Playlist Content

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  1. Off Grid Solar Cottage

  In this video I complete an off grid solar installation and install LED lighting for efficiency. The odd ostrich and cheetah make an appearance too!

  African Game Lodge – http://www.africangamelodge.co.za/

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  2. Challenges of our solar powered home in Tamboerskloof

  I visit the house we used to own in Tamboerskloof, Cape Town. I show the solar power installation and go through some of the challenges we faced.

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  3. A tour of ExSolar

  A tour of ExSolar and some news on adding solar power to our home.

  Thanks to David Cooke of ExSolar:
  http://www.exsolar.co.za/

  Eskom electricity network collapse 3 years away:
  http://businesstech.co.za/news/govern…

  Topics covered in the video:

  * I chat about the electronic constant current load and some of the feedback relating to the power resistor.
  * I talk about the cost increases in Electricity in South Africa from Eskom
  * I talk about the news related to Eskom’s power grid and its potential to fail in three years time.
  * Components I plan to use for our solar power system:
  # Outback FlexMax 60 MPPT solar charger
  # 600 Ah of Lead Crystal batteries
  # Victron Energy Quattro or MultiPlus Inverter
  # 2500 watts of Multi / poly crystalline solar panels

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  4. Home Solar Power Installation Walkthrough

  Net Metering and Eskom: http://mjlorton.com/forum/index.php?t…

  Information on the Installation: http://mjlorton.com/forum/index.php?t…

  Please support my content creation by using my Amazon Store:
  http://astore.amazon.com/m0711-20

  Equipment used or mentioned in this video:

  * Solar panels: Tenesol Total Energy – TE250-60M+ – 250 watt monocrystalline
  * The solar array is 2250 watts (9x 250 watt mono crystalline panels)
  * The battery bank is 8 x 150 Ah lead crystal batteries. Configured for 48v DC 300 Ah, it can safely provide about 7.5 kWh.
  * A Victron Energy Quattro inverter – Quattro Inverter / Charger 48/5000/70 5 KVA 230v
  * A Victron Energy Grid tie inverter – BlueSolar Grid Inverter 4000 Watt / 2800 Watt
  * A Victron Energy battery monitor- BMV-602S / BMV-600S
  * Earth leakage, DB board, high voltage, trip switch.

  * How to solar power your house / home
  * Backup Power
  * Emergency power
  * Power outage
  * Power blackout
  * Power outage

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  5. On Grid vs Off Grid

  In this video I go through the components that are part of a solar power solution. I explain the differences between On-grid vs. off grid.

  View all my tutorials and videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mjlorton…

  Thanks to Exsolar for the work on the solar installation – http://www.exsolar.co.za/

  Other equipment used or mentioned in this video:

  * Solar panels: Tenesol Total Energy – TE250-60M+ – 250 watt monocrystalline
  * Outback FlexMax 60 MPPT solar charger
  * The solar array will be 2250 watts (9x 250 watt mono crystalline panels)
  * The battery bank will be 8 x 150 Ah lead crystal batteries.
  * A Victron Energy Quattro inverter
  * A Victron Energy Grid tie inverter
  * A Victron Energy battery monitor
  * DC to DC converter
  * Micro inverters
  * Eskom power and cost of energy
  * Reduce energy bill / costs
  * Eskom solar pre-paid electricity / energy meter
  * Renewable energy

  In this series on how to Solar Power Your Home:

  * What is “the Grid” – On Grid vs. Off Grid?
  * What is the best type of solar panel to install?
  * Do I need a battery bank….what battery technology should I use?
  * A look at the different type of inverters?
  * How much solar power do I need – sizing the array?
  * Measuring your energy consumption with energy meters.
  * How to make your home more efficient – CFL, LED lighting, solar geyser,
  heat pumps…and more..
  * Is solar power / energy financially viable in South Africa? How long does it take to pay off?
  * Does power factor play a role in solar generated power.
  * Solar Power for your Home – “Free Electricity”?
  * Can I run my house entirely from solar power?
  * How to Solar Power a Home
  * How to Solar Power a House
  * how to solar power my home

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  6. How to save energy / electricity for solar power

  View all my tutorials and videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mjlorton…

  How to make your home more energy efficient ready for solar power.
  Solar geysers, heat pumps, efficient pool pumps, LED lighting…and more…

  In this video we look at energy / electricity consumption of a typical home and have a look at ways to save it. This helps to understand the solar power requirement / size the solar installation.

  * LED / CFL lighting
  * Energy efficient pool pump.
  * LED / flat panel TV vs CRT TV
  * Solar geyser vs heat pump vs electric geyser.
  * How to calculate energy consumption kWh / kilowatt-hour
  * Reduce your electricity bill and save money while getting ready for solar power.
  * kill-o-watt meter
  * kill-a-watt meter
  * Fluke 43b
  * Energy Monitors
  * Energy efficient appliances
  * Energy star
  * Power rating
  * Duty cycle
  * Sky light to save energy
  * Zodiac Flo-Pro pool pump / variable speed pool pump
  * tempering valve / thermostatic valve
  * Geyser wise timer
  * Florescent tube replacement / LED tubes for lighting
  * Life style changes for eco living
  * Energy audit

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  7. How to size your solar power system

  In this video:

  * Losses related to dirt, heat, wiring, inverters, batteries.
  * Calculate the solar power array size, battery bank, inverter sizing.
  * Soon: a closer look at DIY solar panels, solar power components and new technologies.

  Need Solar power measurement kit? 😉
  http://www.tester.co.uk/catalogsearch…

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  8. Off Grid setup, PWM vs MPPT

  In this tutorial we take a look at off grid solar power setup, pulse width modulated vs maximum power point tracking charge controllers (Steca PR1010, Morningstar Sunsaver TrackStar MPPT, Outback FlexMax 60)

  Solar panels and charge controllers: http://astore.amazon.com/m0711-20?nod…

  Outback FLEXmax 60 Specifications / FLEXmax 80 Specifications:
  http://www.outbackpower.com/products/…

  Steca PR specifications:
  http://www.steca.com/index.php?Steca_…

  Morningstar Sunsaver TrackStar MPPT:
  http://www.morningstarcorp.com/en/sup…

  MPPT vs PWM Solar charger performance – Part 1 HD:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpL4R…

  MPPT vs PWM Solar Charger – Part 2 Follow-up HD:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLmQk…