Solar options for home in 2022.

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#3343720 17-Feb-2025 13:08

EgorNZ:

Note that you can always use AC-connected batteries (like Powerwall) regardless of your inverter.

Interesting, thanks. I assume those go out in a power cut as well? Plus they will have their own inverter rather than just being a battery so probably more expensive overall?

EgorNZ

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#3343724 17-Feb-2025 13:25

timmmay:

Interesting, thanks. I assume those go out in a power cut as well? Plus they will have their own inverter rather than just being a battery so probably more expensive overall?

AC coupled batteries certainly can provide backup power during an outage. Yes they have a battery inverter built-in so cost may be higher, on the other hand you don't need a hybrid solar inverter, they'll work with anything, so there may be some saving there.

EgorNZ

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#3343725 17-Feb-2025 13:27

Apparently AC coupled batteries are also simpler and easier to install.

And they can be charged from the grid, whereas DC coupled batteries can only charge from your solar.

fastbike

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#3343732 17-Feb-2025 13:42

EgorNZ:

Note that you can always use AC-connected batteries (like Powerwall) regardless of your inverter.

With 3 AC/DC conversions the efficiency starts to fall off though. A DC couple battery will be more efficient.

Otautahi Christchurch

HarmLessSolutions

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#3343735 17-Feb-2025 13:49

fastbike:

EgorNZ:

Note that you can always use AC-connected batteries (like Powerwall) regardless of your inverter.

With 3 AC/DC conversions the efficiency starts to fall off though. A DC couple battery will be more efficient.

I've found this guy very useful in researching solar installation design. This video goes through the pros and cons of various batteries including DC vs AC coupled.

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

Interslice

159 posts

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#3343850 17-Feb-2025 19:22

timbosan:

Interslice:

So just asking a question here.. would any of you advise against this. Am looking at this package here from Micromall, 12 panels, 5kw inverter and 10kw battery.

https://www.micromall.co.nz/deye-5kw-smart-hybrid-inverter-hpbc-solar-panels-10-7kwh-battery

Had a local solar installer with a good reputation say it would cost 4-5k to install making the total 13-14k. He did say that the inverter is one of the cheapest on the market and said I should get a different one but it does come with a 10 year warranty?

I just thought the pricing was pretty good on this is all. Thanks.

Not specifically replying about the hardware, but $5K for install is WAY above what Micromall have quoted me for a similar system. They also offer two options - self install where you do the grunt work then a sparky does the important bits, and full install. For a similar system -16 panels but without battery - I was quoted $2800.

Thanks for that. I found a local installer for Micromall gear on there website under installers but he's slow to reply and I cannot find any info about him which makes me a bit weary to be honest.. he hasn't quoted me yet but did say that it would probably be anywhere from $2800-4000.

dantheperson

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#3343905 17-Feb-2025 20:10

fastbike:

The Niwa SolarView tool is great to see how various orientation and tilt affects output throughout the year. E.g. For our site we have only 1/4 the output in winter cf summer, and the peak insolation is 730 w/m^2 in Dec vs 300 in June. Play around with your site as the tool will take into account any hills etc.

I really struggle to make sense out of Niwa Solarview. That graph, how much power would i be making 8am mid-sping with an east/west split 5kWh array (so 2.5 kW east, 2.5kW west)

dantheperson

174 posts

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#3343907 17-Feb-2025 20:19

EgorNZ:

Apparently AC coupled batteries are also simpler and easier to install.

And they can be charged from the grid, whereas DC coupled batteries can only charge from your solar.

No idea how common it is, but aFronis Gen24 hybrid inverter can charge its DC coupled battery from the grid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loxFQmogC24

assuming it's this line "Max. charging power with AC coupling " on the specs, then it can grid charge at it's rated AC cacpacity.

Ge0rge

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#3343909 17-Feb-2025 20:21

The graph shows how much cumulative solar energy, in kW/h, will have fallen on a m² at that location, azimuth and bearing. So for approx 0800 in spring, the panels will have seen 0.02kW/h.

RobDickinson

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#3344165 18-Feb-2025 14:00

EgorNZ:

Note that you can always use AC-connected batteries (like Powerwall) regardless of your inverter.

PW3 uses DC directly from PV or AC if thats what you have.

fastbike

212 posts

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#3344219 18-Feb-2025 14:40

dantheperson:

I really struggle to make sense out of Niwa Solarview. That graph, how much power would i be making 8am mid-sping with an east/west split 5kWh array (so 2.5 kW east, 2.5kW west)

It shows the power for a given location (Chch in this case), azimuth (or orientation - this one being 14 degrees west of north), and panel tilt.
If you have panels facing in two directions, or with different tilts, then run the model twice. As far as how much power you will need to know area of panels, efficiency etc. It's very useful to compare various scenarios where you have the option of adding additional panels. E.g I could model adding another 14 panels on a W/SW facing roof.

Otautahi Christchurch

boland

545 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3344227 18-Feb-2025 15:34

Interslice:

So just asking a question here.. would any of you advise against this. Am looking at this package here from Micromall, 12 panels, 5kw inverter and 10kw battery.

https://www.micromall.co.nz/deye-5kw-smart-hybrid-inverter-hpbc-solar-panels-10-7kwh-battery

Had a local solar installer with a good reputation say it would cost 4-5k to install making the total 13-14k. He did say that the inverter is one of the cheapest on the market and said I should get a different one but it does come with a 10 year warranty?

I just thought the pricing was pretty good on this is all. Thanks.

I've been looking to add a battery to our solar installation for a couple of years now. Our inverter isn't hybrid so either we need to get another inverter or an AC coupled battery. Every quote was $15k+ for just the AC battery or a DC battery + inverter.

I'd be very wary about a $9k price which also includes the solar panels. Never heard of Deye and not reading many good reviews e.g. here: https://www.hellopeter.com/deye-inverters

plas

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3344277 18-Feb-2025 15:47

timmmay:

Is anyone able to give me a rough estimate of install costs for a residential mid sized solar system in 2025? I want to own it and don't want to do any of it myself. I wouldn't think a battery would be worthwhile at this stage, but I might want to add one later as prices come down some more.

Wellington suburbs
Color steel roof in good condition with a large sloped north facing area on a fairly good slope, plus smaller but still reasonable sized east and west facing areas
I work from home, we use a lot of heating and cooling in our older but well insulated house
5 or 6 showers a day from electric hot water, and about 10 loads of washing per week, often done with warm water
Winter consumption approx 1300kwh/month, summer 1000kwh/month
We're currently paying $0.14c/kwh, when that expires in a few months that looks like it'll go up to about $0.24c/kwh. That will cost us an extra $1500 a year - total I'm guessing $4800 per year. I also expect power is going to keep going up.

Any idea about payback period? I'm guessing by the way power keeps going up it's not going to be all that long. A friend who installed solar 10 years ago said his payback period was around 7 years.

We were quoted recently for a 7.36kw system 16panels with a PW3 $30k installed

boland

545 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3344278 18-Feb-2025 15:49

Does anyone have experience with the Enphase 5P? It's a 5kwh AC coupled battery but can't find any pricing info. It seems to have been released in Nov 2023, but not on the companies I contacted mentioned it during my quest.

timmmay

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#3344293 18-Feb-2025 16:14

plas:

We were quoted recently for a 7.36kw system 16panels with a PW3 $30k installed

That's interesting, thanks. A Powerwall is about $15K, so the system without that is about $15K. We're still thinking a decent sized solar system first, battery maybe later.

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