Solar Panel Guide Discussion

orrery

[SIZE=-1]Here is photo album showing a solar install of a 4kWp system on a SE roof, through to an installed and working system - the scaffolding was removed today:

http://www.smithinbedford.org.uk/photo/showimg.php?file=/20111103%20solar%20install/03112011137.jpg

Click on the 'next' button to go through the images or select from the slide-show.
[/SIZE]

coalportal

orrery, that was an amazing set of photos and I am so proud of you for taking part in conserving energy.

[Deleted User]

orrery wrote: »

[SIZE=-1]Here is photo album showing a solar install of a 4kWp system on a SE roof, through to an installed and working system - the scaffolding was removed today:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]http://www.smithinbedford.org.uk/photo/showimg.php?file=/20111103%20solar%20install/03112011137.jpg[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Click on the 'next' button to go through the images or select from the slide-show.[/SIZE]

Great pics, nice to see another new install.

[Deleted User]

lanstrom wrote: »

Does the power one inverter actually come on during gloomy foggy days like today ?

My Fronius IG is currently showing 135w but I am sure I read somewhere that the power one doesn't come on till there is at least 180w available ... Or did I imagine it ?

Only asking as I was offered a choice of either.

Thanks.

I've seen my Fronius IG TL 4.0 show as low as 29w when heading into dusk... How do you monitor your one...? For myself it's just a case of looking at the inverter directly and sometimes putting the USB stick into the PC for historical data to see what it has been up to.

orrery

coalportal wrote: »

orrery, that was an amazing set of photos and I am so proud of you for taking part in conserving energy.

...wood burning stove installed earlier this year, two rooms lit by LED lights. Aren't I a goody two-shoes!
Just can't do the extra thick loft insulation as it is boarded and used for storage! Ho hum.:(

orrery

lanstrom wrote: »

Does the power one inverter actually come on during gloomy foggy days like today ?

My Fronius IG is currently showing 135w but I am sure I read somewhere that the power one doesn't come on till there is at least 180w available ... Or did I imagine it ?

Are you sure that you don't mean 180 volts? I'd guess that at 180V you'd be generating almost nothing i.e. less that 10W.

meerustar

I live in a council house and this morning, 2 guys have been around to measure up for solar panels. It seems my roof is south facing and I overheard them say they could fit 5 panels on it.

They gave me a sheet to read (full of legal jargon) and asked me to sign the next page. The council have already signed.

The firm who called are called Carillion and a few houses in my area have been chosen.

They said that I would be able to get free electricity every day, and to do all my chores in the daytime (ironing, washing, tumble dryer etc) and I was to save a 'considerable' amount. My electricity bills are on average £50 per month .. yet Ive been doing a bit of reading and it says I could save upto £70 per year.

By my estimation, that means just under £6 per month, so where is this 'considerable saving'?


I am planning to buy this house in the next few years and would also like to convert the loft. Is this possible after having panels etc.

I've never looked in solar panels before and to be honest, know very little about them and how they work.

Does anyone have advice as to what else I might need to consider. Thanks


ETA - I have read Martins page re: panels and now understand why they want to fit them asap due to feed tariff, so need to know whether to sign up or not asap please.

orrery

meerustar wrote: »

I live in a council house and this morning, 2 guys have been around to measure up for solar panels. It seems my roof is south facing and I overheard them say they could fit 5 panels on it.

Carillion are a big company - they do (or did) much of the railway maintenance work.

They are offering you the chance to use the solar power generated for free. The council will get the payments from the 'feed in tariff' but if you can use the power then you don't pay for it.

On a grey day like today with 5 panels, you'll be generating no more than 100W if you're lucky. If you can arrange your affairs so that you use that 100W (or whatever is being generated) then you get it for free. But, appliances don't use electricity on a 'average' basis. A washing machine will use about 100W when tumbling, but when the heater comes on it will be up over 2kW.

On a summers day you could be generating 1kW or more.

However, it looks like you're being offered something for nothing and I can't see a solar installation really detracting from the value, even if a 'rent a roof' install won't add to it.

Of course, check the small print and see what conditions they are imposing on you!

zeupater

meerustar wrote: »

... I am planning to buy this house in the next few years and would also like to convert the loft. Is this possible after having panels etc ....

Hi

If you like the idea of panels and definately are going to buy the house, what would be the likelihood of you wanting to invest in your own panels ? ... The real issue here could be the loft conversion and where any loft windows/escape access windows would need to be ... if it needs to be where the panels are then it could be very expensive to buy-out the remaining years on a true RaR contract (if that's what it is).

The best you could do is contact the council immediately and find out what the options are. You may not have the full T&Cs within what you have been given to sign, so will probably not have any idea what the long-term contractual issues are, but the local authority will ..... there's also the possibility that you can do absolutely nothing about it at all because it's a contract between the landlord and a RaR company and the sheet to sign is just consent for access. However, it could also be that the council are fitting themselves and if you buy the property you get the panels as part of the deal, including future access to the FiT payments ...

Best to check directly, but do it very quickly ....

HTH
Z

drusy_2

I have had my system of 14 panels (2.66 kw) system fitted a little over a week and I am awaiting the relevent documentation (reciept and MCS certificate) from the company in order to apply for the FIT.
Is it normaly this long a wait for the documentation?
When filling in the FIT application, a question refers to opting in or out of the 3.1p export price, why would anybody opt out?
I have tried fitting Npowers Smartpower meter, to the cable the engineer identified as carrying the generated power from the system, but it shows a blank screen. Should I just fit it to the normal cable from the original meter and go by what is shown as coming into my home as a guide?
Are there any pitfalls to filling in the FIT application? I will be delivering it in person as the Npower offices are nearby.
Thanking you all in anticipation, I know from other posts that you are a helpful bunch here.

Regards Drusy