Generate Your Own Power

Why I Switched From Volta to Dyness — And What It Cost Me

My Volta 5kWh battery worked perfectly — until I tried to expand it. A BMS communication protocol change between Volta generations meant the system could not be scaled, forcing a full battery replacement rather than a simple addition. The switch to Dyness PowerBrick Plus cost R32,695 and changed the system from a backup setup into a genuine off-grid solution. Five questions every solar buyer should ask before choosing a battery.

Read More →

How Solar PV Systems Work

Learn the inner workings of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, including panels, inverters, batteries, and system design for homes and businesses.

Read More →

Best Time of Year to Install Solar in South Africa – 2025/2026 Ultimate Timing Guide

Why January–April beats every other month for solar installations in South Africa – price, weather, production, installer availability and beating the December rush.

Read More →

Why Energy Independence Changes the Power Dynamic

Energy independence is not just about keeping the lights on — it changes who controls whether the lights stay on. After going fully off-grid following an Eskom billing dispute, the relationship between this household and its electricity supply changed fundamentally. The coercive power of disconnection disappeared. Disputes became administrative. The difference between backup power and genuine independence, and why that distinction matters for every South African solar owner.

Read More →

Off-Grid Living: Two Months Later — I Don't Miss Eskom

Two months after an Eskom disconnection over a billing dispute forced a load-shedding backup system to become a full off-grid setup, here's an honest, unscripted update: what a rainy-day battery drain to 20% actually looks like, how a 5kW Deye inverter and 16.4kWh Dyness battery handle real KwaZulu-Natal weather, what changed day-to-day, what the next upgrade looks like, and why the R141,000 invested so far was spent in phases rather than all at once.

Read More →

Risen RSMxxx-108 review

Lightweight, affordable, and Tier 2 reliable — perfect for small urban roofs in Cape Town, Joburg, and Durban. <strong>Payback in under 5 years</strong> with real-world yields of <strong>1,780 kWh/kWp</strong>.

Read More →

ProSolar RoofTrac review

USA-engineered <strong>RoofTrac classic rails</strong>. Universal fit for IBR & tile roofs. 2400 Pa wind load. <strong>25-year warranty</strong>. Timeless flush-mount design trusted for decades.

Read More →

Victron VE.Direct Cable 3m review

Genuine Dutch <strong>3m VE.Direct cable</strong>. RJ45 straight-through. Connects MPPT, BMV, SmartShunt to GX devices. <strong>5-year warranty</strong>. Plug-and-play monitoring.

Read More →

Dyness PowerBrick review

We review the Dyness PowerBrick lithium battery system and evaluate its efficiency, warranty, safety and real-world performance for South African households.

Read More →

Unirac SM Rail Roof Mount review

USA-engineered <strong>SolarMount (SM) rails</strong>. Universal fit for IBR & tile roofs. 2400 Pa wind load. <strong>25-year warranty</strong>. Fastest flush-mount install in SA.

Read More →