Free solar panel discussion

Cardew

furndire wrote: »

Cardew, I am not in the habit of telling lies, we found it hard to believe as well. Very offended by your posting. If I knew how, I would certainly post a picture of the monitor when it hits a high - I will have to see what I can do.
I have no idea who/what digitaltoast is, and really do not care - I have the panels, and know that it happens.

Fundire,
You missed the irony of my post - there was certainly no intent to upset you as I am quite certain your reading is accurate - and I apologise if you took it the wrong way.

I posted earlier in this thread that it was possible to get more than the nominal kWp output in UK i.e. more than 4kW from a 4kWp system.

'digitaltoast' posted that I had stated an 'outright lie' and that it wasn't possible. See posts around #430

Let's start with your outright lie that you can generate more than 100% of kWp rated capacity in Cornwall...

Despite others saying they have achieved the same results as yourself - he still maintains you are wrong.

Jon_Tiffany

Cardew wrote: »

So you have achieved 4.39kW from a 3.96kWp system(22 x 180Wp)

Seems you are yet another telling 'outright lies';) according to digitaltoast.

Cardew, digitaltoast we never be satisfied. His arguements have been shot down in flames many times. Each time he will just increase his demands for 'evidence'.

No doubt he will not be satisfied with those who posted real world examples of their systems performance - all liars because he insisted on a photo to prove it.

If you did produce photos, DT would probably then insist on a signed witness statement and an independant technical analysis of the meter on the inverter to confirm it is reading correctly :rotfl::rotfl:

EDIT - big thanks to those who have posted output figures from their systems.

furndire

Sorry, Cardew, you're right, I did miss the irony - didn't notice the smiley. Just re-read a few of the posting - I'll have to take more notice of the names next time.
At the moment, I'm highly delighted with my system, we'll just have to see what winter brings. I am hoping because of the pitch of the roof we may gain a little when the sun is lower, fingers crossed.

flierman1945

Has anyone received a FIT payment yet. First payments were due at the end of the first quarter April 1st to June 30th. My supplier tells me the EEC are looking at the grants made to installations between July 2009 and the end of the grants. Brussels is 0bjecting to the fact some installations received this grant (up to £2500) and will benefit from the 41.3 p per unit generated. So, any payments due are being held over until this issue is resolved. Please post back if you have received any payment.

Perry525

Cardew wrote: »

Doesn't your quote itself offer up the possibility that you can exceed the so-called peak power rating?

This is a quote from yakky58(who lives in Hampshire) - if you read his posts you will see he makes a lot of sense in all his posts, and is not given to making wild claims - like so many with systems.




You will note that his highest output from a 2.050kWp system was 2.156kW albeit for 5 minutes. So it is perfectly reasonable to state that Cornwall could also exceed the rated kWp output.

Indeed someone in Yorkshire with one of the ASG 3.3kWp systems stated in the thread that he got a peak reading of around 3kW.

===================================
Way back at the beginning of this thread a chap was writing about Australia, commenting that he has a 1kw array and that his best was around 1600kwh on a clear day with a temperature of 29 degrees C.

A 4kwh system in Falmouth will generate 5301kwh per day during July and on average 3399kwh over the year.
That's 50 5'37N
5 8'35W

eidolona

No-one has given a sensible reply to my post yesterday on the Goldilocks effect….except Digitaltoast who said I had a ‘good point’. Well spotted that man! I’m not offended at no other replies though. Well not much anyway. Ok I am just a little bit offended but I’ll get over it….in time. I just think you can construct a very meaningful philosophy for living out of the ‘just enough’ Goldilocks Principle which I believe is inherent in the very fabric of reality….but that is just me….and I could be wrong…..although I don’t think I am.

Never mind! Here’s what I’m going to do for you undeserving people today. I’m doing this because I’m feeling charitable…..which rarely happens. I’m going to give all you people who havn’t committed themselves to the PV panel scheme yet, a cheap and better DIY alternative. It’s called a ‘Beer Can Passive Solar Furnace’. Essentially it’s a home made solar air heater. I’ve just made a 144 beer can version of one of these, but havn’t ducted the hot air to the house yet. Find out how to make yours by going to You tube and searching
" Brilliant Newfoundlander invents the solution!" Lots more instruction videos and stats by searching "Beer Can Solar Heater" or "Pop Can Solar Heater" (Not allowed to post direct links) These home made passive solar air heaters are popular all over the world and are cheap to make. Mine cost me around 120 quid.

Eidolona.

albyota

I'm doing this to save you from the wolves on here......:eek:

solar air heating?...... from the sun?...... in the UK?.....in our summers....just when we don't need heating. passive solar heating with the large cardboard box full of black cans blocking out the sun shining through the window, making the room darker ...needing to put a light on? I thought this thread was about free solar PV panels generating electricity to pump into the national grid which in time....a long time.... could reduce CO2 emmissions, and give a free bit of leccy and/or FIT payment.

now then...who's been eating my porridge?

MrMoore

Some things that crossed my mind are:

1) What if you want to sell your house and by then solar PV has really taken off in a big way and the person buying wants the feed in tarriff, but because your house has the free panels then the buyer may decide on a house up the street with no panels installed on it or panels where they can keep the feed in tarriff becuase they are not tied.

2) It's a bit like choosing a mobile phone and decide what suits your personal needs. If you buy your own system you may make more on feed in tarriffs but you will have a lot of cash tied up for a long time. Even with low interest rates (they will go higher eventually) if you compond the interest lost and the initial outlay over 10 years (the time considered for the pay back to start and equipment paid for) it turns out not so good. Especially if you are older because you may never get investment back and the equipment is getting older so you will never get it all back when you come to sell, your house may sell quicker though. If for intance you are 60 years old you may just about start to see a return when you are 70 yrs old so best option go for free system. If you are young say 25yrs old then go for buying because you will live to reap the benefits.

3) Regarding the free system. Another tip if you have a battery charger you could charge up batteries and convert it to (buy a small electrical inverter) AC for use at night for lighting or just run a few 12V DC halogens straight off the battery . Or buy a road tax free electic scooter and charge that up . Or buy a battery operated lawn mower and charge that up for free.

I will soon be a new MSE at this rate.

Cheers Trev

albyota

........................mmmmmm

daytona600_2

digitaltoast wrote: »

http://solarcost.org/solar-inverter.html


At £1,600 per unit (at today's prices), how does that affect your calculations?

good european inverters offer 5 years warranty
and warranty extensions for 10-25 years
stick to sma sunny boys , fronius & power-one auroras , kaco
also get the highest effciency
93-94% good but newer transformless inverters 96-98%
make sure it has G83/1 certification
and option of remote display Pc , web , I-Phone for the future
number one rule never save money on a inverter
high effciency means more electricity to sell to the grid
and use good pv panels with high yields/outputs
good panels & inverters actually work out cheaper in the long run
and cost the same to install & offer better reliabilty,