{"id":6226,"date":"2023-02-20T16:23:03","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T14:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/?p=6226"},"modified":"2023-02-20T16:23:03","modified_gmt":"2023-02-20T14:23:03","slug":"press-release-can-your-solar-system-function-off-grid-or-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/press-release-can-your-solar-system-function-off-grid-or-not\/","title":{"rendered":"Press Release: CAN Your Solar System function Off-Grid or Not?"},"content":{"rendered":"

“We have seen many people on social media saying that they are installing a 5 kW inverter and 12\/16 solar panels so that they can say goodbye to Eskom and, in many cases, I would say that they have been misled,” says Alan Straton from Straton Solar.<\/a><\/p>\n

A 5 kW inverter will NOT support all the power required (if all appliances and motors were switched on at the same time) in a typical South African home.<\/p>\n

A quick exercise to measure your peak power consumption on startup of every appliance, light and motor in your home will soon reveal the folly of a 5 kW system being relied on to power your entire home in an off-grid situation.<\/p>\n

The simplest way to see if any system specified for your home will support you going off-grid is to measure the power rating of every appliance, geyser, stove, light and device plugged in to your home currently.<\/p>\n

The next thing to note is the start up draw of each appliance or motor that you will require.<\/p>\n

Then make assumptions based on the above:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What will you power draw be if every single one of your appliances, geysers, stoves, lights and devices were turned on at the same time<\/li>\n
  2. Then, add up what the number will be if you add the start up draw of each motor – for example a motor may be rated at 1 kW but it’s start up may be rated at 1.5 kW for a certain amount of time.<\/li>\n
  3. Use the start up draw from each of the above in point 1 above.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    An example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • 25 Lights rated at 15 watts each = 375 watts per hour<\/li>\n
    • 15 devices (computer, TV’s, chargers, bedside lights etc.) plugged in at 150 watts each = 2 250 watts per hour<\/li>\n
    • 1 Geyser at 1000 watts = 1000 watts per hour<\/li>\n
    • 1 Pool pump at 2000 watts = 2000 watts per hour (peak at 2 750 watts)<\/li>\n
    • 1 Water Tank pump at 500 watts = 500 watts per hour (peak at 750 watts)<\/li>\n
    • 2 fridges at 600 watts each = 120 watts per hour<\/li>\n
    • 1 Stove at 3000 watts = 300 watts per hour<\/li>\n
    • 1 Hairdryer at 2700 watts = 2 700 watts per hour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Adding the above up = 10245 watts per hour or 10.245 kW per hour<\/p>\n

      The other way to see what you consume per hour is to take your monthly bill and see how many units (kWh) you are being billed for. A typical small home will consume around 1200 units per month or 1.66 kW per hour (as an aside – we know of homes consuming 5 kW per hour WHILST the owners are on vacation!).<\/p>\n

      Q.<\/strong> So why do we as installers look at the HIGHER figure of 10.245 kW and NOT the lower figure of 1.66 kW?<\/p>\n

      A.<\/strong> In order to protect you and your valuable inverter and load shedding equipment from being roasted in a surge when your entire home is switched on at once.<\/p>\n

      Often what happens is:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. The cost to ensure that an entire homes power demand is met is pretty prohibitive for most homeowners<\/li>\n
      2. Most homeowners balk at installing a ‘backup’ for their solar panels and batteries in the form of a generator or wind turbine.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Frankly it makes better sense for homeowners in an urban environment to rather use the grid as a backup if anything does go pear shaped.<\/p>\n

