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

orrery

davidj4328 wrote: »

Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but if you have certain types of inverters, they have a built in relay which can switch a load from 1kW upwards.

This link has been posted before on here somewhere before.
This company make current sensing switches that can be set to any value - just run one conductor of the inverter mains cable through the sensor:

http://www.lamonde.co.uk

Along with a box and a mains contactor, any electrician can do what is being asked.

KevinG

larkim wrote: »

When does the cheaper leccy kick in from?

Varies by region/supplier. Mine is from 2230-0030 and 0230-0730 GMT (so cheap rate is until 8.30am in the summer). It still appears to be worth it for me (former Seeboard region, Scottish Power).

teachergirl

rw268 wrote: »

Hi Guys, I've had a 3kw system installed and up on my roof for 2 months now - South facing at 40deg on the Isle of Wight. I have generated 24 kw in the first month and 36 kw in the second (Dec to Jan and Jan to Feb). I appreciate this will get better as the days get longer and we have more sun etc. But do these figures seem comparible to other users experiences?
Any information would be appreciated

This seems very low to me. I have a 3.96kW system also facing south. In the last week or so I have had days where I am producing 16-18kWh in one day. Last year in January where it was quite dismal we produced 90kWh compared to this year which has been quite bright where we produced 173kWh. I really think you should get it checked out:)

pioneer

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/rpi_increase_45.4p_solar_fit_from_april_1_5478/?utm_source=Solar+Power+Portal&utm_campaign=83d1139f4b-SPP_newsletter_February_16_20122_16_2012&utm_medium=email

Dave_Fowler

Export rate is confirmed as 3.2p - Full FITs for various systems is in http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/fits/Documents1/Feed-in%20Tariff%20Table%201%20April%202012.pdf document

Dave F

raider

rw268 wrote: »

Hi Guys, I've had a 3kw system installed and up on my roof for 2 months now - South facing at 40deg on the Isle of Wight. I have generated 24 kw in the first month and 36 kw in the second (Dec to Jan and Jan to Feb). I appreciate this will get better as the days get longer and we have more sun etc. But do these figures seem comparible to other users experiences?
Any information would be appreciated

PVoutput.org shows 2 up-to date systems on the Isle of Wight

http://www.pvoutput.org/aggregate.jsp?id=6783&sid=5415&v=0&sg=1&t=m

http://www.pvoutput.org/aggregate.jsp?id=2476&sid=1872&v=0&sg=1&t=m

Your figures do look very low in comparison.

Martyn1981

Well, a good day in S. Wales. Peak is creeping up, now 1.96kW, it was teasing me with the hope of a 2(sustained) all morning. Guess I won't see one for another week or 2. So sun angle lowered peak in Dec to 1.3 / 1.4. then 1.6 /1.7 in Jan, and 1.8 / 1.9 so far.

Still learning, every day. Sadly my shallow angles and the short winter days, make my system a summer specialist, so less able to spread the generation out. Oh well, can't have everything - where would you put it?

Also got almost 8kWh's despite the weather changing at 12noon. Not bad, and nice to see generation at 7.30am, just.

Anyone else noticing how the system outputs are steadily changing. Or am I the only truly sad soul here?

Mart.

gary_e

I am being offered free panels but my roof faces west and east. What benefit would I get? I have heard that the panels need to face south, is someone just getting trying to get me to say yes just to hit his targets?

Please advise

sly_dog_jonah

Yep I can see the same trend on my output graphs. The best days are gradually getting better, and the bad days are producing more than the December bad days. The panels are firing up slightly earlier each day and producing for longer. Peak output power is marginally changing but I suspect this will be slower to increase than the total output, as peak power is a function of the angle of the sun at lunchtime, rather than the length of daylight hours.

We're well on target to beat Feb's 160kWh PVGIS target, and slighly behind my stretch goal of PVGIS+25% (which we seem to be doing most months so far).

EricMears

gary_e wrote: »

I am being offered free panels but my roof faces west and east. What benefit would I get? I have heard that the panels need to face south, is someone just getting trying to get me to say yes just to hit his targets?

Please advise

There wil be some benefit. Any East facing panels will generate in the mornings and West facing ones in the afternoon. But you'll never get all of them peaking at once.

Very surprised to hear that any 'rent-a-roof company' actually want such an installation - don't they usually concentrate on high yielding rooves ?

I really can't see why anyone would actually want 'free' panels. If the rate of return from FITs is good enough for a commercial investor then it should justify the home owner making the investment himself (or herself of course) even if it means borrowing the money to do so. Even at the proposed lower FIT rates the ROI should be rather better than (say) the cost of a mortgage 'further advance'.