Solar - 8kW Hybrid Inverter w/10kWh (upgraded to 20kWh in Sept. 2022) ESS/battery (not DIY)

[Muhendis]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

If staying there in house that long,

House value is increased significantly if free electricity is included. ????

[Muhendis]

1 hour ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

I got a quote for a 5kw hybrid system... 400K baht.

400K divided by 3K monthly = 133 months... divided by 12 months = 11.1 years

This is minimal payback parameters... 

Very, very expensive price but nevertheless don't forget to factor in the increasing cost of PEA power.

 

If DIY that price of 400k could be halved and most components doubled.

[KhunLA]

Rainy season finally arrived, so out the door for couple O&As.  About 10ish days.   When home, daily average 30+kWh most of the time.  A short stretch, 6ish days, and about 20kWh a day.

 

While O&A, produced about 5.5kWh, and consumed about 4.5kWh a day, to keep 2 frigs and couple lights on.

[KhunLA]

July 2023 ... O&A for 11 days

Average ~27kWh when home

[KhunLA]

One year with Solar already.

Solar installed 4 August 2022 - 31 July 2023

Saved ~฿29,240 @ ฿4kWh using 7.310kWh

Saved ~฿54,420 charging EV vs 38.08/liter, if driving 20k kms a year.  We should hit 20k kms, with 3 more months to go.

 

Total savings with Solar System ฿83,660

ROI - <5.5 years (5.32), with EV.

I may even live that long

 

ROI - <15 yrs (14.83) if not having EV

 

2022

 

2023

 

Yearly Totals

We did use 325kWh of PEA

Due to miscalculation of use mainly, as we really didn't need the grid at all after installed.

 

Also topped up the EV, from 20-30%, back up to 50%, after return from O&A, JIC needed to go to Hua Hin Hosp, 100kms away, for any medical oops.  20-30%/9-14kWh takes about 2-3 hr on the grid @ 7.4kWh

[KhunLA]

We need to produced about 5.5kWh, and consumed about 4.5kWh a day, when O&A, keep 2 frigs & 1 light on.

 

When home, we use 20-30kWh a day, depending on AC use.  More if charging the EVs.

 

Our most production/consumption day was 50kWh+

Could easily exceed that, if we exported.

 

[KhunLA]

Some final thoughts for those considering installing a solar system.

 

Get a hybrid inverter, as you may need it in the future.

 

Don't count on keeping your spinning meter, or getting one on new construction.  In my are, ALL new house get digital, and just did a unscientific survey, and didn't notice one spinning meter, so they are replacing ALL meter in our Amphur.

 

If having any thoughts of feeding into the grid for payback with PEA/MEA, if & when available, then you'll need to use their approved components/inverter.

 

Our, Deye is not, since 8kW, but the 5kW is approved.  So one or two of those would be recommended,  If only using 1, I can't see much excess that you'll have to send back anyway.  I read cost of getting that done, registered/inspected & approved, is not inexpensive.

 

How much solar ... we thought we oversized our system, as some days producing 25+ kWh more than we use.  Flip side, some days, taking all day, when minimal use, and recharge batteries for non producing hours.  So we lucked out, and sized it just about right, with plenty of excess to charge the EVs, though does take some planning sometimes.  

 

In that aspect, if having, charge your EV when you can, not when it needs it.  LFP batteries don't mind being topped up all the time.

 

Obviously the more ESSs that you have, the less total % you'll be draining them down to, so more equals more life longevity ... at a price of course, and far from inexpensive, and accounts for >40% of the price of our system.

 

Obviously ROI, will depend on cost & usage.  For us, that's going to be 5-10 yrs, probably about 7 years.

 

My days on the forum are winding down, so any questions, use PM, as I turned on notifications for those.

 

Happy Savings ????????????

[KhunLA]

August 2023 

Only take away, is using about 2X from previous year, since being first month having the system and being very conservative.

 

No need to be, as realize system provides more than enough for house & EV

 

H/L day ... produced/consumed

H -38kWh/36.3kWh

L - 9.5kWj/9.3kWh (day trip to Hua Hin)

 

[KhunLA]

As always, it's your money, and do as you please.  But not even 0800 hrs, and overcast, and our solar system is producing enough for house (1 AC on), and I'm charging the EV.

 

 

 

[KhunLA]

Sept 2023

 

Most & least production/consumption, when at home:

[KhunLA]

This is our usage overnight, on an overcast day, before & after, production stopped & started the next day, to exceed use.  ESS use during no production hours.  If sunny out, might squeeze another 1 to 1.5 hrs of production, but at very low rate, maybe 1kWh more.  Seasonally, TH's length of daylight, only differs about 1 hour daytime vs nighttime, 

 

We average 6-8kWh overnight, as ESSs (20kWh) usually @ 70-60% @ 0800 hrs.

