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

don0301

EricMears wrote: »

For absolute maximum performance, you need panels mounted on a steerable array where the thing points Eastward (or thereabouts) at dawn & slews round to Westward at dusk. Panel inclination also changes from steep at dawn to shallower at noon & back to steep at dusk and of course the inclination at noon would be around 75deg in Dec and 30deg in June (depending on exact latitude of course). One such array would be a 'permitted development' but the multiple ones you'd want for a full 4kwp would require planning permission.

It sounds an attractive idea to jack up the top of your roof mounted array in the winter and lower it in summer. However, the permitted development rules only apply to panels fitted a small distance (off the top of my head I think its 100mm) above the existing roof surface and anything else would require planning permission. Two other snags are that having panels at an angle to the roof surface would increase wind resistance so you'd very likely lose them in a winter gale and if you tried to minimise that effect by tilting panels individually they'd probably shade each other.

what part of thinking of a solution didnt you get?

EricMears

don0301 wrote: »

what part of thinking of a solution didnt you get?

No part. There is a solution; I've described it - and the snags !

don0301

EricMears wrote: »

No part. There is a solution; I've described it - and the snags !

Fail to see a solution to adjust the panel angle twice a year there......

EricMears

don0301 wrote: »

Fail to see a solution to adjust the panel angle twice a year there......

Twice a year really isn't enough, but you could if you wish use a steerable array with the motors run just twice a year. Or , if you're sticking with roof-mounted panels, raise the North end of the panels with a bracket at end of summer then lower it again in spring. OTOH, you might already have a very steep roof (ideal for winter) so would want to raise the lower end of the panels in spring & lower them again in autumn.

All of that should have been obvious from the original posting. So alas should the snags of so doing.

Good luck; please let us know how you get on.

don0301

EricMears wrote: »

Twice a year really isn't enough, but you could if you wish use a steerable array with the motors run just twice a year. Or , if you're sticking with roof-mounted panels, raise the North end of the panels with a bracket at end of summer then lower it again in spring. OTOH, you might already have a very steep roof (ideal for winter) so would want to raise the lower end of the panels in spring & lower them again in autumn.

All of that should have been obvious from the original posting. So alas should the snags of so doing.

Good luck; please let us know how you get on.

Actually a tracking array is just not viable in the UK cost wise, and twice a year is actually very close to 4 times a year in performance, and def worth it financially.

And as i originally posted I think about a solution. Clearly you didnt help

Kernel_Sanders

EricMears wrote: »

For absolute maximum performance, you need panels mounted on a steerable array where the thing points Eastward (or thereabouts) at dawn & slews round to Westward at dusk.

Something like this, perhaps?

These aren't solar panels BTW, just mirrors all angled for reflected sunlight to meet at a focal point.

EricMears wrote: »

However, the permitted development rules only apply to panels fitted a small distance (off the top of my head I think its 100mm) above the existing roof surface and anything else would require planning permission.

When I was reading up on permitted development, I'm sure it said
that no part of the array could be higher than the roof-line, which does not include the chimney.

don0301

EricMears wrote: »

For absolute maximum performance, you need panels mounted on a steerable array where the thing points Eastward (or thereabouts) at dawn & slews round to Westward at dusk. Panel inclination also changes from steep at dawn to shallower at noon & back to steep at dusk and of course the inclination at noon would be around 75deg in Dec and 30deg in June (depending on exact latitude of course). One such array would be a 'permitted development' but the multiple ones you'd want for a full 4kwp would require planning permission.

It sounds an attractive idea to jack up the top of your roof mounted array in the winter and lower it in summer. However, the permitted development rules only apply to panels fitted a small distance (off the top of my head I think its 100mm) above the existing roof surface and anything else would require planning permission. Two other snags are that having panels at an angle to the roof surface would increase wind resistance so you'd very likely lose them in a winter gale and if you tried to minimise that effect by tilting panels individually they'd probably shade each other.

Just to help your off the top of your head Facts its 200mm

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/solarpanels/

Kernel_Sanders

don0301 wrote: »

Just to help your off the top of your head Facts its 200mm

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/solarpanels/

Ah yes, I can see now that Eric was referring to the distance above and parallel to the sloping plane.

don0301

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Ah yes, I can see now that Eric was referring to the distance above and parallel to the sloping plane.

that's correct, but his off the head was 100% out

Plot_Vendor

sly_dog_jonah wrote: »

If you look back at your original post, there were a number of replies ...

Thanks, sly_dog_jonah.

I finally got round to acquainting myself with my Aurora Power-One today. Not an easy task as it's located in the most inaccessible part of the loft possible: the installer must have been a contortionist in a previous life!

It is italian, though no aerial (at least none visible in the dim light). That said, I plan a another expedition soon to have a proper root around, and to write down all the numbers. The front panel was blank, so no numbers to read (cos it was after dark?) and I didn't want to start pressing any of the buttons in case it exploded :rotfl:

... Any web-based monitoring system should work on any modern smartphone, depending on usage of Flash or Java applets. If you want an App, then iPhone or Android options are available for certain setups.

Looked at the Android marketplace and the apps all seem to be company/equipment-specific, e.g SMA, SunPower. Similar to the sky+ app that lets you interface with your box wherever you are, I'm after a solution that would let me read, say, the SoloPV data wherever I am in the country.

Thanks.