Vector Solar panel trial

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gchiu

1211 posts

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#1148011 6-Oct-2014 09:30

Is there anyone in the affected region of power loss who has the Sungenie?

Dav4122

73 posts

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#1148172 6-Oct-2014 12:32

Thankfully I don't - but the battery doesn't supply power to the whole house, and in weather like this, the pannels wont be able to keep up with the drain in power if all the plugs are being used.

But if they were rationing it to just the essentials, like internet connection to Geekzone...

gchiu

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#1148174 6-Oct-2014 12:38

Sure, you're supposed to shut down unessential appliances but with the sun shining like it is in Wellington, and a full battery, you'd be far better off then the neighbours .. unless Vector decided to grab your battery power for use elsewhere on the network.

naggyman

697 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1148179 6-Oct-2014 12:43

gchiu: Sure, you're supposed to shut down unessential appliances but with the sun shining like it is in Wellington, and a full battery, you'd be far better off then the neighbours .. unless Vector decided to grab your battery power for use elsewhere on the network.

The thing is, during a power cut they won't use your power. The grid tie converter will NOT ever supply power into a dead grid as there must already be power there. So during a power cut you have power when everyone else doesn't!

Morgan French-Stagg

morgan.french.net.nz

gchiu

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#1148564 6-Oct-2014 20:00

Ok, accepted that the grid has to be up if they use your power, but that might happen I guess if the power were needed due to the loss of supply.

Must be frustrating though if you don't have a hybrid system, and only a grid tied system on the roof, to not be able to use that power when it's generating while there is an outage.

richms

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#1148736 6-Oct-2014 23:12

That is the choice you make when you choose a grid interactive system at considerable savings over a stand alone battery backed one.

I do wonder if you can fake out a grid with another inverter or ups tho. That would let a cheap generator have enough to power a fridge etc during the daytime.

Richard rich.ms

Aredwood

3885 posts

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#1148815 7-Oct-2014 02:00

richms: That is the choice you make when you choose a grid interactive system at considerable savings over a stand alone battery backed one.

I do wonder if you can fake out a grid with another inverter or ups tho. That would let a cheap generator have enough to power a fridge etc during the daytime.

Wouldn't want to try it with an inverter or UPS. As the solar inverter will try to backfeed the other inverter which will blow it up. Inverters normally state in their manuals "don't connect to capacitive loads" That includes things with power factor correction capacitors like fluro lights. (If you rip out the PFC caps you can use then use fluro lights on inverters) Also the Enasolar grid tie inverters have some capacitors permanently connected across their mains output terminals for interference suppression. So one of them will definitely blow up a second inverter / UPS

Also imagine the havoc of trying to connect together an inverter that outputs a modified square wave with one that outputs a sine wave.

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Jeeves

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1196198 12-Dec-2014 12:26

Looks like they have officially launched this:

http://vector.co.nz/solar

Looks like Vector have acknowledged the poor pay back on this and have offered the buyback deal to sweeten the offering. Might have to break out excel to see if it's worthwhile this time around!

Behodar

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#1196211 12-Dec-2014 12:46

I'd need to see what my peak usage is, how much of it is when the sun's out, etc. Looks like an exercise in patience :)

However, "Currently we are not offering solar in your area" - and I thought that it worked anywhere that there is sun

Aredwood

3885 posts

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#1196646 12-Dec-2014 22:49

looks like they are not actively promoting the battery backed solar option anymore. As near the bottom of http://vector.co.nz/solar/our-solutions it says "Step it up. If you're not home during the day much and want to store solar electricity to use in the evening, contact us to find out about our stored solar electricity option." There is no other mention of batteries or energy storage on their site now. Which is a shame as Im not aware of any other company that offers a packaged combination grid tie / off grid system.

solarku

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1197602 15-Dec-2014 10:23

Aredwood: looks like they are not actively promoting the battery backed solar option anymore. As near the bottom of http://vector.co.nz/solar/our-solutions it says "Step it up. If you're not home during the day much and want to store solar electricity to use in the evening, contact us to find out about our stored solar electricity option." There is no other mention of batteries or energy storage on their site now. Which is a shame as Im not aware of any other company that offers a packaged combination grid tie / off grid system.

Actually there are some companies offering 'Hybrid' system on TM. But the price is still expensive if we buy from them.

The system looks something like this: http://115.29.171.144/ad/dynamic.aspx

I have been thinking to import the system directly from overseas and get a registered electrician to install the system for me.
I have received a quote from overseas: 5kW system (hybrid inverter + charger + panels . Excluding battery), USD 5,100, CIF NZ.
Not sure if this would work or not...

darylmeter

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1212606 12-Jan-2015 15:29

Hi, thanks for this thread - very informative on the vector solar offer.
A question on the lack of battery: does this mean I wouldn't be able to store excess power?

This seems like the solar will only work during the day. Any clarification on what would be the impact of not having a battery would be appreciated.

thanks all

Mark

1653 posts

Uber Geek

#1212617 12-Jan-2015 15:49

darylmeter: Hi, thanks for this thread - very informative on the vector solar offer.
A question on the lack of battery: does this mean I wouldn't be able to store excess power?

This seems like the solar will only work during the day. Any clarification on what would be the impact of not having a battery would be appreciated.

thanks all

yup, works only during the day but if you can work out how to store surplus power in buckets you'll be a gazillionaire in no time :-)

Oblivian

7296 posts

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#1212626 12-Jan-2015 15:57

Mark:
darylmeter: Hi, thanks for this thread - very informative on the vector solar offer.
A question on the lack of battery: does this mean I wouldn't be able to store excess power?

This seems like the solar will only work during the day. Any clarification on what would be the impact of not having a battery would be appreciated.

thanks all

yup, works only during the day but if you can work out how to store surplus power in buckets you'll be a gazillionaire in no time :-)

This.

If you use power during the day = free from sun (+excess cost ~22c/u for what you cant generate above).

Not using power but generating more = back into grid @ 8c/unit (unless they have a special sweetner...)

Sun goes down, you pay for power @ ~22c - generate/use 0c/u

Battery:

Use free sun + extra into battery

Sun goes down, power from batteries @ 0c/u (+ what it can't provide @22c)

Essentially, if you can store for use later = money saver and $0 bills till you saved enough to pay it off
Cant store = Free during day, still pay at night. Essentially hindering your your money saving period to daylight hrs - more than double the payback period if you are quite the after work consumer

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