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

Dave_Fowler

jimjames wrote: »

Just wondering as there are quite a few people here who are giving monthly outputs, would anyone be interested in providing their monthly readings to collate into a table showing performance vs location and installed kWp? I'm building the database on my website for our panels and it would make for an interesting comparison to see how much variation there is between different systems.

Hi,

You'll find mine posted on http://www.uksolarcasestudy.co.uk/home - System location 4

Dave F

Lemoncurd

Has anyone else been a bit anxious about their panels/roof in the wind this week? I keep on hearing unusual creaks and tapping noises from the roof and getting paranoid as it's the first time we've had weather like this since they were installed!

themaverick1953

Less than 2 kWh today from 4 kWp system and quite a sunny day.

BTW I'm heading straight out to check my panels now! Blowing a hooly here last night.

brizzledfw

Hi JJ


Happy to provide info from our SunnyBoy monitor! Blooming minimal output for last few months but then it's only 8 panels, 1.8kWh from memory but will check

Cheers

Brizzle

raider

Lemoncurd wrote: »

Has anyone else been a bit anxious about their panels/roof in the wind this week? I keep on hearing unusual creaks and tapping noises from the roof and getting paranoid as it's the first time we've had weather like this since they were installed!

Me too Lemoncurd. Creaks, bangs, tapping, the lot. Woke me up several times last night. Half expected to see my panels scattered down the street and through my neighbors car windscreens :eek: Several times it seemed to calm down, then all of a sudden massive gusts hit, not good for my heart

raider

jimjames wrote: »

Just wondering as there are quite a few people here who are giving monthly outputs, would anyone be interested in providing their monthly readings to collate into a table showing performance vs location and installed kWp? I'm building the database on my website for our panels and it would make for an interesting comparison to see how much variation there is between different systems.

Lots of UK daily, weekly, monthly and yearly readings with map locations here: http://pvoutput.org/ladder.jsp?tid=110

brizzledfw

BTW I added my panels to my house insurance for no extra cost..maybe with all this global warming induced unpredictable weather;) everyone needs to check they would be covered if they were damaged?

orrery

jimjames wrote: »

Our roof is quite steep so I guess I'll be one that gets less in the summer. Between the two options I think I'd prefer better summer performance as the numbers are so much higher!

Yes, I've been thinking about that. My roof is only 20 degrees, so not good today but better in the summer. In reality, what we need for the environment are steep roofs collecting the maximum early morning an late evening sun from an E-W configuration in order to give more consistent output throughout the day. As you point out, this isn't what the FITs encourage.

Maybe installations should be graded with variable FIT rates to encourage more E-W collection.

themaverick1953

brizzledfw wrote: »

BTW I added my panels to my house insurance for no extra cost..maybe with all this global warming induced unpredictable weather;) everyone needs to check they would be covered if they were damaged?

Checked mine when they went in last April and it said they were included.

themaverick1953

orrery wrote: »

Yes, I've been thinking about that. My roof is only 20 degrees, so not good today but better in the summer. In reality, what we need for the environment are steep roofs collecting the maximum early morning an late evening sun from an E-W configuration in order to give more consistent output throughout the day. As you point out, this isn't what the FITs encourage.

Maybe installations should be graded with variable FIT rates to encourage more E-W collection.

Mine face 110 degrees and as a weather forecaster my guess has always been that March to Sep we get a high proportion of our sunshine between 5 am and 1200 before convection gets going and we get what my wife calls the 'twelve o clock shadow'. I don't know of any datasets than can prove or disprove this, though my figures April to December are well ahead of the predicted.