Solar Panel Guide Discussion

lanstrom

utility_csa wrote: »

Dependant on your meter, the export meters ive dealt with keep the HH data for one month.

OK thanks.

I have realised now that its the Fronius TL series that has the USB drive function so I have asked the installed if I can have that instead.

Studlea_Phatt_Katt

Studlea_Phatt_Katt wrote: »

Update 3rd October.

PV Solar installers are here as we speak, and the 'kit' arrived bang on time for them. Team of three, pleasant chaps and go cracking straight away.

Seeing a large pallet of Solar panels requires me to think of a collective term for a supply of panels awaiting installation. Approx 6ft long, 3ft high and 2ft wide and wrapped in brown cardboard: It is a sarcophagus of panels.

So again, PV Solar UK, all good.

SPK.

Studlea_Phatt_Katt

PV Solar (Guardian Newspaper) Competition.

Installation was completed yesterday, and MCS certificate received this morning.

From 8 am - 1 pm today;

we have used:
Electric showers
Kettles
Iron
TV
PC
Phones
Dishwasher
Washing machine

and our purcashed meter reading has increased by 1 unit, and the generation meter has recoede 6.1 kw.

Today is cloudy as well.

All good.

A bit more about PV Solar. I learned they have been going 2 years, and have over 100 teams on the road installing more than 100 systems each week. I have looked at their accounts and they are very definitely solvent. They seem to be using buying power and low margin sales to drive volume from what I have gleaned so if you're thinking of buying a system, I would suggest getting one of your quotes from them. If the staff and installation team we have dealt with are anything to go by, the experience should be a good one.

Please don't think me biased because we have had a free installation, but reading between the lines a 3.5kwp system is probably around £11-13k from PV Solar.

http://freeelectricity4u.co.uk/buy-solar-panels/

0800 138 9422

SPK

John_Pierpoint

Well done SPK lucky you.

Can you post some "technical" details of your installation, ie how many panels, who manufactured them, what sort of inverter, where installed, any gizmos - such as remote meter reading etc.

Studlea_Phatt_Katt

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Well done SPK lucky you.

Can you post some "technical" details of your installation, ie how many panels, who manufactured them, what sort of inverter, where installed, any gizmos - such as remote meter reading etc.

A pleasure::)

3.5kwp
SHARP PV panels g'teed for 25 years plus guaranteed performance of 90% after 10 years, and 80% at 25 years. (14 X NU250)
AURORA inverter g'teed 10 years.
CLICKFIT roof installation
PASSIV LIVING internet based ‘live’ remote monitoring. (Cupboard meter and router connect to our home hub/router) Any Under performance directly reported to PV Solar UK to investigate.
Meter and isolation switch in meter cupboard.
Delightful staff.
Great installers.
Fab documents and service, even down to being presented with the bill showing 0.00 due!

PASSIV LIVING Report as at 6.47 am today.

Lifetime Generation: 10.35 kWh
Lifetime CO2 Prevented: 5.64 kg
Generation MSN: PSL02337
Monitoring Type: broadband
Peak Rate: 3.50 kWp
Anticipated Annual Generation: 3.17 MWh
Configuration: multiple array, single string
Inverter Manufacturer: Aurora Power One
Inverter Model: PVI 3.6
Panel Manufacturer: SHARP
Panel Model: NU-R250J5
Bearing: 150 °
Inclination: 30 °
Elevation: 6.0 m
Latest Meter Reading: 11.55 kWh (06:47:08, Wed, 05 Oct 2011 UTC)

SPK.

lanstrom

Studlea_Phatt_Katt wrote: »

PASSIV LIVING internet based ‘live’ remote monitoring. (Cupboard meter and router connect to our home hub/router) Any Under performance directly reported to PV Solar UK to investigate.

Tried to find a price on the PASSIV LIVING broadband device but their web site looks like one of those nightmare marketing things were they want your personal details so they can "chat" to you. Anyone got a price ?

I want to monitor my Fronius inverter but I dont want to pay the silly amounts for their datacard and logger.

Thanks.

