One Year On

[JAS21]

Our system has been running for one year now. It could be called self-install but I received a huge amount of help from a friend on the tech side (had to endure his insults though) …lol … and a couple of guys to fix the panels on a basically flat South facing roof. In total about 160,000Baht.

So for that …

Sofar Hybrid Inverter 5kWs (HYD5000ES)

LVTOPSUN LV41800 Battery

7*340W Poly cells and 7*450W Mono cells

All switch boxes, cables, cell mounting equipment etc.

 

If the Solarman data is correct then we generated 5240kWhrs and exported 958kWhrs. When needed we operate on anti-reflux enabled to keep our monthly MEA usage to between 50 and 100kWhrs…could have made it zero! The max generation that we have seen is 4.5kWs.

 

We have a PHEV that will do IRO 15kms on a charge and if running around that distance with battery empty we would use about 2Ltrs of gasoline. Probably averaged 4-5 battery charges on the PHEV each week.

 

Between deciding to install solar and installation we replaced the two downstairs 18,000btu air con units with the most efficient Daikin units. This really nullified any before and after comparison as now we run those most of the day whereas before we operated the aircon somewhat more sparingly.

 

Previously our monthly electric bills ranged from 1600Baht to 3500baht…now its 200-350Baht.

 

Would we install again …YES as we are both are not so young and just ’need’ more aircon and of course we have the PHEV (4 years now). Would we still go Hybrid, present thinking is probably not as the payback on the battery is huge and of course living where we do power cuts are almost unknown. But we are somewhat future proofed. Am experimenting with DOD at 90%...seems to be ok so far.

 

Maybe useful information for someone … or maybe not…

[OneMoreFarang]

45 minutes ago, JAS21 said:

In total about 160,000Baht.

 

46 minutes ago, JAS21 said:

Previously our monthly electric bills ranged from 1600Baht to 3500baht…now its 200-350Baht.

3500 - 200 = 3200 per month, 38400 per year.

160000 / 38400 = 4.16 years - under best conditions.

What is the life expectancy of that system? 

 

[KannikaP]

25 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

3500 - 200 = 3200

Really. 3300 in UK!   555

 

Hey, I have done worse mistakes than that, several times.  

Edited September 30, 2023 by KannikaP

[Pink7]

53 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

3500 - 200 = 3200 per month, 38400 per year.

160000 / 38400 = 4.16 years - under best conditions.

What is the life expectancy of that system? 

 

Great numbers !!!

 

Pink

[Sigmund]

Solar tech equipment can be a lifesaver in Thailand with big savings.

 

But it is vital to get it set up by a highly qualified technician in order to avoid fires and other issues. And that is usually the hassle as where to find somebody reliable. A badly installed setup can end up in catching fire.

 

Hard to make a choice with the the publicity crap social media with each installer claiming to be the best with the best gear.

 

Best option is to check with people in real life who have positive experiences, such as neighbours etc.

[rattlesnake]

So Daikin are the most efficient units? Interesting.

[London Lowf]

14 minutes ago, rattlesnake said:

So Daikin are the most efficient units? Interesting.

That's not how I read it. Maybe the OP meant "the most efficient units in the Daikin range".

 

I believe that Daikin is a good brand and maybe the OP thinks the same?

[HappyExpat57]

I remember watching a video about 60 years ago how the sun sends enough energy straight at the earth to satisfy all of its energy needs. We still haven't let that sink in.

 

 

Edited September 30, 2023 by HappyExpat57
it's early

[Crossy]

3 hours ago, London Lowf said:

That's not how I read it. Maybe the OP meant "the most efficient units in the Daikin range".

I believe that Daikin is a good brand and maybe the OP thinks the same?

 

I know @JAS21 did a LOT of research before going for those Daikin units, I think he's found the best bang-per-buck on domestic A/C.

[JAS21]

We settled on Daikin FTKM18SV2S units for our bedroom and the downstairs L-Shaped living room. Quite expensive but they advertised what I thought was a good SEER and as we intended to run them a lot considered that to be quite important.

 

As it turned out we are running air con almost continually. They do wind down a lot and then use very little electric. It’s more than likely that other brands will perform basically the same of course.

 

For the L-shaped room we did consider a central unit but in the end decided against due to supporting problems and the fact that it had a much lower SEER.

 

We have found that less electric is used if we run both air con units togeher, rather than just one. And the one situated near the ‘L’ set half a degree below the other.

 

Below is some Daikin information. Also electrical usage earlier this morning … set at 25C. The bedroom is about 6M*5M with an attached bathroom which has a slotted door. Also running a fridge/freezer and one fan in another room and of course the inverter.

 

 

Edited October 1, 2023 by JAS21

[rattlesnake]

10 hours ago, London Lowf said:

That's not how I read it. Maybe the OP meant "the most efficient units in the Daikin range".

 

I believe that Daikin is a good brand and maybe the OP thinks the same?

You're probably right.