2 frigs & 1 AC (14 hrs) & 2 laptops / 1 TV (65") (6 hrs)

 

 

[KhunLA]

Oct 2023 - prod / cons - 630kWh / 601kWh

 

High - 29 Oct 

 

Low - 12 Oct (@ Kanchanaburi)

 

 Yesterday @ home 😲

 

Woke up this morning @ 73%

ESSs topped up at 09;25

Charging car now

 

A bit of 'local' exploring, only a couple nights overnight, 1 night at a time.  So no long 7-10 days of non use at home, as previous months above.

[KhunLA]

Solar System ROI - about 5 years

 

Actually numbers produced vs PEA + EV saving for the past year.

Coincides with owning the EV since 30 Oct 2022

Assume driving 20k kms a year 'locally' and charging w/Solar.

 

Should be self explanatory:

 

[KhunLA]

Nov 2023 

Daily average; Prod/Cons: 18.66 / 18.02kWh

Highest Prod/Cons: 33.4 / 32.4kWh

 

 

 

 

[KhunLA]

PEA may be doing an customer survey to find out who has solar, if meter reading fluctuates, hi/lo monthly readings.

 

Meter reader asked wife why 'last' month was so low, when reading today's higher reading of 60 units.   

 

Ask if we were out of town, which wife answered honestly to, yes.

 

What the reader should have asked, considering our use, "why is this month higher than previous? "

 

Because we topped up the car from 9%-100% 

 

I would have told the reader that this is our holiday, surfside-ish home, and we have another at Krung Thep.

 

Strange query to begin with, as installer of meter, asked if we have solar, and informed we did ... hmm.

 

We were getting a digital meter anyway, as all new builds in the area do.   He may have noticed the temp meter for the build, (w/low reading) was replaced by another 'temp' meter (?), also with low reading, until new meter (digital) was available for us, 2 weeks later.  Noticing still low reading in those 2 weeks, or just a standard question now with meter installations.

[KhunLA]

Dec 2023 ... Highest day when home, shy of 35kWh

2023 ... Highest month 1,000kWh

Calendar year of PEA savings ... ฿34,672

 

ROI of Solar vs PEA ... <10 years

ROI of Solar + w/EV savings .. <5 years

 

Without the EV, we'd be home a lot more, using a lot more solar.

IF all things remain the same, cost of electric & petrol, along with driving 20k kms a year.

 

If plan on living 5 or 10 more years, well worth investing in either or both.  IF they fit your lifestyle.  Or keep giving money to MEA/PEA & PTT

 

[KhunLA]

Chit chatting with our installer this morning, as rung me up, and asked what & why, the wife was asking about, via email, "is it safe to go up on roof ?".

 

Of course she didn't ask me, so I didn't have a clue.  Apparently small roof leak, she wanted to seal, and simply wanted to ask about being near the panels if on the rood.  No issues.

 

Point of post ... he said they did 150 installs last year.  And since Jan 1st, had/has 20 installs lined up, and buzzing by our house on the way to Ban Krut to install a system.   Great the home owners are so much smarter and active with solar installation, and sad the govt/grid operators aren't as savvy, and taking advantage of the free energy source available year round in the topics.  Damn embarrassing really.

 

Another thing we talked about, and what I recommend when asked 'what I'd do different ?" which would be instead of our 8kw inverter, use two 5kw inverters.   He actually doesn't install 8kw inverters any more, as many ask about PEA/MEA buy back excess.  8kw inverter isn't on the 'approved' inverter list, but the Deye 5 kw inverter is.  10kw for 3 phase, if heaving.

 

Besides being an approved inverter, if wanting more than 5kw, then gives you some redundancy, if one as an oops.

 

He also stated, PEA not battery friendly.   So if considering getting on the 'buy back excess' system, hold off on hooking up the ESS/batties, until approved.   One customer signed up, and they told him no, (PKK province), if having batteries.   So he disconnected till approved, which they did approve, now will simply re-hook them back up.

 

They really don't want us to be independent of the grid, or use a little as possible.  Love their power of control. 🤬

[KhunLA]

When you have solar, every once in a while ...

... you need to   PAY  ATTENTION  

 

Which I wasn't today, as haven't needed to in months.   Forgetting it's been raining, ALL DAY.

 

So we're at 82% now, and it's only 4ish pm.  Oops  Not major issue, as we'll only use 6kwh overnight, and hopefully wake up with 50%.   Which is our average during cool season, as seem to wake up to 70% SOC on ESSs, and start producing.