Bannon

Noticed on their site that even for the free installs they want £90.... not a good start for a 'free' service.

Freepost

Studlea_Phatt_Katt wrote: »

A pleasure::)

3.5kwp
SHARP PV panels g'teed for 25 years plus guaranteed performance of 90% after 10 years, and 80% at 25 years. (14 X NU250)
AURORA inverter g'teed 10 years.
CLICKFIT roof installation
PASSIV LIVING internet based ‘live’ remote monitoring. (Cupboard meter and router connect to our home hub/router) Any Under performance directly reported to PV Solar UK to investigate.
Meter and isolation switch in meter cupboard.
Delightful staff.
Great installers.
Fab documents and service, even down to being presented with the bill showing 0.00 due!

PASSIV LIVING Report as at 6.47 am today.

Lifetime Generation: 10.35 kWh
Lifetime CO2 Prevented: 5.64 kg
Generation MSN: PSL02337
Monitoring Type: broadband
Peak Rate: 3.50 kWp
Anticipated Annual Generation: 3.17 MWh
Configuration: multiple array, single string
Inverter Manufacturer: Aurora Power One
Inverter Model: PVI 3.6
Panel Manufacturer: SHARP
Panel Model: NU-R250J5
Bearing: 150 °
Inclination: 30 °
Elevation: 6.0 m
Latest Meter Reading: 11.55 kWh (06:47:08, Wed, 05 Oct 2011 UTC)

SPK.

Following on from the post by SPK I invited PV Solar UK round to my home to price a 4kW system and, perhaps not, surprisingly I've found them to be somewhat expensive. Certainly >20% more expensive than the Tescos quote that I received but it doesn't really allow me to compare properly because the PV Solar UK system is with the Passiv Living system, how much is this worth?

One thing that was mentioned was the inverter being favoured by PV Solar UK, manufactured by Aurora. Its claimed that these inverters switch in much quicker than other types.

ie

The inverter from Tescos is a Diehl AKO Platinum 3800S which I'm told switches in at 315v whereas the Aurora Inverters switches in much earlier ~ 175v. This seems to indicate that if the solar array is connected to an Aurora inverter then it will generate more income in low light conditions. Can anybody confirm this?

F.

Ps. Why is the clock on this board 2hrs out?, I posted at 5.27pm.

Studlea_Phatt_Katt

I am surprised at the higher quote, but the lower 'kick in ' point for the inverter was explained to us; I'm sorry I forgot to mention it.

If it helps, after 2 cloudy days, using electric showers, hob, oven, iron, dishwasher, washing machine, PC etc, our 'paid for meter' has gone from 4924 units to 4933 units, (70p) most of which will be TV, freezer, lights etc. over night.

Electricity generated is 20.05 kWh and as I write, even though it is near dark, the system is still showing supplying the grid!

Although I don't understand it, I think the lower 'kick in ' point must make a difference and their must be a value attached to the lengthy guarantees attached to inverter and panels. In fact I read recently there was a massive re-call of SONY panels because of persistent failures however SHARP have had panels running on test for over 30 years, hence the 25 year guarantee.

Speak as I find, and I hope it helps.

SPK.

It's unwise to pay too much but it's unwise to pay too little.
When you pay too much you lose a little money, that is all.
When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing you bought it to do.
The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot.
It can't be done.
If you deal with the lowest bidder, it's well to add something for the risk you run.
And if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better.

John Ruskin (1819-1900)

Icarus1

Studlea_Phatt_Katt wrote: »

Studlea_Phatt_Katt wrote: »

Update 3rd October.

PV Solar installers are here as we speak, and the 'kit' arrived bang on time for them. Team of three, pleasant chaps and go cracking straight away.

Seeing a large pallet of Solar panels requires me to think of a collective term for a supply of panels awaiting installation. Approx 6ft long, 3ft high and 2ft wide and wrapped in brown cardboard: It is a sarcophagus of panels.

So again, PV Solar UK, all good.

SPK.

I love the idea of a collective noun to describe our "interest/obsession". I've detailed possible contender on my website. search for solarpowerdiary noun

Good luck guys.