Solar options for home in 2022.

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1585 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3326923 2-Jan-2025 08:07

Thank you for this information.

I have asked for an update to the inverter to 6kW.

Also, I feel I'm looking at the real high-end of the product line Fronius\BYD. So I have asked to quote for a SunGrow system (Inverter and battery), keeping the premium panels.

The house is two storey, so my thinking being put the premium panels up there with the long and decent guarantee, but slightly reduce the hardware brand\models.

We can compare the prices when the quotes come in.

The little things make the biggest difference.

LightbulbNeil

57 posts

Master Geek

#3326925 2-Jan-2025 08:24

Having more panel capacity, really does help in the mornings and evening power production, as well as in the winter time. Come up with a plan to be able to get your panels cleaned at least once a year as well.

Jase2985

13457 posts

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#3326927 2-Jan-2025 08:40

LightbulbNeil:

Come up with a plan to be able to get your panels cleaned at least once a year as well.

I'm not sure how much of a difference it made, must have done something. cant be bad for it though.

Might be a little harder on the second story of a 2-story house. I was on the top of an A frame ladder with a 6m wash brush and i was just able to reach the top panel.

A little hard to take photos of, but you can see the difference in the second image. That's 8 months worth of build-up.

Shindig

1585 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3326935 2-Jan-2025 09:16

Are you pleased with the REC panels?

The little things make the biggest difference.

fastbike

212 posts

Master Geek

#3326936 2-Jan-2025 09:18

I installed the panels on the house at Labour weekend. I was surprised how dirty they were by the time the inspector came in mid December, which was around 7 weeks later. In particular the row at the top of our curved roof, which are at around 12 degrees (the next row are 19 degrees and the front row is 26 degrees). A lot of dust, with some bird poop. They seems clean enough atm with all of the Xmas rain we've had.

Even though it is a two story house, fortunately there is good access to the roof without needing to get on it. I'm used to cleaning our solar thermal HW panels annually so will set a reminder to do all of the panels each spring and autumn.

I've become very conscious of lichen on roofs in the last year. I sprayed both the (Colorsteel long run corrugate) house and garage two years ago with the wet and forget product.The garage was particularly bad to the point the paint has changed colour where the lichen used to be. My neighbours also have a problem: one was water blasting the worst off before a spray treatment and the guy on the other side has some type of profile/textured metal tile roof that needs to be sorted.

WRT wet and forget, I've been told not to use it on the panels. Instead use a 70% Isopropyl alcohol dilution, spray it on at dusk once the panels have cooled. The alcohol will kill the lichen, the water prevents it from evaporating too quickly.

Otautahi Christchurch

Jase2985

13457 posts

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#3326939 2-Jan-2025 09:29

Mine are at 30 degrees and we had heavy rain in the week before so its just stuff that doesnt seem to come off easily with rain

Shindig:

Are you pleased with the REC panels?

They are doing their job

LightbulbNeil

57 posts

Master Geek

#3326951 2-Jan-2025 10:13

I clean ours after winter on a fine evening before a forecast of rain. And again the weekend before Christmas, mainly due to the pollen that builds up from September to December. Then generally they are fine for the rest of the year. We got essentially the solar cleaning kit from Pure water cleaning systems. Got the 8lt resin filter and their 6m cleaning pole with the water fed head. Got locally some 10mm hose and made up a the assembly on a moving cart. The hose reel is a sppol from a 3d printer and is the right size for the 30m of hose. Works really well. The filter ensures the water is mineral free so no water marks. The water works very well for cleaning the house windows inside and out as well. Our roof is a shallow 15deg, but looking at putting on the roof some anchor points and getting a safety harness system in place.

Neil

HarmLessSolutions

969 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

#3326981 2-Jan-2025 11:51

@Jase2985:

What brand is that 6m wash brush you've got? Looks pretty rigid. We have a 4m Raven and it's like trying to maneuver a wet noodle at full extension.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

Jase2985

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#3327027 2-Jan-2025 15:51

HarmLessSolutions:

@Jase2985:

What brand is that 6m wash brush you've got? Looks pretty rigid. We have a 4m Raven and it's like trying to maneuver a wet noodle at full extension.

My 4m raven house wash brush is way more sturdy than this 6m one from trade tested It probably sags by a good 2ft when fully extended and while not great It's enough to clean the panels once or twice a year and to be frank it was the only one I could find at 6m in length that wasn't a professional brush and them wanting $7-800 for it.

RobDickinson

1524 posts

Uber Geek

#3328110 6-Jan-2025 09:21

So Decembers bill came in, -$69.24. Nice.

So far $110 in credit (only 2 months export live)

Imported (all no gst/line costs etc)

Standard -16c, 181kwh - $30.87

Exported

Peak - 21c , 289kwh - $60

Off peak - 14c, 526kw - $73

so + $103 on energy charges

sibel

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3328396 6-Jan-2025 20:43

We have recently installed a Sungrow hybrid inverter and Sungrow battery. I would recommend them so far. The inverter is relatively quiet - a small hum. The app is really visual, nice to look at, and offers live data polling.

My parents have a Fronius system - their app is slow to refresh and not that visual in my opinion. The Fronius inverter has active cooling (a fan), and is a little noisy.

Shindig:

.... SunGrow system (Inverter and battery), keeping the premium panels.

The house is two storey, so my thinking being put the premium panels up there with the long and decent guarantee, but slightly reduce the hardware brand\models.

We can compare the prices when the quotes come in.

Shindig

1585 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3328518 7-Jan-2025 05:40

Thanks for that @Sibel.

I have been told and quoted, that the minimum battery stack size is 9.6kwh. Is this correct information?

Also, any chance of knowing the price you paid please?

The little things make the biggest difference.

prob

225 posts

Master Geek

#3328532 7-Jan-2025 08:15

RobDickinson:

So Decembers bill came in, -$69.24. Nice.

So far $110 in credit (only 2 months export live)

Imported (all no gst/line costs etc)

Standard -16c, 181kwh - $30.87

Exported

Peak - 21c , 289kwh - $60

Off peak - 14c, 526kw - $73

so + $103 on energy charges

Thanks Rob, to save me trawling though this long discussion, can you please summarise your installation to give context?

RobDickinson

1524 posts

Uber Geek

#3328537 7-Jan-2025 08:44

prob:

Thanks Rob, to save me trawling though this long discussion, can you please summarise your installation to give context?

9.25kw in chc with a pw3

RobDickinson

1524 posts

Uber Geek

#3328554 7-Jan-2025 11:21

So the PW3 is calibrating again. Its done this at least 4-5 times, last only 18 days ago. It charges to 100% and fully discharges yet 'still ready to back up my home' somehow? Takws 24 hrs or so.

I am confused, doing this every couple of weeks is quite a chunk of time to spend calibrating

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