Solar Sheds & Other Non-t6 Solar Projects - How We Done It -

No, No changeover switch fitted. If the inverter goes, I'll rewire temporarily to get around it until it's fixed. Don't foresee any issues with the Victron kit though, it's known to be quite reliable.

Yep, agree, they really should be reliable. One that surprises me is that despite being seen as a 'premium' brand, the actual prices of their inverters looks pretty good next to the competition. Given this, I don't really see how they command such a price premium to install the things? The basic connections look the same as all the others so I wonder if installers are basically scared off by all the potential flexibility of the things, even if most installs don't need it? It makes me think Victron should spend a bit more effort getting potential installers more comfortable with their products maybe...
 
Yeah, it can be quite complicated to set up, the parameters are not clear as to what they actually do sometimes.You also need some specific bits like the MKIII USB to RJ45 lead to do the programming.
I tried to get it to work with a Raspberry Pi as the controller, but I had issues with connecting the three MPPT's and the Shunt together, so I ended up getting a Cerbo GX to do the work instead, had no issues with it really.
One good feature I am really happy with is I've converted an old Samsung tablet into a monitor display, have it next to my TV so I can see what's going on at any time.
 
Incoming

Check out the Beast... SUNSYNK Acure 8kw beast.

AI Powered and interlinked to Octopus Agile for Automated Charge/discharge tracking, via data from local weather, Agile Import/export, AI tracked energy use trends.

Ordered one from Brimble in Stealth Black...... Very excited.

But have managed to get the AI integration working on the existing SUNSYNK 8kw ECCO.

.....

Screenshot_20260402_124305_Chrome.jpg

Screenshot_20260402_124258_Chrome.jpg



Screenshot_20260402_124004_Chrome.jpg

Screenshot_20260402_123949_Sunsynk Connect Pro.jpg

Screenshot_20260402_123931_Sunsynk Connect Pro.jpg

Screenshot_20260402_123945_Sunsynk Connect Pro.jpg

Screenshot_20260402_123927_Sunsynk Connect Pro.jpg
 
Last edited:
Incoming

Check out the Beast... SUNSYNK Acure 8kw beast.

AI Powered and interlinked to Octopus Agile for Automated Charge/discharge tracking, via data from local weather, Agile Import/export, AI tracked energy use trends.

Ordered one from Brimble in Stealth Black...... Very excited.

But have managed to get the AI integration working on the existing SUNSYNK 8kw ECCO.

.....

View attachment 321713

View attachment 321714

View attachment 321715

View attachment 321716

View attachment 321717

View attachment 321718

View attachment 321719

View attachment 321720
Meet the most intelligent energy monitor. It doesn't just anticipate waste, it ensures you gain the most profit from your system.


All plans include

Data Hosted in Europe

Detailed Monitoring

Automatic ROI Calculator

Easy Commissioning Process

Inverter Basic Settings

System Operation Monitoring

Connect Pro Plan Subscription Widget

Integrated with UK Agile Tariffs & Eskom Loadshedding (ZA)
Manual tariff input for all other utility pr

.oviders required.

.


Connect Pro Plan
AI Automation
Start earning without the guesswork. The automation reduces the app to what matters, asks fewer questions upfront, and then automatically optimises when and how your battery charges and discharges to maximise savings and earnings with minimal inpu



Your System, Bigger Benefits.
Get More, with Less Guesswork.
Accurate AI prediction, intelligent planning and automation, achieve more all at once and get your time bac

.
All-new UK/EU cloud-hosted, flexible & intuitive App.
Monitor and optimise your energy use with intelligent insights and timely updates, using smart management for more reliable energy – all designed to reduce waste and make you more money, effortlessly

..

k.
.


t.
 
Incoming

Check out the Beast... SUNSYNK Acure 8kw beast.

AI Powered and interlinked to Octopus Agile for Automated Charge/discharge tracking, via data from local weather, Agile Import/export, AI tracked energy use trends.

Ordered one from Brimble in Stealth Black...... Very excited.

But have managed to get the AI integration working on the existing SUNSYNK 8kw ECCO.

.....

View attachment 321713

View attachment 321714

View attachment 321715

View attachment 321716

View attachment 321717

View attachment 321718

View attachment 321719

View attachment 321720
Check out this AI shizzle..... !!!!

I got worried this morning when the battery didn't charge last night like normal..... But was down to 14%.


The checked the inverter and it said it was set to charge at midday......?

WTH I thought... So checked octopus Agile and look what it's shows...!!!!!!

...

Screenshot_20260403_100428_Sunsynk Connect Pro.webpScreenshot_20260403_100413_Sunsynk Connect Pro.webpScreenshot_20260403_100359_Octopus.webp

....


So it must be windy somewhere and the Agile prices plunge to less that 1p/kWh.

That's when the AI has decided to charge the battery bank..... Instead of the 17p/kWh last night.

Well impressed with that...... And it's done all of this at 8pm last night.

So far so good.
 
I'll be selling on soon:

1* SUNSYNK 3.6kw ECCO hybrid inverter
1* sunsynk 8.0kw ECCO hybrid inverter

Both work with the new AI stuff too...

Pm me if your interested.
 
