So now I have a solar PV system how do I make the most of it???

pauldreed · 25 April 2011 at 6:02PM

I think that I have the same problem!
My meter is also a Siemens S2AS, and this afternoon it recorded an increase of 5kwh between 1pm and 3.30pm, with the consumer unit SWITCHED OFF. i.e no domestic consumption.
There is something drastically wrong here....

ASG have been brilliant so far, so hopefully they will sort it out (quickly!)

furndire · 26 April 2011 at 12:44AM

pauldreed wrote: »

I think that I have the same problem!
My meter is also a Siemens S2AS, and this afternoon it recorded an increase of 5kwh between 1pm and 3.30pm, with the consumer unit SWITCHED OFF. i.e no domestic consumption.
There is something drastically wrong here....

ASG have been brilliant so far, so hopefully they will sort it out (quickly!)

Are you like me, and couldn't believe what you were seeing for a start? Incredulity, annoyed & then gutted.

grahamc2003 · 26 April 2011 at 10:25AM

What an unbelievable situation. So with all the certification, regulation and everything else, there isn't a very simple test the installer do to check everything is working as it should? There should be (and would be for proper systems development) a final integration test as a final step before the installers sign off the system where tests are done to see all meters are registering correct values (eg if you are exporting 3kw, check main meter isn't clocking up (or, imo, down)). An obvious check. But these things are rushed through without sufficient thought and expertise and, aftreall, whatever the biling gets right or wrong doesn't affect the 'greenness' of the system - i.e. co2 may be reduced (a tiny amount), which is the primary aim of all these types of things, isn't it?

keith_r59 · 26 April 2011 at 12:59PM

grahamc2003 wrote: »

But these things are rushed through without sufficient thought and expertise and, aftreall, whatever the biling gets right or wrong doesn't affect the 'greenness' of the system - i.e. co2 may be reduced (a tiny amount), which is the primary aim of all these types of things, isn't it?

It's all because the last Labour government signed up to the EU Renewable Energy Directive, which included a UK target of 15 percent of energy from renewables by 2020, without having any original ideas on how they were going to achieve it.

free_juice? · 26 April 2011 at 3:50PM

grahamc2003 wrote: »

There should be (and would be for proper systems development) a final integration test as a final step before the installers sign off the system where tests are done to see all meters are registering correct values

The very nature of the beast mitigates against that, for those installed within the last six months anyway.

Systems are generally completed as darkness approaches. No installer wants to pop back in the morning when they can work a bit late and finish a day early. That way there is no opportunity to do a full system test as there may not be enough light to trigger the inverter.

grahamc2003 · 26 April 2011 at 4:27PM

free_juice? wrote: »

The very nature of the beast mitigates against that, for those installed within the last six months anyway.

Systems are generally completed as darkness approaches. No installer wants to pop back in the morning when they can work a bit late and finish a day early. That way there is no opportunity to do a full system test as there may not be enough light to trigger the inverter.

I'm sure it's not beyond the wit of man to carry a generator and simulate a kw from the panels and then check all meters are responding correctly. To do that, or something similar, is just a normal QC process. I'm amazed that anyone thinks it's ok to install a system, then say 'bye' without somes sort of testing to see it works correctly - and we're talking about a really fundamental error here. Isn't the whole MCS scheme designed for better QC?

This ould be a real probelm for the solar companies - I bet they're going to get many calls claiming the metering isn't working correctly (whether or not it is!).

Anyhow, a good exampe of an unknown unkown before this week - an unknown unquantifiable risk taken on, of less importance to panel owners, but for those who rent, a devastating risk if their's too is the same as Furndire's.

stoozey · 26 April 2011 at 4:40PM

simples dont sign for it until you see it working. I dont care if they have to come back I wont be handing over the final payment until i am 100% sure its done.

furndire · 26 April 2011 at 5:02PM

Rather than clog up this thread I started another one here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3191844

At least if people are aware this can happen you can watch out for it. Also if installers are aware this can happen - (how rarely would be interesting to know) they can act on it.

free_juice? · 26 April 2011 at 5:17PM

stoozey wrote: »

simples dont sign for it until you see it working. I dont care if they have to come back I wont be handing over the final payment until i am 100% sure its done.

That is exactly what my installer said was his standard practice. The invoice said "payment due 21 days from installation".