Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Anyone out there have, or are thinking of installing, a load more panels 10 or twelve or more. If so how are you getting on with them, are you pleased that you went to the expense and would you recommend the company you used. Thanks.

I have 23 panels producing up to 6kwh. I believe I could add an edition 3 panels which would produce up to 7kwh, any more than that then you would need to have 3 phase electricity at your property. At the moment, I am not producing enough electricity than would like, maybe a case of cutting down consumption rather than increasing panels.

We're going through the problem as to whether high Kibtek bills in the winter are worth coping with or biting the bullet and laying out a considerable one off sum. I do know that round about here, the locals are installing a whole roof full of the things as they consider them a necessity if you want to resell your property. Brits nearby are beginning to do the same. I notice there are two or three companies in Alsancak advertising their expertise on the subject.

Get a Tesla roof they are only $42000.s

Soner, Sophie,
at the moment the regulation are as follows: for a single phase house max 5 kW inverter power.
the solar power can be bigger. reason: not always the solar panels can produce the max power, eg, say, winter - summer or east - west installations. or both.
so, eg, you could install 16 solar panels to "straight south" with each 340 Wp = 5,44 kWp and a 5 kW inverter.
or.. eg, 10 each to your east and west roof = 20 panels = 6,8kWp to a 5 kW inverter.
price are obvious different...

same applies for a three phase house with max 8 kW inverter power.

as solar systems should have both a high output (kWh produced in one year, applies for year 1 and year 20) and keep working for many many years, good quality equipment is important, but the prob many have ... they do not know whats good and not so good or even worse...

soner: you can not add 3 or any amount of panels to an existing system without a permission, which would require a new electric plan and control from Kibtek, the lot.

Do you think you will get your money back !

Is 5Kw enough to go off grid in an average house? i have a 3 bed bungalow. i would think I use more than that, especially in winter. Or does the 5Kw only apply to a mains connected property?

Ace 123 if you do the calculations you will not recoup the money . Firstly, invest the money and put the interest each month towards existing monthly bills. That's a starter.

We lived with out electricity for 17 months and there is no cheap easy way to produce sufficient to run your home with ease. Electricity from a supplier is a very economical commodity if used wisely.

i do not know how much you calculate for your electricity per kWh (unit) ... but the rates are published by KIBTEK.
and i do not know how much you pay for a solar energy system...
for a cheap solar system with poor solar panels / inverter / equipment the "payback" surely is shorter, but produces less output and it is quality wise a "bit dangerous"..
for good quality systems payback is a bit longer , but you are on the safer side and gain most or all on the long run.

in NC, lira went down, solar systems are sold in dollar/ euro/GBP , but still, payback for on-grid home systems usually are in the region of 6 - 8 years.

Johnny Lee I am sorry but I have to disagree with you about investing the money.
My bills 3 years ago were 950TL and that was before the price of electricity went up.
I have a 7kW system (albeit not totally facing South, but my decision for a variety of reasons).
I have almost recouped the money I spent!
Within 4 years I will have definitely recouped the total cost and will then have "free" electric.
I am still in credit with the number of kW generated so can happily put on the aircon on heat without having to worry about the costs.
That alone has saved me the 1300TL I used to pay for diesel for my heating system which I didn't use this winter.

I also understand that Kibtek will give cash back for any unused credit - this I have yet to find out so cannot confirm yet.

My monthly electric bill is roughly 40TL a month (fluctuates depending on the number of days billed).
A vast difference from the 1500TL it would have been had I not been on Solar Electric given the current cost of electricity now.

Comfortable Life Systems in Alsancak installed my systems (I have two set up now on separate properties).
I have been very happy with their service but I do appreciate there are several other companies around now.

Whoever you chose to set up your system they will help you calculate the most suitable system for you.
If you do not currently have a high electric bill (under 300TL per month) then you probably do not need to install a system.

Good luck, everything we can do to save the amount of diesel Kibtek uses to generate electricity will help our planet

Pamuklu Blue - I believe a 5kW off grid would be enough for a bungalow but you really need a professional company to check your usage, what appliances you have etc etc..
There are a lot of calculations to be done but for regular usage I am sure that size of system would be enough to go off-grid.

what catlover said about recouping the investment from a solar energy system is absolutely right.

pamuklu:
off grid systems are totally different from on grid systems.
in an on grid system with net metering the sun shines, the modules produce electricity and the inverter will feed the grid at a certain efficiency.
you use this electricity or you get credits.
knowing the modules (they are not all the same !), the orientation, the cable losses, the general set up... all that can be relatively easily calculated.
not so, or much more difficult, for off grid systems.
modules + cable losses, charge & discharge losses in storage system, inverting losses...
some times you have too much sun power, sometimes you need the power from your batteries.
it is complicated and there are only very few who can do that. most of the ones who offer on grid systems can not.

when you talk about on grid sysrems you can say eg, 5,5kWp and 5 kW inverter.
for an off grid system you must define: xxkWp modules (+ charger for batteries), xxkW DC- AC inverter and xxxAh battery storage.
+ all the stuff you do not need for an on grid system. as eg, battery control, remote, the lot.