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

SailorSam

There was an interesting article article on Bbc/Click this morning. After the Tsumani caused so much disruption to power supplies they are building a new city, totally solar powered. They were showing the latest solar panels that were thin flexible plastic and stuck to your windows so they not only generated power from the Sun but also from any heat/light in the house.

Plot_Vendor

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Is your monitor not calibrated in watts? I was wondering why you didn't just quote '110W'.

It was easier to just give the dashboard reading - SoloPV's are calibrated in KW.

SailorSam wrote: »

There was an interesting article article on Bbc/Click this morning.

Thanks Sam - I found it at: bbc.co.uk slash click.

It;s still early days for this PV spin off, as it seems suitable only for low power devices at present. However, I hope that the tech develops rapidly (well, faster than it did with PV cells) and we can paste these all over our windows. Next step: PV paint for houses!

P.S. 8.872 KWh today from my 3.0 KWp west facing array: things are looking - ahem - brighter!

Kernel_Sanders

After seeing Plot Vendor's production today I shouldn't really be complaining, but the nearest I got to be able to switch on my 3kW immersion heater was 2750W. I waited until my optimum orientation arrived at 13.55, but generation was already slowly dwindling. I know the sky was hazy today, but yesterday I briefly noticed 3,750 on the display; surely this was an error on a 3.92kWp system? I mean, we haven't even passed the equinox yet, so what would be the peak at the solstice?



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jimjames

It does seem to be quite variable with the amount of hazy cloud in the sky. Today our output was all over the place with peaks followed by huge dips. We did manage 2300/2500 on a few occasions and that is on 3kWp system so maybe it was more cloudy where you are. So far the max peak output we've achieved has been 2736W so I'd definitely expect over 3500W for a 3.9kWp system.

Kernel_Sanders

seagull09 wrote: »

I got 2080 wH from my 2280 w system last week.

That's not impressive at all - unless you mean you had a peak of 2080W

seagull09 wrote: »

Where do I get a 20w kettle? :mad:

I actually have a 26W one!
Well, OK, it's just one of those black plastic beakers with lid and handle, and a socket to take a 12V feed from a vehicle cigarette lighter outlet. I tried it using a domestic transformer from the mains, but it took so long to heat that I suspect the transforming process consumed most of those 26 watts!

seagull09 wrote: »

mid Wales, S edge of Snowdonia. Close enough to the mountains to get all the rain, and close enough to the sea to get all the sea mist. Probably not the best place to stick solar panels, really.

Actually that sounds like an ideal location. I mean, surely you don't have mains electricity (or anything) there.....

I presumed from your name that you would be coastal, or maybe seagulls have colonized those reservoirs?

Martyn1981

EricMears wrote: »

In 4 hours around Noon, you could lose up to 16kw (around £7 or £8). Or of course nearer 25p if weather anything like yesterday :mad: Well worth asking DNO if they're offering compensation for your loss. Afraid I've no idea whether or not you're entitled to it but asking will cost nothing and not asking will absolutely guarantee you don't get it.

(added later) Elsewhere on the MSE pages I've found postings suggesting that to be entitled to compensation you need 18hrs of outage (either all at once or in several episodes).

Thanks, with my shallow panel angles, system only sustaining about 2.5kW at the moment (peaking around 2.9kW). So potentially 10kWh's, but weather tomorrow should be cloudy till 1pm anyway. Also (and not moralising) but the FITs rate is so generous that I'm more than happy, and the DNO have kept us very well informed.

On the plus side, those new cables should be fresh and shiny, so the electrons will be able to 'slide' out faster!

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Actually that sounds like an ideal location. I mean, surely you don't have mains electricity (or anything) there.....

And so it begins! Did I mention 4/5ths of a GrandSlam?

Mart.

KevinG

Wow - fantastic day, best since 1st September. 9.92kWh (2kWp, SSE facing, 37 deg pitch, North Sussex).

Kernel_Sanders

KevinG wrote: »

Wow - fantastic day, best since 1st September. 9.92kWh (2kWp, SSE facing, 37 deg pitch, North Sussex).

This shows just what massive regional differences there can be in the volume generated. My record came on Sunday, but I produced barely half of that on Monday.

John_Pierpoint

Sunday 16 degrees some clouds but bright all day
Monday 12th 6 degrees - beautiful sunrise over Canvey Island and generating at 06:30 when I went outside.
OMG fog rolled in at 08:30 and generation slumped for the rest of the day.

Sunday..15.65 - best ytd
Monday...4.91
kWh on a 3.6 kWp SE facing 30 degree elevation system.

jimjames

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Sunday 16 degrees some clouds but bright all day
Monday 12th 6 degrees - beautiful sunrise over Canvey Island and generating at 06:30 when I went outside.
OMG fog rolled in at 08:30 and generation slumped for the rest of the day.

Sunday..15.65 - best ytd
Monday...4.91
kWh on a 3.6 kWp SE facing 30 degree elevation system.

We had exactly the same. When I left home yesterday to go to work approx 10 miles away it was bright sunshine. It was sunny all day at work so I was expecting a record breaking generation so very disappointed to find we'd only just got over 3kWh. I thought there had been a fault until I found that it was very cloudy and dull all day so shows how localised the weather can be when 10 miles away it was bright sunshine and clear blue sky!