Solar Panel Guide Discussion

zeupater

EricMears wrote: »

I noticed another 'new' format a couple of hours ago (and second the Yuck! ) but it seems to have vanished again :j
I strongly suspect that whenever they're having a quiet day at MSE Towers, some idiot decides to mess about with things. Have they never heard of the old saying : "If it ain't broke don't fix it " ?

Hi

Noticed it here too, probably around 2pm(ish) .... 'Welcome to the new ...' .... didn't like the format as it looked 'childish' (probably the result of dumbing yet another thing down) ... took a few seconds to find the option to revert to previous presentation/layout ...

Z

theboylard

Just logged in on PC.....


Bathroom here I come

1961Nick

1961Nick wrote: »

I'm going to go into the loft tomorrow & see what the inverter says when the geo monitor is maxed at 3440kW. If there's no sun tomorrow blame me!

I'll also check the settings to see if I can find the 16a cap that Z was suggesting.

Interesting!

Investigations in the loft have revealed an Aurora 3.6kW inverter with the following results...

Energy monitor: 3444w
Inverter AC output: 3512w
DC input: 3640w

Peak power since installation 3521w

There is a setting to cap the output but it was already set to 100%.

oldskoo1

Quick update to the main thread.

Just about the sign on the dotted line for a 4kW solar pv install. All in i could have opted for a £4,500 system but decided to upgrade the inverter.

Here are my options

16x Seraphim all black
or
16x Phono Solars all black

With solus inverter £4,500

With samil 4000-d £4,800

With SMA £5000

+£300 for the iBoost.

oldskoo1

1961Nick wrote: »

Investigations in the loft have revealed an Aurora 3.6kW inverter with the following results...

Energy monitor: 3444w
Inverter AC output: 3512w
DC input: 3640w

Peak power since installation 3521w

There is a setting to cap the output but it was already set to 100%.

Nick i just noticed your sig, £4240 for a 4kW system in 2013, that is an incredible price! :eek::T

How is your payback looking?

pinnks

I have Phone Solar with SMA inverter and Immersun and am pleased with reliability etc.


My immersion element is at the top of the tank but we get plenty of hot water for 2 and probably would be fine for 3 or 4 but the kids have flown the nest now, so hard to tell.


As with other folk here, gas goes off in April and back on in October saving us £70 - £80, plus a contribution to the hot water over the reaming months. So my guess would be perhaps £90 - £100 per year? Payback therefore 3 years or so.

orrery

pinnks wrote: »

As with other folk here, gas goes off in April and back on in October saving us £70 - £80, plus a contribution to the hot water over the reaming months. So my guess would be perhaps £90 - £100 per year? Payback therefore 3 years or so.

My actual saving on gas (up to date as of yesterday) is £113 - and I've had a few issues this year with the re-circulation pump and installed a 30" immersion instead, so that is a conservative figure.

CrazyCol

Hi all
Installation completed in last couple of days, bit more expensive than some but went for the long term I hope - 14 X sunedison 285W + solaredge monitoring/inverter with extended manufacturer warranties(proper 25/20yr ones) + iboost for £5650
20kW+ generation today so very happy (NE location south ish facing)
All the FIT paperwork despatched by installer but have not seen anything about meter backward rotation declarations in any I signed, my meter is going backwards when generation exceeds import so help required please as to what I do next.

orrery

CrazyCol wrote: »

...my meter is going backwards when generation exceeds import so help required please as to what I do next.

Contact your electricity supply company in writing, recorded delivery and tell them. Ask them to rectify it as soon as possible and express concern at the effect it may have on your billing.

Follow this with a phone call telling them that you are getting free power and asking them to swap the meter ASAP.

Martyn1981

CrazyCol wrote: »

Hi all
Installation completed in last couple of days, bit more expensive than some but went for the long term I hope - 14 X sunedison 285W + solaredge monitoring/inverter with extended manufacturer warranties(proper 25/20yr ones) + iboost for £5650
20kW+ generation today so very happy (NE location south ish facing)
All the FIT paperwork despatched by installer but have not seen anything about meter backward rotation declarations in any I signed, my meter is going backwards when generation exceeds import so help required please as to what I do next.

Good luck with the new PV system.

You need to contact your leccy supplier and let them know that the meter can go backwards. Make sure you have some record of informing them. It's then up to them to sort a meter replacement.

Your domestic meter needs to be 'fit for purpose' and that includes working with micro-generation so there won't be a cost to you.

However, the leccy company may (just may) try to get you to pay for any units wiped off by the exported units. However, this is almost impossible to calculate, so needs to be estimated - and you can then argue with it.

Most likely they'll just change the meter and let the issue go. In case of an argument it might be worth you noting how your meter goes backwards. The disc may go backwards, but not the numbers, or only the units dial goes backwards, so on any given day it may only rewind 0 to 9 kWh, or it may freely go backwards removing units equal to all export.

Mart.