Solar Panel, Power & Battery Discussion

[exceladdict]

You can get a reasonable estimate of how much power the AV is using by monitoring your usage before and after turning it on/off ( leaving everything else the same).

We have 2 AC units in the main part of our house; one for the kitchen and a larger unit that does the rest. We discovered that the smaller unit is quite economical to run while the larger one chews as much as 6kW.

Same, indeed we assume the majority of unattributed usage is either kitchen or a/c. It's easy to identify the spike when the coffee machine goes on in the morning

We did seperate split systems for one floor, with a central unit for the other and our experience is the same. ~200-300w draw each from the small units on eco mode, many kws from the central unit. Both of course vary as the compressor engages and disengages.

 

[Brissy1]

Replaced my panels in Brisbane last year, and now looks like my inverter (SMA 2500) has carked it. I'm on the grandfathered 44c fit (until 1/7/28) which is very worthwhile keeping (so can't upsize) as I'm not home there much.

 

[DC3]

I saw them at Aldi this morning, can’t remember price @Denali

Will you be going back to check the price?

 

[Quickstatus]

Replaced my panels in Brisbane last year, and now looks like my inverter (SMA 2500) has carked it.

Usually when people have a busted inverter, the best thing to do would be to replace it with an inverter-battery combo.

But in your case due to the FiT, sending excess solar to battery does not make sense

But if you have to get an inverter you might as well get one that also operates a battery - a so called hybrid inverter but without the battery, in case the FiT ever gets taken away
And if the FiT ever gets taken away, just add batteries and not have to again replace the inverter because it cant operate a battery.

Sigenergy makes these in modular form.
Other hybrid inverters are integrated into the battery.

 

[RAM]

Even when they buy electricity (FIT) it can be on sold for 500% or more. I don't know of any other business that can have such a markup.

Microsoft, drug (legal) companies, Coca Cola (bottled water) - there are many that have incredible mark-ups.

Add in the multi-national gas companies sending out LNG in Qld etc etc.

 

[Brissy1]

Usually when people have a busted inverter, the best thing to do would be to replace it with an inverter-battery combo.

But in your case due to the FiT, sending excess solar to battery does not make sense

But if you have to get an inverter you might as well get one that also operates a battery - a so called hybrid inverter but without the battery, in case the FiT ever gets taken away
And if the FiT ever gets taken away, just add batteries and not have to again replace the inverter because it cant operate a battery.

Sigenergy makes these in modular form.
Other hybrid inverters are integrated into the battery.

To retain my extravagant FiT I can't increase the inverter size, so <3kw (if I dumped the system and FiT, and replaced with even a 4 x size I still wouldn't be better off). The extravagant FiT (44c qld gov + 4 c distributor) expires in 2½ years.

Searching hybrid options they all seem to be too big. Not an option for me but I found "Solis " (probably others) hybrid inverters have a built in 3kW battery; handy.

 

[Quickstatus]

I can't increase the inverter size

That is correct. You have to replace the inverter with a similar one with the same kW rating. You can't even buy a higher rating inverter but limit its output.

How much do you export in a year?

 

[Brissy1]

That is correct. You have to replace the inverter with a similar one with the same kW rating. You can't even buy a higher rating inverter but limit its output.

How much do you export in a year?

Good question. Looking up my last 3 monthly bills when inverter was working, x 4 = 2324kW. Then x 49c (thought it was 48 but no) = $1138. Clearly I'm often not at home. Plus of course usage... I like free air-conditioning in Brisbane! Much more than I imagined from a small system.

 

[Quickstatus]

1138

X 2.5 years.

Consider not getting the Fed discount for the 3kW battery because it's a one time per address only regardless of battery size (if you ever want a bigger battery in the future)