Solar Panel Guide Discussion

chops

Hi there,
Does anyone here know whether having solar panels fitted will effect my buildings insurance?
Thanks in advance

Studlea_Phatt_Katt

chops wrote: »

Hi there,
Does anyone here know whether having solar panels fitted will effect my buildings insurance?
Thanks in advance

When we were contemplating a roof rent installation, we contacted our home insurers, Aviva, to ask if it was okay to have the panels on, being property belonging to another, and they explained it was fine and they would note it, but went on to explain that the nature of our policy, unlimited, meant own panels will be covered with no detriment to cover in any other aspect, e.g. roof /chimney damage by storm or similar. A revised schedule was forwarded at no cost also.

As ever check with your own insurers, but I think we were lucky in having a knowledgeable person at the Aviva call centre who took our call.

SPK.

Studlea_Phatt_Katt

lanstrom wrote: »

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.

Although early days, for us the PASSIV LIVING service is of little value. To see how it's doing, we can just open the cupboard and the meter is there to read, next to our 'paid for' meter.

Since going live on Monday evening therefore, (65 hours) without the PASSIV service, I can tell you that we have generated 24.2kwh and paid for 14kwh. Based on our average prior consumption, the paid for would have been around 37kwh. Ergo, we have 'earned' £10.40, and saved £2.30, so we are so far £12.70 up. It has been quite cloudy over the last few days here as well. (Dee Estuary).

If your meter was hard to get at, or if the panels are on a different property, perhaps a second home or let property, then the monitoring would have more value of course.

SPK.

mickyduck

Studlea_Phatt_Katt wrote: »

When we were contemplating a roof rent installation, we contacted our home insurers, Aviva, to ask if it was okay to have the panels on, being property belonging to another, and they explained it was fine and they would note it, but went on to explain that the nature of our policy, unlimited, meant own panels will be covered with no detriment to cover in any other aspect, e.g. roof /chimney damage by storm or similar. A revised schedule was forwarded at no cost also.

As ever check with your own insurers, but I think we were lucky in having a knowledgeable person at the Aviva call centre who took our call.

SPK.

Similar experience also with Aviva told it would be treated as part of the fabric of the building for insurance purposes therefore covered by existing buildings insurance (I have my own panels not rent a roof) . No change to my premium so happy :j

zeupater

Studlea_Phatt_Katt wrote: »

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. ....


... 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. ....

Hi

A number if installers throw around the startup voltage of inverters as a sales ploy and seems to be particularly prevalent with Aurora salesmen (it must be part of their training ) . It has been discussed on this forum before and the general consensus is :rotfl:

The Aurora inverters are shipped with a default startup of 200V, which is actually higher than some other makes, but this is adjustable between 120V & 350V, other makes have adjustable startup settings too. An issue which has come to light in the past is that the saleman will push the 120V startup voltage, but when installed it'll be left at 200V .... why ?, well having too low a startup voltage causes unnecessary switch cycling, particularly in the morning, which can result in premature component failure.

I'd guess that your Aurora will be set at 200V ....

HTH
Z

zeupater

Studlea_Phatt_Katt wrote: »

Although early days, for us the PASSIV LIVING service is of little value. To see how it's doing, we can just open the cupboard and the meter is there to read, next to our 'paid for' meter.

Since going live on Monday evening therefore, (65 hours) without the PASSIV service, I can tell you that we have generated 24.2kwh and paid for 14kwh. Based on our average prior consumption, the paid for would have been around 37kwh. Ergo, we have 'earned' £10.40, and saved £2.30, so we are so far £12.70 up. It has been quite cloudy over the last few days here as well. (Dee Estuary).

If your meter was hard to get at, or if the panels are on a different property, perhaps a second home or let property, then the monitoring would have more value of course.

SPK.

Hi

You'll find that a remote display would be more use on a day-to-day basis as it would give an instant indication of generation. Having a remote spot consumption meter is also handy so that you can compare the two and judge spare capacity. For long term analysys you can usually download generation data from the inverter to a PC without the need for a specialised service or equipment. If I wanted to have global access to the generation data I'd rather have independent equipment (such as a Sunny Webbox) than a service based offering as it's a tangible asset, not one which could easily dissappear tomorrow if the service provider decided to upgrade or cease service provision .

After a while you'll be able to judge generation by the colour of the sky and the meter will almost become redundant .... apart from when you have visitors when it becomes the only readily visible system compont and usually becomes the centre of conversation

HTH
Z

wasifali79

Hi
i've had a guy from pv solar uk ltd to give me a quote for a 4kw system consisting of 16 panels made by sanyo and an aurora invertor. Does anyone have an average price to compare?
I was quoted £14350 inclusive and this includes their new home energy device (passiv Living) that saves extra energy by connecting to my boiler that regulates the temperature and i can control it from anywhere using my iphone.
Has anyone heard of this sytem as he did show me the hub that they install and the app on his phone?

thenudeone

Studlea_Phatt_Katt wrote: »

As ever check with your own insurers,

after having a look here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/47168029#Comment_47168029

thenudeone

wasifali79 wrote: »

I was quoted £14350 inclusive

Significantly over-priced. My 4kW system bought in April was £12,250 and the prices have certainly crept downwards since then:(

wasifali79 wrote: »

this includes their new home energy device (passiv Living) that saves extra energy by connecting to my boiler that regulates the temperature and i can control it from anywhere using my iphone.

Don't be taken in by gadgets or misled into paying for something of limited value. As the quote is £3-4k over the odds you would be better getting a more competitive quote and looking at the heating system as a separate project.

wasifali79

Thanks for that, can you tell me though if the price you paid was for the same equipment as they do sell other makes of panels and invertors which will cost alot less?