Check out this AI shizzle..... !!!!

I got worried this morning when the battery didn't charge last night like normal..... But was down to 14%.


The checked the inverter and it said it was set to charge at midday......?

WTH I thought... So checked octopus Agile and look what it's shows...!!!!!!

...

View attachment 321779View attachment 321780View attachment 321781

....


So it must be windy somewhere and the Agile prices plunge to less that 1p/kWh.

That's when the AI has decided to charge the battery bank..... Instead of the 17p/kWh last night.

Well impressed with that...... And it's done all of this at 8pm last night.

So far so good.


Octopus price plunge tomorrow....



Screenshot_20260403_194854_Octopus.webpScreenshot_20260403_194921_Octopus.webp
 
  • Like
Reactions: CAB
Are they paying you there to use electricity? o_O
Yes

THe more we use, the more we're getting paid.

It's must be very sunny and windy tomorrow somewhere, .... Causing a surplus of energy, which they have to get rid of some how or face shutting down power plants.

So they offer customers incentives to use energy..... Ie charge your EV or battery bank's.

The missus is well happy as she will be backing cakes in the oven all afternoon..... And they're gonna pay us for the electric.

Awesome.

One of the benefits of tracking the UK wholesale energy prices........

Disclaimer.... The prices can also go very high., so it's best to have a battery/solar system so you can ride out the peaks and benefit from the troughs.
 
I bet she was really understanding. 😂

That Octopus agile wont really work for me due to the low export price during the day because I've only got a 10kw battery.
Im currently with Eon paying 7.5p from 0:00 - 6:00 and 30p the rest of the time for import then 16.5p flat rate export. (for now)

In full summer I can do 20-30kw export, so on a good day £5 export per day but on Octopus this would drop to 3.2p to 12.7p per kw depending on what time the sun hits the panels but say on average 8p per kw so under £2.50 per day export. Half.
In fact looking at tomorrows prices there arent many slots where it goes above my current 16.5p flat rate but plenty where it drops well below.
Then I can dump the excess battery, say 80% to 30% (5kw), just before midnight for an additional 80p export.

So that's £5.80 exported then about £1.30 (including standing charge) overnight to bring the battery to 100% leaving me +£4.50 per day.
Obv earnings depends on the sun and a decent summer!

Doing it this way I'm not only getting "free" electric but the export through the year is pretty much paying for my gas use and gas standing charge for the whole year too.
This has my initial outlay payback time down to 4-5 years at current prices after which it truly becomes free electric and gas.
 
I bet she was really understanding. 😂
I've managed to get her programmed to set an overnight timer for dishwasher, washing machine and tumbledryer as stage 1 conversion course.
Stage 2 is getting her fine tuned to the Intelligent Octopus Go EV slots.....
 
I'm on outgoing octopus..

Which is 12p/kWh 24/7

(I'm on agile for import) - you can cost any package you want for either.

But don't really export anything to be fair, out all fours on load and battery storage (25kwh)


Screenshot_20260403_213030_Octopus.webp
 
Fyi here is the octopus Agile tracker website.. that shows you the daily pricing.



.


Screenshot_20260403_215523_Chrome.webpScreenshot_20260403_215532_Chrome.webp
 
I was planning on using the ecoflow ultra x with 4 panels, but it's out of stock for month, much like the alternatives

Gemini 🤔 is telling me I can make a much more resilient system using victron bits (that are in stock) and a server battery, and limiting the output back into the house to 800w

I kind of like the idea of that, as if one bit fails easier to replace. I intend to use home assistant to tell the victron kit how much send (up to 800w) depending on house usage.

Would appreciate comments if any of you guys know whether this is a road worth going down (the victron kit route) rather than the all in one box. Am keen to get going as summer is approaching
 
This thread is an education, although some of it is beyond my limited understanding.
I'm hoping that "balcony solar" does get the official go ahead and thinking that dipping my toe in the water might involve me getting some panels and a couple of robot lawn mowers, after all, I spend more on petrol for mowers in the sunniest months of the year when the solar panels will be most productive.
I'd rather learn from reading it here where nobody has any financial incentives!!!!
(cynical, moi? :rolleyes:)
 
Screenshot_20260403_222347.webp

This is what my Ecoflow Stream Microinverter and 2 x 465w JA Solar panels have generated so far this week.
My home Smart Meter is showing 2kwh exported to the grid in the same period (unpaid). My normal daily usage is around 14kwh, so I reckon I get 1 day free leccy in 7 days. Simplistic and probably wrong but if its even remotely accurate, I'm pretty happy.
 
View attachment 321889

This is what my Ecoflow Stream Microinverter and 2 x 465w JA Solar panels have generated so far this week.
My home Smart Meter is showing 2kwh exported to the grid in the same period (unpaid). My normal daily usage is around 14kwh, so I reckon I get 1 day free leccy in 7 days. Simplistic and probably wrong but if its even remotely accurate, I'm pretty happy.
Love it..
Sounds about right.

That app is showing you harvested 14kwh over six days.... Which would cover the 7th day... Based on your usage of 14kwh daily average.

Effectively you have reduced your leccy bill by 14kwh this week already.

.
 
Back
Top