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

Dave_Fowler

don0301 wrote: »

I didn't get 18.7 kWh yesterday, I got 18.7 kWh on 2nd Feb 2012. as per my signature.

I got 13.5 kWh yesterday, as per my post 1377

stop making **** up,

thanks.......

Sorry for mistaking 2nd Feb for yesterday. I don't think my mistake warrants 4 stars. If you think my making a mistake is a personal attack on you or your posts then you should take things a little more calmly. My original comment though still stands, 18kWh+ needs 6 hours of over 3kW generation and I think you are very lucky to be in a position to get this. I am not attacking you or saying I do not believe you but just commenting on your fortunate location.

Dave F

don0301

Dave_Fowler wrote: »

Sorry for mistaking 2nd Feb for yesterday. I don't think my mistake warrants 4 stars. If you think my making a mistake is a personal attack on you or your posts then you should take things a little more calmly. My original comment though still stands, 18kWh+ needs 6 hours of over 3kW generation and I think you are very lucky to be in a position to get this. I am not attacking you or saying I do not believe you but just commenting on your fortunate location.

Dave F

fair enough. thanks for that, and apologise for the 4 stars.

It's about 5 hours of 3kW and it ramps up quick in the morning, and ramps down slow in the afternoon. have had some great days this month so far.

yeah, I'm having another blinder today. am i the only part of Essex not covered in cloud again

Posting the pictures to prove I'm not lying. more to follow

Dave_Fowler

grahamc2003 wrote: »

If you could measure or accurately estimate the angle between your panels and the sun at midday, you could easily calculate the max power you could get that day (by pointing the panels normal to the sun) by dividng the actual power by sin(suns angle to panel). Be interesting to see if that is near kWp.

Never really understood why someone hasn't devised a cheap motor to always align the panel framing to the sun at midday, given the level of fits which I guess could make it cost effective.

According to the details I've got, the sun at its highest today is at 23 degrees (London). My roof at 38 degrees is 29 degrees away from perpendicular to the sun. A roof at 50 degrees would be 17 degrees off. It does not seem a great difference, but sine(90-29) is 0.87 and sine(90-17) is 0.96. A 13% drop compared with 4%.

I hope my maths is correct. Sines and cosines were 50 years ago for me!

Yes it would be good to be able to angle the panels so that they are perpendicular to the sun. Would be even better to rotate them to follow the sun round from East to West - after all this causes a +/- 90% change during each day.

Dave F

larkim

Funny you should mention the "angle of dangle" as it were. I was at the Zoo on Sunday and they have roof mounted panels on a fixed frame (flat roof); really surprised that there wasn't a small motor there just to shift the panel throughout the day, as I would have thought that would be a no-brainer. Just program a chip with the days of the year and some fairly rough angles and I'm sure you could optimise things. Perhaps a bit of a risk in structural terms if there were high winds?

Matt

Martyn1981

Dave_Fowler wrote: »

Yes it would be good to be able to angle the panels so that they are perpendicular to the sun. Would be even better to rotate them to follow the sun round from East to West - after all this causes a +/- 90% change during each day.

Dave F

Dave, been reading on other forums about tracker system's that, well, track the sun, panel angle and east to west rotation.

They perform well, but seem to be going out of favour slowly as panel prices fall. The set up needs a pretty strong support pole, and attached frame, that has to cope with a large 'sail' surface area. So strong and expensive.

Reading about those that live off-grid, they seem to be opting for just installing more panels, rather than optimising, due to costs. Shame really, but bound to happen as prices fall.

Larkim - often pondered the simplicity of a metal bracket with a long locking pin, that would simply slide out, raise / lower panel, then slide back in. Probably only need 3 settings, summer, autumn/spring, and winter. Maybe 20deg, 35deg, and 50deg. Only have to adjust once every 3 months. Maybe give em a quick clean at the same time!

Mart.

jackieblack

don0301 wrote: »

yeah, I'm having another blinder today. am i the only part of Essex not covered in cloud again

As we don't know which part of Essex you're in (other than that it's not south Essex) it's impossible to say!:D

But beautiful clear blue skies here in north east Essex.
Had generated 7kWh when I popped home at lunchtime - potentially the best day for quite a while!:)

don0301

jackieblack wrote: »

As we don't know which part of Essex you're in (other than that it's not south Essex) it's impossible to say!:D

But beautiful clear blue skies here in north east Essex.
Had generated 7kWh when I popped home at lunchtime - potentially the best day for quite a while!:)

I better not say, too many wierdo's on the internet.....:D

I guess the Cyber Stalker, or the Super Sleuth will work it out anyway

raider

don0301 wrote: »

I better not say, too many wierdo's on the internet.....:D

I guess the Cyber Stalker, or the Super Sleuth will work it out anyway

Sorry Don, can't resist. I guess Colchester, or less probably Braintree.

Three stalkers now :rotfl:

don0301

raider wrote: »

Sorry Don, can't resist. I guess Colchester, or less probably Braintree.

Three stalkers now :rotfl:

When i reach 5 do I get a FiT increase?

raider

don0301 wrote: »

When i reach 5 do I get a FiT increase?

No, but you will definitely be keeping an eye out from one of your velux windows :grouphug:

:rotfl: