Solar Panel Guide Discussion

Foxy_Scott

larkim wrote: »

Your contract was for one thing, they've not delivered it. Unless they can prove to you that what they've provided is substantially and measurable better than what you ordered, I'd be expecting a significant discount.

Matt

Agreed so if anyone knows anything about the kit fitted relative to the kit quoted that would help me guage how significant, a significant discount might be.

munchkin88

Foxy_Scott wrote: »

So, I was quoted and agreed on a 20*190W Suntech set of panels and a Sunny Boy Invertor and have ended up with 18*190W CEEG panels and a CHINT invertor.

I'm happy arguing my case about not being informed of the change but how upset should I be? The quote was for good quality brands the latter I can find little info on what is the impact on performance and longevity? Does anybody have any experience?

Cheers

Youve got better panels. The CEEG are mono and the Suntech are poly (not that it makes that much difference as they are both pretty much the same), the CEEG have more cells per panel, higher peak efficiency. They do have the same tolerences (- & + 3%). I wouldnt be upset about the panel change at all, but i would be upset about the error on the original survey. The inverter is a different issue. I have never dealt with Chint inverters (or come across them for that matter), but it seems a good match. I deal with SMA for most of my installs so may be a little biased, but i find them the best inverter.

Gizmosmum_2

orrery wrote: »

They are all listed on mine - every one.

There isn't anywhere to put panel serial numbers on the mcs certificate I suspect you may mean your installation certificate it's impossible to add panel serial numbers onto the mcs certificate.

orrery

Gizmosmum wrote: »

There isn't anywhere to put panel serial numbers on the mcs certificate I suspect you may mean your installation certificate it's impossible to add panel serial numbers onto the mcs certificate.

Apologies - I stand corrected. I've just checked - on the certificate, the product model details includes every panel model option - it reads like a list of serial numbers, but is in fact the model number series. I do remember them taking all the panel serial numbers, as they were stacked and many of the labels were on the wrong side.

EcoEnvironments

You have to complain if you were quoted for one make of panels, and inverter, and had something else installed without notification. That is not only against MCS and REA standards, it is also highly immoral and unethical. I've seen so many installers quoting for systems without a mention of the specific product!! I've never heard of a CHINT inverter, and we've installed over 600 systems in the last four years, and the inverter is a VERY key component of the system.
Time the solar industry was cleared of these cowboys!

Cardew

EcoEnvironments wrote: »

Time the solar industry was cleared of these cowboys!

Well they never succeeded in getting rid of many of the cowboys peddling solar thermal with outrageous claims and even more outrageous prices.

As a matter of interest perhaps you could give an explanation of how, when outlining savings, you justify this statement on your website:

From a system estimated to generate 3257kWh pa you will:

Save approximately £322.96 per year by not having to buy the electricity you have generated

Also interesting that when giving your ROI of 21.77% over 25 years you use figures of 4% pa for inflation and annual energy price increases of 8.7%!!(so saving £2,600 a year off your electricity bill in year 25;))

On your case studies you appear to know on some installations exactly how much, to the nearest penny, the customers will save off their electricity bills.

zeupater

Cardew wrote: »

Well they never succeeded in getting rid of many of the cowboys peddling solar thermal with outrageous claims and even more outrageous prices.

As a matter of interest perhaps you could give an explanation of how, when outlining savings, you justify this statement on your website:

From a system estimated to generate 3257kWh pa you will:



Also interesting that when giving your ROI of 21.77% over 25 years you use figures of 4% pa for inflation and annual energy price increases of 8.7%!!(so saving £2,600 a year off your electricity bill in year 25;))

On your case studies you appear to know on some installations exactly how much, to the nearest penny, the customers will save off their electricity bills.

Hi

I agree, it's one thing to take a stance to get rid of the 'cowboys', but it's the whole industry which need to address their own act ... sharp marketing claims & sales practices are far too common even amongst those who claim to be wearing the 'white hats', as the analysis above illustrates ....

HTH
Z

orrery

Well, it has certainly gone quiet in here now the day of reckoning has passed!

Cardew

In the 'Gas' forum someone posted that today their area was hit with PV salesmen flogging their wares.

When he questioned about the reduction in FIT, he was told not to worry as it doesn't happen until next April - which is technically true, but

---

munchkin88

EcoEnvironments wrote: »

You have to complain if you were quoted for one make of panels, and inverter, and had something else installed without notification. That is not only against MCS and REA standards, it is also highly immoral and unethical. I've seen so many installers quoting for systems without a mention of the specific product!! I've never heard of a CHINT inverter, and we've installed over 600 systems in the last four years, and the inverter is a VERY key component of the system.
Time the solar industry was cleared of these cowboys!

I dont think the installers just decided to change their mind, it was probably down the supply at time of install. Over the last 6 weeks, we have done 300 installs and we ran out of Sharp panels, so we had to either upgrade or swap to a different make, same with inverters, we ran out of SMA's so had to supplement with Diehl AKO's or Fronius where we could. We ran all calculations to ensure the system was still a match to the inverter etc. Customers were informed of the situation and given options but we had no choice, it was either a system change or delayed install which would have potentially gone over the deadline due to installer availability. I had a really hard time trying to source different suppliers and stock from places but everyone was bulk and panic buying, we had to work with what we had available to us.

Doesnt make a company cowboys because they switched panels or inverter, its not unethical or immoral. Ill agree that the company should have informed the customer and explained the issues at hand in length.