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Operating totally off the grid requires a large capacity battery array capable of powering the property during periods of low irradiance in winter, prolonged rainy days, cloudy day and an inverter capable of supplying the maximum load ever required at one time. This requires an investment in PV modules, inverters and lithium-ion batteries. An off-grid system is well suited to rural areas, farms, and urban houses with large available land for PV panels.
A pure grid-tied system with no storage or load management for a user with fixed rate power charges is a viable option for South Africa but the system will need to be significantly under sized to minimise the wasted energy generation as typically no surplus power can be exported. Essentially the PV system has to be sized to generate only sufficient power for the base load during the day, i.e. the fridge, freezer, pool pump and other permanently on devices. The low investment cost of a small PV system with a high self-consumption rate should make them quite attractive especially for households with family at home during the day.
With frequent load shedding there is continued demand for grid-backup systems that can operate with no grid for prolonged periods of time. Adding a hybrid inverter along with a battery makes it possible to have uninterrupted energy from the stored battery to power at least the essential loads in the property. The size of the battery required depends on the rating of the essential loads to be driven from it at times of no grid power being available.
Typically a residential system will generate the most power during the day when household consumption is not at the maximum. Without the ability to export surplus power the only option is to increase your battery size so that excess energy is stored until needed. The storage option could take the form of a battery system or using the surplus power to heat the geyser. Hot water heating is a very cost-effective option which with a correctly sized PV system could provide the best return on investment. A large battery solution may add significantly to the cost. The use of a time switch on a washing machine and/or dishwasher can help to maximise the use of generated energy during the sunshine hours.
Many electricity users in South Africa, especially industrial, pay a very high tariff when they use higher amounts of electricity than normal during peak times. Some residential users are on tariffs which are higher during peak times of the day 5:00PM – 7:00PM or 06:00AM – 09:00AM for example or more for energy usage at any time above a certain threshold, e.g. 600kWh per month. In these cases a PV system may be used to limit the amount of higher cost electricity consumed by storing energy during the hours of sunlight and releasing it during the high cost periods. This may require additional timing controls to limit the time of usage of stored energy to these higher charge periods. The type and size of the battery is essential to any grid-backup or enhanced self-consumption system with many factors to take into account.
An electrical Distribution Board (also known as a DB Board) is where power comes into your home. Upgrading it allows more electric power to flow to your house.What’s the capacity of your Electrical Distribution Board? Learn why it matters and when you should think about upgrading.
There are a few reasons you may need to upgrade your Distribution Board:
Maybe you’re adding an to a large solar PV inverter based system, electric vehicle charger, pool or another large appliance. When you need more power, upgrading from 100 to 200 amps is common.
When you install a solar energy system, you need the ability to produce power at your home and backfeed that electricity into the grid. Your breaker box limits the amount of electricity that can flow through, but upgrading can solve that.
If your Distribution Boards is older, you may want to consider an upgrade. Modern appliances have increased the average home’s electrical needs, leaving older Distribution Boards insufficient. Electrical upgrades ensure you can run everything safely.
Electrical repairs are occasionally needed when you have a faulty outlet or loose wiring connections. Common signs of an electrical problem could be: an outlet that stops working, buzzing noises or visible sparks from appliances or outlets, and burn marks on appliances or outlets. These hazards can lead to electrocution or fire if not addressed.
With a solid history of electrical contracting experience, BES Solar Energy licensed electricians can safely diagnose issues and provide effective solutions.
Houses connect to the grid with telephone poles and overhead wires or underground service. Typically we won’t need to work inside your home to complete the upgrade, which involves disconnecting all wires and breakers from the Distribution Board, removing the metal box, putting in a new box with new breakers, and then reconnecting all the wires.
It’s important to understand how much power is delivered from the grid to your home. We look at this through your main breaker. For example, if you have a 63-amp main breaker, you can draw 63-amps of power for all your appliances. The Distribution Board might be rated for higher, so this isn’t the most accurate rating to follow. DB Boards ratings are 60, 80, 240-amps for residential application.
The size of your electrical Distribution Board will depend on your energy needs and availability. For a quick illustration: an AC unit and pool need more than 80-amps of electricity coming into the house. If you plan to add a large appliance and you don’t know how much it will impact your energy demand, we’re here to support you.
Give us a call and we’ll help you decide if you need a Distribution Board upgrade too.
Drive on sunshine and save money with an electric vehicle and home charger.
If you’re looking for a fast, efficient, and convenient home charging solution, look no further than BWireless Energy Systems. We offer Electric Vehicle charging equipment and can create a solution that:
Now for some perspective: a charger that delivers 50-70 kilometers of range per hour charged is ideal (6.6-10 kW power delivery) for South African drivers who cover about 70 kilometers per day on average. Average daily kilometers are recharged within 2 hours and even a close-to-empty 100 kWh battery can be charged fully overnight. It’s clear, having solar + Electric Vehicle home charging = maximum energy savings.
BWireless Energy can connect you with the correct charger for your electric vehicle. If you have an existing home EV charger, we can install a dedicated 240v outlet for maximum power and faster charging.
Our professional electrical subcontractors will perform a load calculation to confirm that you’ll be up to standard with your dedicated Electric Vehicle circuit on your Distribution Board and help you decide which options best meet your needs. They will also issue a COC to ensure compliance and safety.
Electric vehicles (EVs) have officially made their mark as a mainstream revolution. Conventional cars have long been propelled by internal combustion engines burning finite fossil fuels, a concept pioneered a century ago. But today the car industry is accelerating toward all-electric vehicles and the savings and convenience that come with them.
If you’ve joined the EV revolution, BWireless Energy is here to equip you with the exact charger you need to fit your vehicle or an outlet that’s ready to accept any EV charger (purchased separately).
Try this on for size: never worrying about fuel prices again, charging your tank while you sleep and skipping out on oil changes. Sounds nice, right?
Electric vehicles emit no harmful gases to our atmosphere, and now have the same range as a full tank of fuel. All major automotive companies are investing in electric cars, and many have committed to entirely electric fleets soon. The constantly fluctuating oil market is reason enough to quit the petrol/diesel game and join the “fill up” at home crew.
Have a solar energy system? Even better. The benefits are doubly exciting when you charge your electric vehicle with solar energy: you reduce your carbon footprint almost entirely by powering it with clean energy (vs. fossil-fueled grid power) and you save on that energy.
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011 568 3045
087 550 1525
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