Solar Solutions

Hi guys

With Eskom progressively getting worse every month, I am now considering to go full solar, off the grid.

With de Ruyter already resigning, and apparently with other seniors at Eskom to follow soon, that is a very ominous sign to me that worse is still to come.

I currently have a diesel generator which is brilliant and runs my entire house and I also have an inverter with deep cycle lead acid batteries, which are a massive help and run a lot of appliances just on their own.... but I think I need to do the full conversion now.

Has anyone done this yet, and if so, what system have you implemented?

Covid did one good thing for me. I had an overseas trip planned to the UK in 2020 to see relatives and friends which I had to cancel because of Covid. I used that money to put in a solar system and it's the best thing I ever did. I don't notice loadshedding at home . . . and without the noise or smell (or expense) of diesel.

Don't know if the system I put in has a specific name but the company was called Elite Energy. Ask for Chris. I have 12 panels on the roof (separate panel and system for geyser) and two batteries, one of which can handle the load. 

My neighbours and I are considering a borehole as well. 

One other important point though, the government is trying very hard to find a way to "tax" solar users. The problem they have is that all the people going over to solar are the same people who subsidise all the millions of people who don't pay for electricity. Something's going to give.

Thanks for that feedback Rooinek

I do agree, it definitely is the way to go, and with so many "approved suppliers" in the market at the moment, it is very difficult to know who to trust.

Borehole is also another option, my neighbour just got his done, and they hit water at 43m, and his budget was R45 000.... so I was happy for him, and in general, I believe it is between R800 to R1 000 per drilled meter..... but it's also risky when you don't know where to stop if you don't hit the water, especially after already spending say R50 000 and it could literally be another meter down... but also another 20m - 30m ...

Some other people I spoke to also had issues with the very high iron content in their borehole water, which then also had to be treated separately before consumption... but I agree, most definitely a bonus to have it