Solar panels some basic questions 26 November 2010 at 2:04PM in Green & ethical MoneySaving 7 replies 1K views

lqa

I am now eligable for free panels should I wish to proceed.

I am not in a position to buy them; I have two daughters careering towards University education.

I have 24 sq metres of south facing roof here in sunny Birmingham.

I am not planning on moving house; I have two daughters careering towards University education.

I just need to know, without complicated maths, whether it really is 'free' electric during the day, is it free up to the amount I can generate?. I have a marine fish tank that runs 6 high powered lighting tubes during the day and two water pumps 24 hours a day. My wife has a tumble dryer addiction.

My electric usage has gone up exponentially since getting my fish tank so I am really just hoping to restore costs to a pre-2010 level. If it gets reduced all the better.

I have read most of the threads but they do seem to get bogged down in arguments.

Financially will I be better off?

thanks

espresso

lqa wrote: »

I just need to know, without complicated maths, whether it really is 'free' electric during the day, is it free up to the amount I can generate?.

It's only free electricity if you can use the electricity that is generated on that sunny day, otherwise you will buy it from your supplier.

I have a marine fish tank that runs 6 high powered lighting tubes during the day and two water pumps 24 hours a day.

What is the total wattage of these lights and pumps?

My wife has a tumble dryer addiction.

Get her a washing line!

...............

Mcfi5dhc

lqa wrote: »

Financially will I be better off?

Summer - yes, but not dramatically
Winter - almost no change

Don't go for the £500 "free" ones

lqa

Thank for replies so far:

The lights are: 54W T5 HO lights, 6 off, + 300W heaters, 2x 3000 Ltr/hr pumps.

Tried the washing line, didn't work

It is ISIS who have responded first to my enquiries, I believe they don't charge the £500.

I get the impression the more you use the more you save... up to a point, and only in daylight

-LQA-

Jon_Tiffany

lqa wrote: »

I have read most of the threads but they do seem to get bogged down in arguments.

Financially will I be better off?

thanks

To give you a simple answer - Yes, it will reduce your bills.

There is some debate over how much it will save, but this will vary wildly between households anyway.

As suggested above I would try to ditch the tumble dryer.

Jon_Tiffany

Mcfi5dhc wrote: »

Summer - yes, but not dramatically
Winter - almost no change

Don't go for the £500 "free" ones

Why no change in winter? Do your panels not work when its cold? Mine were working quite nicely today.

If the fish tank is also heated in the summer there must be some good savings to be had in the summer as well.

Certainly agree that you would have to be insane to go for the £500 "free" ones.

Best option is to buy your own, but many people are quite happy with the free offers and I see no problem with going for one of the freebies.

[Deleted User]

we have PV for electricity plus solar panels for hot water. The electricity made by the PV is variable depending on the sun. Today ours produced between 50w and 520 watts and varied with the cloud cover. During the whole day it produced about 2-3 kwh I think. You have to be using the electricity while it is being produced in order to benefit from it so I time things accordingly and wait for 500w production to use my dishwasher and so on

lqa

In theory the tank must be heated in summer, but with the heat given off by the lights we were on the verge of having to buy a chiller for the water, the irony of that when living in the UK is not lost on me.

Look like i will go with the 100% free option, I'd like to buy but short of poisoning my mother or deny the girls Uni thats not an option.

Basically just want to reduce my bills, never know may mean I ca get metal halide lights :j