        What to look out for when specifying an inverter and battery for your home:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Match your expected power draw to the inverter and battery rating<\/li>\n
        2. Make sure that your battery has sufficient capacity to outlast a 4 hour outage after being run down to a minimum of 40% of capacity<\/li>\n
        3. Make sure that your battery can be charged up relatively quickly after an outage<\/li>\n
        4. Check what the power peak is for your inverter and battery and the duration thereof.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          If you DO NOT go the off-grid route then make sure that your installer divides your electrical distribution board into ‘essential’ and non-essential’ distribution boards to power your essentials which, in most cases, are to power the fridge, TV, Router, small lights, charge a laptop, alarm, electric gate, intercom and electric fence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          “We have seen many people on social media saying that they are installing a 5 kW inverter and 12\/16 solar panels so that they can say goodbye to Eskom and, in many cases, I would say that they have been misled,” says Alan Straton from Straton Solar. A 5 kW inverter will NOT support all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3815,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6226","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-solar","8":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Mini-grid-on-small-island.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Mini-grid-on-small-island.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Alan","author_link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/author\/alan\/"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Mini-grid-on-small-island.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5HvVd-1Cq","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6071,"url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/why-going-off-grid-and-saying-goodbye-to-eskom-is-a-special-exercise\/","url_meta":{"origin":6226,"position":0},"title":"Why Going Off-Grid and ‘Saying Goodbye to Eskom’ is a SPECIAL Exercise","author":"Alan","date":"23 July 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\"We have seen many people on social media saying that they are installing a 5 kW inverter and 12\/16 solar panels so that they can say goodbye to Eskom and, in many cases, I would say that they have been misled,\" says Straton Solar. A 5 kW inverter will NOT\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Solar","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/category\/solar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":117,"url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/new-off-grid-backup-inverter-released\/","url_meta":{"origin":6226,"position":1},"title":"New off-grid backup inverter released","author":"Alan","date":"19 December 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Schneider Electric Solar Business, which makes solutions for the solar power conversion chain, has released its off-grid solar and backup power inverter\/charger, the Conext SW, in the southern African region. The Conext SW represents a technological step forward for Schneider Electric\u2019s off-grid solar product offering by providing pure sine wave\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Solar","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/category\/solar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6240,"url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/press-release-are-you-really-off-grid\/","url_meta":{"origin":6226,"position":2},"title":"Press Release: Are you really “Off-Grid”?","author":"Alan","date":"20 February 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"How Much does an Off-Grid System Cost? The difference between Off-Grid and Grid-Tie Do you know what type of solar system you have installed? Of the 4 types of solar systems available which one give the best ROI? Which Solar System SHOULD be incentivised FIRST by government? Beleaguered South African\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Solar","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/category\/solar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Solar Turtle","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Solar_Turtle.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Solar_Turtle.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Solar_Turtle.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Solar_Turtle.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6236,"url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/press-release-ditch-the-4x4-grab-the-5x5\/","url_meta":{"origin":6226,"position":3},"title":"Press Release: Ditch the 4×4 Grab the 5×5","author":"Alan","date":"20 February 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Let's first warn sensitive readers that we will be using two South African swear words extensively in this article: Eskom and Loadshedding. If you have a weak heart or are prone to uncontrolled bursts of anger when things go wrong then please move on and read gentler tomes such as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Solar","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/category\/solar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/5x5_Sunsynk_Solar_Hybrid.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/5x5_Sunsynk_Solar_Hybrid.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/5x5_Sunsynk_Solar_Hybrid.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/5x5_Sunsynk_Solar_Hybrid.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/5x5_Sunsynk_Solar_Hybrid.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":308,"url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/problem-you-need-clean-backup-now-but-want-to-expand-to-grid-tie-later\/","url_meta":{"origin":6226,"position":4},"title":"Problem: You need clean backup NOW but want to expand to grid tie later","author":"Alan","date":"28 January 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Plus you don't want to toss your existing generator. Your solution is an adaptable single and three-phase hybrid inverter with grid-tie functionality and dual AC power inputs. We can give you further flexibility by later adding solar charge controllers, monitoring, and automated generator control modules. Future proof your needs with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Solar","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/category\/solar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/VmlS_YBqLEs\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6216,"url":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/press-release-loadshedding-stress-test-for-tesla-powerwall\/","url_meta":{"origin":6226,"position":5},"title":"Press Release: Loadshedding Stress Test for Tesla Powerwall","author":"Alan","date":"20 February 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"With the recent power outage woes being experienced by Summerstrand residents for an an extended length of time due to vandalism on an ancient oil filled 132 KvA cable, along with an extended overcast and rainy period we pulled out some data from a recent Solar installation installation done by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Solar","link":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/category\/solar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/powerwall_front_angle.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/powerwall_front_angle.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/powerwall_front_angle.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/powerwall_front_angle.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/powerwall_front_angle.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/powerwall_front_angle.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6226"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6227,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6226\/revisions\/6227"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}