News Solar

From efficiency upgrades, advanced capabilities of solar equipment, to massive improvements in the storage of energy, there is so much that the field of solar power is moving towards in terms of innovations. In this NEW series, we discuss a few of the most interesting topics in solar technology innovation. Be sure to stay tuned to catch all the instalments! Part 1 – Solar Glass   It looks the same as regular glass – but it’s not. Solar glass has a major advantage over its predecessor in that it can harness the power of the sun to create clean energy. Imagine the possibilities – skysc...

  We’re wrapping up our series on commercial solar power with the third instalment – financing and maintenance. If you missed the first two parts to this series, catch up now! Part 1: Common sizes breaks for commercial-sized solar systems Commercial solar designs and layouts Part 2: Expectations you should have for your solar inst...

  Fluke's 393 FC CAT III 1500 V True-rms Clamp Meter with iFlex is designed for technicians who work in high voltage dc environment: solar arrays, wind power, electric railways, data centers battery banks for uninterruptible power supplies. The clamp will measure up to 1500 V dc, 1000 V ac, and up to 999.9 A dc or ac through the clamp jaw.   The included iFlex flexible current probe extended ac current measurements up to 2500 amps. This clamp has a thin jaw, giving you access to cables in crowded combiner boxes. Test leads are ...

  Considering investing in a solar system for your business? Then this series is for you! Part 1: Common sizes breaks for commercial-sized solar systems Commercial solar designs and layouts Part 2: Expectations you should have for your solar installer Inverters in a commercial-sized solar system Part 3: Monitoring and maintenance of your commercial solar system Financing a commercial solar system   What should you expect from the initial meeting with...

Considering investing in a solar system for your business? Then this NEW series is for you. Part 1: Common sizes breaks for commercial-sized solar systems Commercial solar designs and layouts Part 2: Expectations you should have for your solar installer Inverters in a commercial-sized solar system Part 3: Monitoring and maintenance of your commercial solar system Financing a commercial solar system Common size breaks for commercial solar systems To put commercial-sized solar systems into perspective, a common residential solar power system size is 6.6kW. Less than 30 kW (Up to a...

How certain are you that you’re being billed accurately for your electricity consumption? In this article, we compare smart meters to analogue meters. We outline the working principle of a smart meter, and discuss their pros and cons for both the consumer and the electric utility. What are meters used for? An electric meter is used to measure how much electricity is being consumed in a residential or commercial building. It provides data on the amount of electricity consumed to power the lights, heating and cooling systems or any electrical device installed in your home or facility. These mete...

  The cost of electricity is increasing. Coupled with the financial impact of the pandemic and the instability of our power supply, the rising cost of electricity is certainly a matter not to be ignored. In this article, we give an overview of the latest tariff increase that was approved by the Gauteng High Court, how much it will cost, as well as the reasoning behind the increase. We also discuss the impact on the vulnerable industrial sectors, and pose solutions to lessen the impact of the rising electricity costs.&n...

  Installing a PV system? Are you familiar with the guidelines set for DC installations in SANS10142-1:2020? Not really? Then this article is for YOU! We’re unpacking the SANS10142-1 DC installation standards, to ensure you understand what is required to perform these installations safely. In this article, we give an overview of equipment selection, earthing requirements, overcurrent protection, earth faults and disconnection. The Selection of Equipment and Circuits It is required that all the equipment, as well as the protection devices, that are used in a DC installation operate on...

In Part 1 of this NEW series, we unpack the requirements and standards of alternative power supplies as per SANS 10142-1:2020. We conclude the series by wrapping up these requirements, unpacking overcurrent protection, identification of DC conductors and other additional requirements… Overcurrent Protection The overcurrent protection requirements that are needed for an alternative supp...

By now you would already be aware that the SANS 10142 document was updated in 2020. However, are you aware of the addition of an alternative supplies section for systems such as photovoltaic (PV) installations or gas generators? These are systems that one may use, at either their place of residence or business, to save on energy costs or in the event of a power-loss. In Part 1 of this NEW series, we unpack the requirements and standards of alternative power supplies as per SANS 10142-1:2020. Alternative supplies include...

