You might have some questions.
Here are a few quick answers.
We answer some common questions about solar power and solar system installations. Also visit us at our showroom at 30 Grey Street, Knysna, and we’ll assist you in person.
We sell single-phase and 3-phase commercial solar inverters up to 350 kW from our showroom at 30 Grey Street, Knysna.Inverters
We sell floor-standing or wall-mounted lithium iron phosphate batteries from our showroom at 30 Grey Street, Knysna. Solar System Batteries Overview Type:
We sell only high yielding, superior Tier 1 monocrystalline solar panels from our showroom at 30 Grey Street, Knysna.
The cost of installing a solar power system directly depends on your needs – whether you just want a backup during loadshedding and to reduce your electricity bill, or to independently generate all of your own electricity.
The size of your house, number and consumption of your electric appliances, and available positioning for your solar panels all influence the cost.
We do a site visit and conduct a proper analysis before we quote, to ensure that you install the most suitable and practical solar system for your individual needs.
As with the cost, this totally depends on your individual needs – the size of your home and the number and consumption demands of your electrical appliances, and whether you want to generate all of your own electricity or just want to avoid loadshedding.
We do a proper needs analysis before quoting. You can always start small and expand your system (add more solar panels and batteries), as your budget allows.
If your system is big enough (enough solar panels, large enough inverter and enough battery storage), you can run your entire house purely on solar power.
We have more than enough sunshine hours per day to power your entire house, throughout the year and even during the winter months.
Both a grid-tied and hybrid solar system are still connected to the national power grid (Eskom). Eskom serves as a backup for when your panels cannot produce enough electricity.
The difference is that traditional grid-tied systems do not have batteries (like hybrid systems do) to store electricity for use during the night or times of loadshedding.
An off-grid solar system is disconnected from Eskom and produces all of its required electricity.
Without batteries (installing only solar panels), you’ll have a grid-tied solar system.
You’ll generate your own electricity while the sun is shining and default to Eskom’s supply when there is no sunshine. This greatly reduced your electricity bill, but does not free you from loadshedding or power outages.
Adding batteries turns your system into a hybrid solar system.
You store the excess electricity for later use. Batteries can be charged by either your solar panels or by Eskom.
When you rely only on solar panels to charge your batteries, without being connected to Eskom, you’ll have a grid-free or off-the-grid solar system.
Although it’s a much cheaper option to not include batteries, you won’t be able to store any electricity and can use only what and when your solar panels are producing power.
During the night or days of low sunshine, you’ll have to draw electricity from Eskom – which means that you are still subject to loadshedding or power grid outages.
In short, your solar panels convert sunlight into electricity as direct current (DC).
This energy is stored in batteries for use during times of no sunlight (nights) or when the panels couldn’t sufficiently generate enough electricity (like on extended cloudy days). Batteries are optional and can also be charged by Eskom, when your panels cannot (making it a hybrid system).
Your inverter converts the DC power to alternating current (AC power), to be used in your home.
Yes, if you purchase the correct inverter, you can just add more solar panels and batteries, when you wish to increase your system’s electricity generating capacity later.
You can also add another inverter in series, if you initially wish to go with a smaller inverter.
Yes, you are welcome to use your own installer. Although we install ourselves, we also sell to any other installer and also directly to the public.
We stock various brands of solar panels, inverters, batteries and accessories. Visit our showroom at 30 Grey Street, Knysna, to see our range of products.
If we install your solar system, we add you to our list of monitored clients.
We’ll receive an alert, in the event of any failure or repairs required, and will attend to the matter.
Apart from avoiding power outages when the national grid is down, a great advantage of solar power, is the cost saving. You’d either enjoy a greatly reduced monthly electricity bill when installing a grid-tied or hybrid system, or no Eskom bill ever again when going off-grid.
For the solar system itself, there is thus no monthly fee (apart from your Eskom bill, if you are still grid-tied).
Some of the inverters can be managed remotely via an app on your phone, which comes at no additional or monthly cost.
We’ll do a proper roof inspection before quoting you.
We can install on most roofs, but unfortunately not on asbestos or thatch roofs, as the panels are attached to special aluminium rails.
In this case of an asbestos or thatch roof, we can get creative and see if we can find a workaround, by attaching the panels to your walls or adding a suitable structure.
The panels also need to be positioned to receive full sun, for as long as possible. So, shade from your neighbours, trees or your own roof will determine whether your space is suitable for solar panels or not.
Grid-Tied vs Off-Grid vs Hybrid
Eskom or no Eskom. That is the question. Being grid-tied isn't all that bad. That's why a hybrid solar power system is so ideal.
Weather & Output
What if it rains for 40 days? Weather affects output, but there's more than enough sunshine in our area to keep you always on.
Sunshine Hours
How many hours of sunshine can you bargain on? We can show you the historic data for your area to put your mind at ease.
Equipment Maintenance
What if the panels get dirty? Should the battery fluid be checked? Here's the download of what maintenance is involved.
Own Installations
Your own installer can purchase everything you need from our showroom at 30 Grey Street, Knysna. (Orange hard hat and gloves not required)
