Feedback on new solar system

[TonyJ]

Hi all,

We are installing 16 extra solar panels on our roof and adding battery storage.

The battery is a 1.2KW Lithium Iron Phosphate with 10 years warranty made by Enphase.

The installed cost of the panels and battery is $8888. Does that sound reasonable? 

They have suggested that we might need an extra battery in the future - another $2500. They have recommended to monitor use for a few months and then consider adding another. 

I would appreciate any feedback on whether we are doing the right thing.

Thanks,

Tony

[val]

Hi Tony battery back up is the way to go can I suggest a byo system it's a  2.4 battery and it's expand able like the the battery your looking at both can be connect to off peak power so the worst case your be paying the least charges possible any way good luck cheers 🙂

[Henno]

@stewiesnr the device I use is made by a mob called Solar Analytics who are located here in Sydney and here is a link to their site. https://www.solaranalytics.com/au/.

It's been a boon for me as once you feed in all your relevant stats you can monitor via the web or an app on your phone or tablet.

I've been using it for a couple of years now and it has proved its worth. I just upgraded to a lifetime subscription for $250 which I thought was pretty good value.

Hope this info is helpful to you!

[stewiesnr]

thanks Henno

I have looked at their pages and listened to Johann , looks good, Its the sort of info I am after, to verify when to use appliances and confirm the panels are working and from what they say if there is any concerns their system can advise.

appreciated the information

[Jason]

@stewiesnr, @val and @Cornishman,

Many thanks for joining in the discussion. This has certainly been a popular topic and I'm sure will continue to be of interest to many Workshop members. 

Let me also extend a very warm welcome to the community. We look forward to reading more about your projects and plans. Please post whenever you need a hand or have something to share. 

All the best,

Jason

[AHoy]

Sorry, I still disagree @val. It's fine if you are buying a battery for environmental benefits but for the average person they just aren't worth buying yet. The cost is too high and the recoup is typically a much longer duration than the warranty period, so you might never get your money back. Hopefully battery tech keeps improving and they become worth adding soon.

[val]

Hi  we are not in disagreement I have a 1.5 kw system which I bought at the begining of the rebate schemes and had a buy back of 68 cents I have not bought a battery for my system as you say the numbers dont add up at present . What I was saying was if you are goinng to buy a expandable battery system look at other brands than the enphase and make sure you connect to off peak to ensure any power you buy from the grid to charge your battery is at the cheepest rate . for me $ 3700 fitted for a 2.4 battery is still to expensive . cheers 

[PappaGabba]

We have a 10kw/h system that was installed in 2010 under the 61 cent Kw/h payback scheme - it paid for itself very quickly. We are building new highly insulated house as well and was researching battery backup as we live in the NSW Southern Tablelands and  get quite a few power outages (around 2 a month).  I quickly came to the conclusion the current cost of storage batteries was too high and payback period was around 20 years - so bought a 3600 watt generator to maintain base power at the house (fridges, lighting etc). 

I figure we are already doing our share of helping reduce climate change with solar panels, All LED lighting, evacuated tube solar hot water, highly efficient water pumps currently being installed in the new house. Also prepaing to plant lots of trees in shelter belts around the farm and intend to 'Supersize" our solar array when the house is finished

[Jason]

Thanks for joining in the discussion and sharing your experience @PappaGabba. We're pleased you could join the Workshop community and look forward to reading about your projects and plans. Feel free to post anytime you need a hand with anything or have something to share.

Welcome,

Jason

[AHoy]

@PappaGabba

It's my understanding that even a battery backup won't help you in the event of a power outage unless your system is completely off the grid. Something about protecting the grid? 

[Takatapui]

I'm across the ditch in Aotearoa NZ, and at the Southern End, in Dunedin.

I bought 2 × 12V 206Ah LiFePO4 batteries, each cost about NZD1700, so NZD3400 for 5.4kWh - I could run a 1000W appliance for over 5 hours.

I found that it is straightforward to make the battery yourself. You need the cells, and a BMS, and doing this reduced the next 2 × 12V 206Ah LiFePO4 batteries to NZD2000 in total. Now I have 10kWh storage, which is the difficult (expensive) part. Presently I have 2345W of solar panels, but the wattage of a panel is its ideal output, and not a guaranteed result that'd give me 2.3kWh every hour. I power my fridges, freezers, dehumidifier, microwave, and induction elements from the inverter - not all at once, my inverter is 3000W, and also has UPS to draw from mains if/when the batteries are too low. My electricity bills are 1/3 to 1/2 what they were. When there's a surfeit of Sun, I do extra loads of washing, and the dishwasher, and run the dehumidifier hard, all of these are powered by the Sun, not drawing from the battery - it's a cash job, and not need bother the bank/battery.

A 6kW system usually means one can draw 6000W, but if your power bill shows your use per hour or half hour, that is a big draw - running a diswasher, microwave, and boiling the jug would about right, but if you do them consecutively, you wouldn't go over a 3kW draw. LiFePO4/LFP batteries are expensive, but they are extremely easy and no maintenance. You can discharge them fully (to the inverter changing to mains, or BMS protection engages), they don't mind, whereas Lead-Acid can only be discharged halfway, and demand attention.

It's been a fun project, and thoroughly recommend giving it a crack.

 

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