DIY Solar System and DIY Solar Panels.

CrashUK

Hi Guys..

I what to install my own system and panels..

I plan on making a small 1kw system and puting on my gargae. I am going to make a solar panel with 72 6x6 solar cells 3.5w per cell is about 250w. I hope to make the panels for about £150-180 pound.

I work in IT so working on small thing like this is easy and my soldering is first class.

I know I can not get fit as it must be installed by some one who will rob you blind.

Who is going to give me the best price for my solor power?

rogerblack

You can only get the export payment - in principle - of some 3p/kWh.
I note that complete panels are now available on ebay for around 1.20/W.

I'm unsure of the required regulation, I suspect it's going to be completely impossible to do without prohibitive costs.

CrashUK

rogerblack wrote: »

You can only get the export payment - in principle - of some 3p/kWh.
I note that complete panels are now available on ebay for around 1.20/W.

I'm unsure of the required regulation, I suspect it's going to be completely impossible to do without prohibitive costs.

I not seen any complete panels for that price. lowest price I seen is about £350 for 200w.. Solar cells cost 46p per w.

rogerblack

CrashUK wrote: »

I not seen any complete panels for that price. lowest price I seen is about £350 for 200w.. Solar cells cost 46p per w.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-1600-Watt-1-6kw-20-x-80-Watt-Mono-Crystalline-PV-Solar-Panel-12v-UK-/200683280020?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item2eb9a7d694

Admittedly, not in ones.

dan_c_73

Just a quick thing, you may need to get your installation certified by a qualified Sparky, as you will be introducing new circuits into the house, and thus need to comply with the Part P regulations. Also you may need NICEIC safety certification

zeupater

.... and you'll need an inverter .... and you'll need to contact your insurance company, ours were quite specific that they would only accept certified panels which include diodes to prevent overheating if partially shaded ....

Look around and you'll definately find some panels at around £1/W ... I saw an advert for clearance of some German made panels for around this price a couple of months ago ......

Think about adding the price of suitable quality glass, aluminium profiles for the frame, cabling, connectors, diodes, suitable waterproof backing, mounting rails, hooks, bolts, inverter, total generation meter, isolation switches, roof ladders, scaffolding .... and of course, roof loading calculations, building regs inspection, possible insurance premium increase and suitably qualified electrician .... and if this pays back better than the reduced FiT levels, or even comes in considerably cheaper than a professional install come next year then you'll be very lucky, but have very little in terms of guarantees ...

HTH
Z

rogerblack

The only case in which DIY solar makes sense, given the current regulatory environment, if you're on-grid is if you size the panels so that they more-or-less match your baseline daytime summer load.

For example - 200W of solar panels, and a cheap grid-tie inverter may set you back 280 pounds.
If you can mount these on a shed roof, the return is similar to a (post Dec 12) FIT panel.

CrashUK

baseload in the day is high as my wife is childminder. What I what to know what is the best rate I get sell my power. if your not in fit then theys no fixed price.

rogerblack

You cannot as a small generator sell your power on the spot market., as I understand it.
As I understand it, the maximum you would get would be the export payment. (~3p/kWh) and this is not simple to get set up.

I'd love to be proved wrong.

CrashUK

Well I found out now.. that you can get a 250w system installed and then add to later.. My boss is having 110K of solar installed on the roof 50kw system.. to hit the dead line theys a small 1 kw system in the carpark.