After almost a decade in the works, South Africa’s carbon tax was finally signed into law in 2019. In a bid to mitigate the impacts of climate change, government now taxes greenhouse gas emissions. This tax applies to anyone with emissions, including municipalities. In Part 1...

Do you know about the Carbon Tax Act that was implemented in 2019? Are you aware that your plant may be liable to pay for greenhouse gases it releases throughout the year? No? Then this two-part series of articles is for you! In Part 1, we take a look at the Carbon Tax Act that was implemented on the 1st of June 2019. We start with a basic introduction to greenhouse gases and what causes them. We then move on to how the Carbon Tax works, and how the revenue service measures the amount of emissions produced by your plant.   In Part 2, we will give an overview of how the carbon tax is ...

This is an excellent question. If you have a solar system, you would definitely want to know your return on the investment. In this quick article, we will share with you the tools needed to calculate the amount of power your panels output. We will also mention some of the criteria that may affect solar panel efficiency. What is the Standard Test Condition Rating? When choosing a solar panel, you would have referred to the Standard Test Condition (STC) rating to ensure the panel can generate the required amount of energy. The STC rating is indicated by a number listed on the back of the panel. ...

If you’re considering a solar installation for your home or facility, you may want to consider learning about measuring solar radiation. Why is this important? Because the design of your solar system (type and quantity of PV panels, etc.) is affected by the amount of sunlight present in the location of your installation at a given time. In this article, we take a look at solar radiation, global solar radiation and the methods to measure solar radiation.  What is solar radiation? Solar radiation is often defined as the energy reaching the earth from the sun. A large part of this is visible...

In our NEW series, we’re unpacking net metering. Part One outlines what net metering is, how it works and its benefits.   In Part Two, we discuss the device used in net metering... Watch this space to catch the full series! The Device used in Net Metering A four-quadrant meter is used to record energy consumption and send readings electronically to the supplier. It is used when there is an alternative source of electricity like solar, wind or biomass that is install...

We're wrapping up our series on Net Metering by taking a closer look at Kwa-Zulu Natal. What progress has been made in integrating Small-Scale Electricity Generation (SSEG) into the local electricity network? Read our article to find out more.  Did you miss out on previous articles in our Net Metering series? Click below to catch up now: Part One - what is net metering, how does it work and what are its benefits? Read More >>

The ever rising cost of electricity coupled with the implementation of Load Shedding in South Africa endorses the need of alternative solutions to power up your home or business... Is it possible for these alternative solutions to pay you back whilst saving you money and reducing downtime? In this NEW series, we introduce you to the concept of net metering. This initial article discusses what net metering is, describes how it works and outlines its benefits.  Follow the series as we unfold more about the device used in metering, and where KwaZulu-Natal currently stands with regards t...

Roof leaks, potential fire hazards, void warranties, and lack of after-sales service… These are common problems which you could encounter if you haven’t chosen your solar installer wisely. The good news is that there certainly isn’t a lack of experienced solar installers with a well-trained crew. You just need to know what to look for! In this quick article, we’re sharing a few tips which you should bear in mind before enlisting a solar service provider. Tip 1: Expertise is key Choose an installer with proven expertise in installing solar energy systems. There are a few bodies that offer ...

Solar technology has evolved dramatically over the past twenty years – the cost of PV systems has decreased, efficiency has increased, and reliability has undoubtedly improved. However, despite the abundance of information on the subject, what you think you know about solar may not necessarily be the truth. In this NEW article, we’re busting 8 of the most common solar myths…   Myth 1 – My solar system will provide power during load shedding Grid-tied solar systems...

Solar makes sense. For us at Magnet, this is obvious. If we had our way, every last rooftop in the country would be outfitted with solar. However, the reality of the situation is that solar doesn’t make sense for everyone. The ultimate question is whether the advantages of solar power outweigh the disadvantages. If you‘re on the fence about installing a solar solution for your home or business, then give our article a quick read. We’re aiming to give an honest assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of solar to help y...