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

EricMears

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

I had mine installed in the small bedroom/study immediately below where it would have been in the loft. My installer said the difference would be negligible (it's a low roof, 23° pitch).

He's right of course - high on a bedroom wall might be only a foot or two further away than having it on attic floor.

If these 'magic four flashes' happened whilst you were in that room (but not actually engrossed in using computer)then you're in with a chance of seeing them. Perhaps not if you're downstairs, in the garden or even out shopping !

orrery

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

I had mine installed in the small bedroom/study immediately below where it would have been in the loft. My installer said the difference would be negligible (it's a low roof, 23° pitch).

Mine's in the garage - works fine. If anyone had concerns about any losses, they could go for higher grade cables. I did discuss this with the installer but we didn't feel it was justified.

I wanted mine in the garage because it sits at a relatively constant temperature. The loft gets bitterly cold in the winter (and possibly condensation problems) and stinking hot in the summer (not good for electronics reliability where a rule of thumb would indicate a halving in reliability for each 10C rise in temperature) notwithstanding reliability issues due to temperature cycling.

EricMears

Ours is in the loft. Not entirely because that's as close as you can get to panels but also because there's bags of space there and it forms part of the route Roof - Loft - cupbard in spare bedroom (with gen meter) - basement (with CU).

Wouldn't have wanted inverters in the spare bedroom wardrobe - could overheat and besides where would we put all the other rubbish we're keeping 'just in case' and didn't think guests would appreciate a large red box on their bedroom wall.

jackieblack

orrery wrote: »

The loft gets bitterly cold in the winter (and possibly condensation problems) and stinking hot in the summer (not good for electronics reliability where a rule of thumb would indicate a halving in reliability for each 10C rise in temperature) notwithstanding reliability issues due to temperature cycling.

We've found that our loft gets far less hot in summer since having the solar panels installed - presumably because the sun is now shining directly onto the panels rather than the roof

don0301

Not bad for Feb

Doc_N

orrery wrote: »

Mine's in the garage - works fine. If anyone had concerns about any losses, they could go for higher grade cables. I did discuss this with the installer but we didn't feel it was justified.

I wanted mine in the garage because it sits at a relatively constant temperature. The loft gets bitterly cold in the winter (and possibly condensation problems) and stinking hot in the summer (not good for electronics reliability where a rule of thumb would indicate a halving in reliability for each 10C rise in temperature) notwithstanding reliability issues due to temperature cycling.

Likewise - in the garage, which the installers and I agreed was the best place for it. Very little extra cabling needed, so no losses to speak of, and that's been borne out by the results, which were 10% ahead of where they should have been in year one.

Not at all keen on putting it in a very warm loft, given the likely effect on lifespan, and it's very useful to be able to keep an eye on it whenever you're passing to make sure the green light's on and see what it's generating.

EricMears

The only alternatives to our loft would have been guest bedroom or basement. Haven't yet had a chance to check loft temperatures in June or July but it is well ventilated, really wasn't that bad in August or Sept and I'd anticipated the same effect that jackieblack reports.

Apart from the legendary 4 flashes alarm, I've absolutely no need to look at inverter itself as all its info is on permanent display in my study via 'bluetooth'.

don0301

EricMears wrote: »

The only alternatives to our loft would have been guest bedroom or basement. Haven't yet had a chance to check loft temperatures in June or July but it is well ventilated, really wasn't that bad in August or Sept and I'd anticipated the same effect that jackieblack reports.

Apart from the legendary 4 flashes alarm, I've absolutely no need to look at inverter itself as all its info is on permanent display in my study via 'bluetooth'.

perhaps consider turning your basement into a bomb bunker? just in case of the 'flashes of impending Doom' ?

mine's in the loft, again only logical choice, fail to see any sensible argument that anywhere else is better, but come summer time will tell. also agree with what jackieblack said from experience so far.

Martyn1981

Finally got a 10. Bout time, hooray!

Probably used most of it. Heating was switched off at 7:45, then used a 400W oil rad to warm up room till solar gain heated conservatory, which then heats the living room. Then on with the dishwasher, next washing machine, electric hob for lunch, washing machine again, followed by lawn mower.

Got to say, my loft (which is insulated on the inside roof joists 75mm) didn't used to get too hot, but I could 'crack' the Velux to get rid of any excess. Presumably, now that 90%+ is covered in thermo-nuclear cladding (PV!) it will now only get ambient gain, no solar gain other than via said Velux.

That said, both inverters are in a cool (and groovy!), downstairs toilet, which itself has an insulated roof, with PV on top, and shading to the East via a canopy (made from ... you guessed it, 2 more PV panels). Wanted to keep both inverters together, so one had to travel to the other, chose toilet as out of the way but easier to access and near the main electrics.

Good day all over?

Mart.

beansy

jackieblack wrote: »

Or balmy maybe?
Unless the sunshine was crazy?

42kWh generated in the last 7 days - almost 43% of the predicted generation for the month (98.124kWh)!
115kWh generated so far in Feb, already over 117% of prediction and 5 days still to go!
compared to 71kWh generated in the whole month of Feb 2011

Hi

New to all this and trying to read up on it through your posts.

We are in N Wales and had our system installed last Sat. To date we are reading 58.5 Kw and had some quite cloudy and dull days last week.

Is this good or ave please?

Thanks

Beansy