 

ESSs at 50% will be the lowest they've ever been since 2nd pack was paralleled in.  Even in hot or rainy season, never been below 60%.  

 

We'd be at 95-100% if not using the ACs today, as not needed.  We just opened all the sliding doors w/screens, to let cool air flow through, while having early dinner, and the wife is cold 😂

 

Won't need to use the ACs overnight, will compensate for the next couple hours of no production.   ESSs never topped up today.  We had the ACs on, I baked some turnovers, wife's on the sewing machine, made me a shirt, which involves ironing & did her hair, more ironing 😂

 

For those thinking our system was designed for the house & EVs, then no, obviously, and no excess today. Since not having the car when contracted or built house.  Not needed, so not an issue.

 

[KhunLA]

Amazing how little we use, when frigs not being opened, and I'm on the laptop only, instead of using the 65" TV as the monitor.  Don't need lights yet, as still enough ambient light coming in 😂

 

No fan on yet.  20kWh would hold us over for quite some time, though 250-300w per hour, is more the normal, w/frigs and fan going.  Another 100w for the TV.  That would be without using the EV as back up.

 

[KhunLA]

Well that's a first.  Even the little night light in kitchen isn't using enough to register.  Only the inverter itself is using 80w 😂  Frigs obviously aren't cycling at the moment, and damn chilly out, 21°C

 

I usually wake up to 70-75%.  And looks like the sun will break through today, so should be topped up before noon.

[KhunLA]

Already producing 800w ... no panels face East.  So we only used about 4kWh over a 16 hr period of not production.

 

[KhunLA]

Back to 100%, finally.   Usually done before 10:00, but since still overcast and sun made an appearance for <1 hr, not bad at all.

[KhunLA]

[KhunLA]

hmm ... think it might be time to run a line out to the greenhouse.  Maybe a toilet & septic tank also  

 

[KhunLA]

[KhunLA]

March ... we seemed to average 20-25kWh a day, unless charging the EV, and easy to tell which days they are.  O&A for 13 of those days, or we would have produced/consumed about 1380kWh.   Equates to PEA bill of ฿6900.   Do that every month and ROI would be <6 yrs ... so happy with <10 yrs ROI ... 

 

Another hot month to go before the rains kick in.

 

 

Most production/consumption day, 27 March.  ESS/battery topped up about 0900 hrs.   Not even a sunny day, as can tell by peaks & valley, and never reaching the max production of 8kWh.

 

[happysoul]

Hello KhunLA, thanks for your topic. I've read the 9 pages, some good info in there.

 

Thinking of installing some panels for our house in HH. I was hesitating getting ESS but reading this topic, I'll go for some. I need to see our night consumption to size them. As we live in an estate, for now we have the bills coming from the management (one PEA bill for all the houses, they do the maths) and guess we could push back but better to future proof the installation and stay kind of legal 😉

 

Keep your topic going ! Cheers ! 

[KhunLA]

What y'all waiting for ...

... OK, maybe just the younger expats, who know you'll be here for more than 5 yrs, and settled in.   Added plus if you know you will or have an EV, now or soon.   The saving are amazing, if you'll be home during the day.  Especially since solar is already inexpensive here.  

 

We save 3-5k a month on home electric use, and an added 40-50k a year with charging the EV with excess solar.   That's a system that was designed for the house only, as having the EV wasn't planned at all, since still expensive, (for our motoring budget), and we just bought a new ICEV.

 

Our system just meets our needs, for being off grid, on the crappiest days.  Producing just enough to supply the house for about 10 hrs, and recharge the ESS/batteries for overnight/non-production time, of 14 hrs later, till producing again the next day.  We do use the AC overnight in the bedroom, all night.

 

So plenty of excess most of the time, for the EVs.  On the sunniest days, like now, easy to abuse the AC, all day, as needed, and charge the EVs.   

 

[KhunLA]

Sun is out, EV (car) is charging, ACs maintaining temp (13 & 24BTU), 2 frigs, laptops & 65" TV/monitor.  Vid & photos for today @ noon.    EV cable states 2.3kWh, so rest of the house is <2kWh, maybe.

 

 

ESS not topped up yet, already produced/consumed, 24.3kWh / 18.9kWh

Yesterday produced/consumed ... 38.4kWh / 38.4kWh

 

 

 

 

Somebody woke up too early and made coffee 

[KhunLA]

April 2024 ... Average ~33kWh per day, w/high of 46.8kwh used April 2nd

988kWh = ฿4475 PEA bill