Solar Panel Guide Discussion

kevinheb

OK, so I finally had my system fitting by Tesco (contracted to enact, who contracted to someone else). The installers hadn't been sent plans of the layout, and have laid it out quite differently to what had been agreed, one panel could potentially be in the shade most of the time, and 4 panels are a lot closer to the bay than was planned, which will lead to shading in the afternoon. On top of that, the SMA 3000HF that had been ordered was nowhere to be seen and a SMA 3000 was in its place. I have held off playing the final payment, have left a message with them but they haven't got back to me yet. What do you reckon I should do? (bearing in mind that the date for the FIT registration is nearing and I haven't been sent the MCS form)

rogerblack

kevinheb wrote: »

I have held off playing the final payment, have left a message with them but they haven't got back to me yet. What do you reckon I should do? (bearing in mind that the date for the FIT registration is nearing and I haven't been sent the MCS form)

As I understand it, the panels have to be paid for in full before the MCS forms are done!
If the system looks like it's going to work at over 50% or so efficiency, then it's probably in your best interest to pay now, other you risk missing the boat.

kevinheb

fair point, when you put it like that Roger, thanks (bl*&dy Tesco's though)

Care4Pets

Hi folks We had our panels installed on the 31st Oct SE facing but only enough room for 8 panels. The sunnyboy is in the loft but over the month generation meter has gone from showing 0000.00 to 0055.90. Does that mean it has generated 55x .43p ??
We have an owl monitor but that doesn't appear to change when the sun is shining.

Thanks in advance

zeupater

Care4Pets wrote: »

Hi folks We had our panels installed on the 31st Oct SE facing but only enough room for 8 panels. The sunnyboy is in the loft but over the month generation meter has gone from showing 0000.00 to 0055.90. Does that mean it has generated 55x .43p ??
We have an owl monitor but that doesn't appear to change when the sun is shining.

Thanks in advance

Hi

55kWh generated from 8 panels (~250W ?) would probably be spot on for a 2kWp system in most areas for this November, so (55x£0.431)+(27.5*£0.031) would be correct.

The OWL monitor sounds like it's fitted between some henley blocks and the consumer unit ..... this would be measuring consumption whether it's imported electricity or pv generated.

HTH
Z

Care4Pets

Brilliant thanks for the reply. Yes owl monitor is just connected to the cable that draws power in just wondered if there is any way to use it to see how much we are generating and when

Yut_Man

KevinHeb ive sent you a PM, hopefully helping you with your install. I used TESCO also.

orrery

Care4Pets wrote: »

Brilliant thanks for the reply. Yes owl monitor is just connected to the cable that draws power in just wondered if there is any way to use it to see how much we are generating and when

That is exactly what I use mine for, subject the restrictions on the accuracy of the Owl below 250W. Just clip the sensor over one conductor (either the brown or the blue) from the inverter to the consumer unit.

You can have more than one Owl unit - they can operate on 3 selectable channels.

KevinG

zeupater wrote: »

55kWh generated from 8 panels (~250W ?) would probably be spot on for a 2kWp system in most areas for this November, so (55x£0.431)+(27.5*£0.031) would be correct.

FYI my 2kWp system generated 61.46kWh in November, SSE facing, south-east England. Would have been more but for shading from a telegraph pole from about 1pm. October was 147.91 kWh, considerably more than predicted.

orrery

KevinG wrote: »

FYI my 2kWp system generated 61.46kWh in November, SSE facing, south-east England. Would have been more but for shading from a telegraph pole from about 1pm. October was 147.91 kWh, considerably more than predicted.

What is your roof angle?