2023 at 3:12pm:


I let the heat pump do its thing whenever it wants to but it does have a timer set-up which I can use.

If the battery covers it I'm not really too worried when it fires up because we end up drawing from the grid during off peak (11 pm to 7 am) but I take your point that setting it to operate during the day might be a way to avoid drawing from the grid at all. I might have a go at setting it to run only in the day and see how we go.

I have a group of Slaves.
They power my place by running the treadmill.

Only solar panels I can install without rebuilding the house are a couple portable ones on the garage roof to keep a fish pond pump going. My land slopes, vege patch will be levelled with two levels, two wide terraces, means a waterfall effect can be simulated.

Mind you, dunno what fish I can stock! Top water of the pond might freeze on frosty cold nights!

Jovial Monk wrote on Oct 7^th, 2023 at 7:04pm:


I choose the danger. 








Cobalt Free Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Battery

BYD
Premium HVM
11.04kWh of Storage

Captain Nemo wrote on Oct 6^th, 2023 at 8:10pm:


Hi Captain,
Well done. Loks very good. Once our large tariff ends it looks like a new system will be a good idea.
Will get it battery ready and ponder that area.

Captain Nemo wrote on Oct 9^th, 2023 at 8:41am:


glad to help

I have decided at age 79, I may not be around long enough to enjoy the gains after the battery is paid off.

How long do you reckon Nemo will it take to cover the battery cost?

I really need to start investigating Solar, but with storage also.

I'd love to be able to have power when mains is out, plus be as off grid as possible.

Our heat pump is great for us because we went from a gas storage water heater to the electric heat pump. From costly gas heating bills to zero cost for heating the water now provided we have a reasonably sunny day.

Jovial Monk wrote on Feb 7^th, 2024 at 3:13pm:


Good news. Well done.
A mate suggested to get them installed 'Battery ready'.
Batteries are not economic at this stage but are getting closer.
When batteries get viable if your system is 'battery ready' it is easy to wire them in.

Quote:


Good idea, Sprint, no harm having it “battery ready.”

When I rocked up here last Saturday of November 2022 there were no keys evident. I thought “maybe in the meter box?” and opened that only to nearly fall on the floor laughing—it was like a museum exhibit of the 1950s! Old fashioned meter, and actual FUSES!

Now there is a modern meter that can be read remotely (and I might be due a payment on that) and a modern switchboard with earth protection on each circuit—and a real earth not a bit of metal sort-of stuck in the ground.