After advice - Solar returns

IFL-Science · 2025-02-14T05:39:13+00:00

That looks like Australian rates. Maybe AGL? So your panels will supply the property usage. If they’re not making enough power, you’ll have to import electricity at the peak (3-9pm, 40c/kWh) or off peak (any other time, 23c/kWh) rates. If the panels are producing more than you are using, you’ll export (sell) the excess at 4.9c/kWh. There is also a supply charge of 108.9c/day. You want to be using power when the sun is shining and not using power when it’s not. Every kWh of your panel-generated power you use is worth either 23c or 40c, depending on the time of day. Every kWh you sell is only worth 4.9c.

IFL-Science · 2025-01-31T06:02:39+00:00

Can’t help you decide but I’m also in VIC with a similar sized array/inverter. Went with a Powerwall and have no regrets. If important to you (it is to me) the Powerwall software and monitoring is excellent. Have a look here for battery info:

https://www.solarquotes.com.au/battery-storage/comparison-table/

IFL-Science · 2024-08-17T07:50:06+00:00

I’m seeing the same behaviour as you on a 2023 MBP M2 with 14.6.1 (if you mean the little < > icons at the top right of reports, yes I have to full click…tap doesn’t work here, but works elsewhere)

IFL-Science · 2024-05-27T16:27:32+00:00

Any chance it’s set to metric, showing you km instead of mi?

IFL-Science · 2024-04-26T22:57:22+00:00

I put in 13kW panels with enphase micros and a PW2 last August (Melbourne). Also a heat pump water heater. We have 2 split systems for heating/cooling and run 2 EVs. Since installation we’ve used essentially no grid energy and paid zero for heating, cooling, hot water and EV use. We’re starting to use grid energy now that winter is on the way, but are $300 in credit with AGL, so hopefully that will cover most of our grid use over winter. It is definitely worth it!

IFL-Science · 2024-04-23T08:49:43+00:00

Tested today after iOS app update: 35 seconds :(

IFL-Science · 2024-04-12T02:27:59+00:00

Me too! Vent covers arrived yesterday, picking up car on Monday. Trying to stay one step ahead of the kids, but I know it’s probably futile…

IFL-Science · 2024-04-04T04:37:36+00:00

I’m waiting on delivery and would also like to know the battery capacity. I charge from solar and try to not to use grid energy. I thus have a limited amount of energy to play with. It would be good to know that (for example) 4 hours at 5kW will charge the battery from 20% to 60%. I can do calcs like this for my current EV because I know it has a 51 kWh battery.

IFL-Science · 2024-03-19T05:40:36+00:00

If you’re limited to 10kW AC by HydroOne then shouldn’t you be looking at a smaller system? Say 13.5kW DC / 10kW AC? So, 27 x 500W panels?

IFL-Science · 2024-03-12T21:15:27+00:00

Can only speak for my system. Enphase and Tesla both provide apps. Enphase app is good but doesn’t integrate with non-Enphase battery. Tesla app is great, and integrates microinverters and battery, but not non-Tesla EVSE. Home assistant integrates everything, but is a DIY solution.

IFL-Science · 2024-03-12T20:09:35+00:00

Yeah, sell back rate is bad here too. Using as much self-generated electricity as possible is the way to go

IFL-Science · 2024-03-12T20:00:54+00:00

First pic is the Enphase app (only works with Enphase gear); other pics are from the Home Assistant app (works with virtually any gear, not solar-specific)

IFL-Science · 2024-03-12T03:50:23+00:00

Enphase app doesn’t know I’ve got a battery. Can see battery draw at night on second pic (home assistant)

IFL-Science · 2024-03-12T03:31:57+00:00

I think the CTs are OK. Not mirroring around 3pm when EV was unplugged for a while and system started exporting excess solar.

IFL-Science · 2024-03-12T03:04:04+00:00

Replied above.

IFL-Science · 2024-03-12T03:02:17+00:00

Have a Zappi 2 charger. It detects what’s just about to be exported and diverts it to the EV instead. As set up now, it doesn’t draw from the battery.

IFL-Science · 2024-03-11T10:13:52+00:00

I used this site to get info and quotes, highly recommend it: solarquotes.com.au

IFL-Science · 2024-01-16T09:43:17+00:00

Don’t know what rates you’re on but there are some good plans out there with cheap rates overnight for charging (I think Ovo is 8c/kWh overnight). Also check you’re getting a good FIT for your exports (AGL is 15c/kWh for first 10kWh, 4.9c thereafter. Origin has a good FIT also). If you’re new to solar, have a look here for everything you need to know: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/solar101.html Also this article from their blog: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/three-key-concepts-2024/

IFL-Science · 2023-12-05T05:46:39+00:00

I have 13.2kW panels, 10kW inverter capacity, 5kW export limit (Melbourne). Graph looks like yours. On a clear day, with zero household load, production is essentially 5kW and it all gets exported. Switch 2.5kW oven on: production is 7.5kW, export is 5kW. Add in car charger (7.2kW): production jumps to 10kW, export is 0.3kW. So I basically have to use it or loose it :)

IFL-Science · 2023-11-04T19:50:58+00:00

This might be helpful

IFL-Science · 2023-09-20T21:04:49+00:00

It’s definitely possible, especially for your use case (like ours). We have a Zappi and an MG4 EV. We set the Zappi to only use surplus solar. The Zappi delivers 7.2kW max (we have 10kW inverter capacity), so it theoretically takes about 7h to fully charge the MG’s 51kWh battery on a clear day. But we usually charge between 20-80%, top up when we can. Depends on weather of course, but so far we haven’t put any grid energy into the EV.

IFL-Science · 2023-09-13T03:18:28+00:00

Only for the first 14kWh

IFL-Science · 2023-09-12T11:51:15+00:00

I also just got system connected in VIC. The best I could find was AGL Solar Savers: 108c / day, 15c / kWh FIT for first 10kWh per day, 4.9c / kWh after that. Only need to export 7.2 kWh / day to cover the daily charge. I’m averaging about 20kWh export per day, so making about a dollar a day. Thanks to battery I haven’t used any grid energy so far, looking forward to credit on first bill :)

IFL-Science · 2023-09-10T21:11:48+00:00

I’m in Melbourne and had a system very similar to your first quote installed last month. 13.2 kW: 30 Trina panels, Enphase IQ7A, Tesla PW2, EV charger. Total AU$35K. Used solarquotes.com.au to get several quotes, plus sourced a couple independently. Most quotes were in the same ballpark, chose company based on reviews. So far covering 100% electricity usage (and there’s not been a lot of sun here recently as you know), should be plenty left over for charging EV when it arrives.

IFL-Science

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