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Altronics PV Grid Connect 1.5kVA Inverter $165.00 (Was $1399.00!) + Other Techie Deals

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Altronics PV Grid Connect 1.5kVA Inverter $165.00 (Was $1399.00!) + Other Techie Deals
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SteveAndBelle on 28/02/2014 - 15:17 altronics.com.au (501 clicks)
Last edited 28/02/2014 - 15:35 by 1 other user

Was just browsing the 'Hot Products' pages of Altronics and found these inverters for cheap cheap! They had larger capacity models however I just called them and confirmed that they still have 8 of these 1.5KVA Inverters in Melbourne but none of the others unfortunately. These may not be useful for many due to their lower output but I thought someone might be able to use them.

They have 39 pages of other specials here: http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=hots and although a lot of it really isn't anything amazing there are a few that seem to stand out eg. the Colour Video Door Intercom (via your TV) for $50: http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=S9408 and for any audio nerds out there the 20W Class-A Amp Kit is back down at $499 again: http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=K5125# … and this time it's calling my name :)

Hope someone can find something useful anyway and have a good weekend!

Electrical & Electronics Power Inverter

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closed Comments

  • leeroys_dad on 28/02/2014 - 15:26

    technically 8 does not meet the minimum requirements for posting a deal…

    • Steptoe on 28/02/2014 - 15:36
      +4

      exceptional discount will give a exception

  • bargaino on 28/02/2014 - 15:27

    Can these work off-grid with a few 100W panels?

    • SteveAndBelle on 28/02/2014 - 15:32

      Yeah, really not sure sorry. I tried looking around for docs but can't find much. Might need to request a manual from Altronics to confirm. What defines a 'grid connect' inverter anyway… could it just be that it's rated higher than a non-grid connect inverter? I'm seriously contemplating going off-grid in the next few years so it's not what I'm after anyway ;)

      • greenie4242 on 28/02/2014 - 15:43
        +1

        I'm pretty sure this is what you need, as long as it's powerful enough. Heck, for that price, if you need 4.5kW later on, buy three and just hook up three separate solar arrays! Completely depends on how you want to wire your premises though.

        Grid Connect should mean it has a special output to send excess power back to the power company, so you are actually supplying the power company with power when you produce more through solar power than you're currently consuming. It's good to send power to the power company during peak times if you're at work not using any appliances. Some 'off-grid' people still remain connected to the power grid, and they sell their excess power to the power company and end up with a cheque in the mail from it.

    • IVI on 28/02/2014 - 16:22

      Vendors page shows a 185 watt panel (over $500 each, from memory).

      I recall that it takes at least as much energy to -make- a PV panel as that panel will ever produce, over its working life.

      I'll stick with the hope of "Evergy from Thorium" (Nuclear 2.0)…

      • SteveAndBelle on 28/02/2014 - 16:33
        +2

        I used to think the same as extreme amounts of energy is required during manufacture process and most of that was derived from coal let alone the poor waste practices in China resulting in nasty by-products being dumped into waterways etc. etc. etc. but I think that was many years ago because looked into it again about 5-6 years ago and it seemed to be a very different story. From memory the worst case energy payback is about 4 years absolute max with most only around 2 year mark allowing modern panels to generate an easy 20+ years of 'free' energy.

        • mskeggs on 28/02/2014 - 18:28

          Agreed. Your information is faulty, solar is substantially net positive.
          As for thorium? How much of your house's power is that producing? I get about half my power from solar already.

  • frenzaltom on 28/02/2014 - 15:58
    +2

    Grid connect inverters, well I think most won't work unless the are connected to the grid.
    So if the power goes out the inverter shuts down.

    • IVI on 28/02/2014 - 16:24

      So, a voltage regulator + sine-wave producing invertor might do the job, at such times (How much they'd cost is anybody's guess…)

  • skazclaw on 28/02/2014 - 16:03

    2kva $330 @ https://www.radioandelectronicsupply.com.au/products_details.php?id=343&name=Aero+Sharp+PV+Grid+Feed+Inverter+-+2+kVA+Save+over+$2000.00

    • SteveAndBelle on 28/02/2014 - 16:08

      Yeah, Altronics also have the higher capacity models still listed on their site however as per the description above I called and confirmed they had no stock which is why I didn't include them in this deal. These guys may have some but I highly doubt it.

    • Steptoe on 28/02/2014 - 16:13

      I think they are just an Altronics Agent.

      List of Inverters

  • great-price on 28/02/2014 - 16:07

    Lots of owners report issues with Aero-Sharp inverters. Apparently the manufacturer went into liquidation.
    http://solar4living.com/aerosharp.htm

    • Steptoe on 28/02/2014 - 16:17

      maybe best to buy a spare at those prices.

  • IVI on 28/02/2014 - 16:29

    How hard would it be to pull one of these to bits & "extract" just the voltage regulator & sine-wave invertor module(s), for use with your choice of PV panel(s)…?

    As long as your -really- know what you're doing & never connect the modified unit to the grid, this should be legal.

    • stumo on 28/02/2014 - 16:49

      I don't think you can. Grid tie is a specific design, it doesn't need to know about sine waves, it just dumps extra power into the existing (grid) waveform. That's why grid-tie inverters are fairly cheap vs a similar rated standalone off grid one.

  • onlyletters on 28/02/2014 - 16:45
    +1

    $239 on eBay.. it looks like the same thing..

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-5-kVA-PV-SOLAR-GRID-CONNECT-FEE…

  • petestrash on 28/02/2014 - 16:51

    If you're in Melbourne, there may be better deals on eBay, granted not the same brand though.
    2.5KW Auction $79.99 starting bid www.ebay.com.au/itm/151243005638 or Buy it Now $120 http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/151239695305 (also 1.5 KW @ $100)

  • team teri on 28/02/2014 - 17:10
    +1

    Anyone talking about going off-grid: consider what size battery bank you need and get a price for that first. The PV panels and inverter will be the least of your worries.

    With inverters: keep an eye out for SMA. Small ones and superseded models have been going cheap (although not as cheap as this deal), and the brand is by far the best I know of when it comes to service and reliability.

    • SteveAndBelle on 28/02/2014 - 17:15

      … and before considering the battery bank it would be best to consider how much energy you really need to generate and if there are simple ways to cut your energy consumption down ie. removing Air-Conditioning etc.

      If/when I go completely off-grid it will be difficult to justify running the Class-A or Valve Amps :(

      • team teri on 28/02/2014 - 17:20
        +1

        Of course you are right, but no one wants to hear that…

    • team teri on 28/02/2014 - 17:40
      +2

      There's a real bargain: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/191080828377

      SB1100 for $300.

      As solid as they come. No horror stories to be found.

      For those in the know: it can be re-configured into a WB1100, just in case you want to connect your wind turbine to the grid.

      • Steptoe on 28/02/2014 - 17:54

        firmware or hardware tweak?

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