Solar PV...Still worth it?

Martyn1981

Gizmosmum wrote: »

Sorry I disagree - any installer worth their salt is working on recommendations from friends and family and doesn't need to buy in leads from quote companies. Have a look in your area at jobs that have been done, check out Yougen.co.uk and look for local installers with recommendations.

I sort of agree with you. But I found the sales pitches a great way to learn about PV, with a bit of googling, and night time number crunching between each.

If I was doing it again (and didn't know anything about PV), I'd probably follow your suggestion, get less visits, but spend more time on sites like this, getting some views, ideas and opinions. Unless Trumpeter doesn't mind spending the time doing both?

Of the 3 companies that got referred to me, one was a national, the other 2 were locals. My nearest neighbour/friend with PV did give me his companies details (from a year earlier), they finally got back to me 6 weeks after the install!

Either way, between us, I'm sure we can pass on some good advice and experience.

Mart.

celerity

I used a comparison site but must admit I contacted the local companies on it directly. My reasoning at the time was that the smaller companies would have less margins to share with the originating site.

As it turned out I was glad I did as my supplier went way beyond the call of duty on our install, not charging me extra for things like a new metering box or fixing damage to my roof that they found.

/\dam

davidanddeirdre

Trumpeter wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice. From the positive responses so far, you've made up my mind that it's at least worth looking in to. I'll now have a look around to try & find a couple of reputable companies for some detailed info. Any recommendations on this? National suppliers? Local (N.Lincs/Humber/s.Yorks)? Or maybe more importantly, any snake-oil salesmen to avoid??

Sorry I have not caught up with this correspondance before. Suspect from your location I am not far away (Holme on Spalding Moor). You'd be welcome to visit. We were fitted March 2011. System output has exceeded forecast by at least 15% so far, so suspect we would still be doing quite well in the current climate of reduced costs both installation + FIT. We did not have a local installer available last March (there are several now), took cheapest quote they came from Durham, it functions OK but workmanship not top rate (installer had to return to refix inverter coming loose from wall!).

GaryMo_2

I used a one of the quote companies and was contacted by 4 companies.
Of those that came, I chose Ploughcroft who I was more than happy with.

RoxyK

I used a quote company and regretted it! Ended up cancelling all but one of the appointments after finding yougen and the recommendations on there.

I found the quote companies were very salesmen like! Def not what I was looking for.

EricMears

I used a quote webpage and got 3 quotes from them. Two were very 'slick' and expensive. The other was a couple of lads from a firm in Barnsley. They would have been the installation team if I'd accepted quote and impressed me with their background knowledge.

However, I also got two more quotes from 'friends of friends' and accepted one of them. Not quite the cheapest but only slightly dearer than the Barnsley one and much easier to contact should anything ever go wrong.

Numbnuts

try compare my solar

put in system size , budget and brand of panels

get a list of installers with prices

Marksfish

GaryMo wrote: »

I chose Ploughcroft who I was more than happy with.

They are one of the companies that I have seen. Them and one other are on my shortlist at the moment, but we only have a West facing roof. Any info you can give me on them would be appreciated.

Thanks

Mark

GaryMo_2

I was more than happy with Ploughcroft though I knew what I wanted so the sales guy didn't have to work for his money, only to offer the system I wanted for the price I wanted to pay.
As I'm an electrician with 23yrs experience and have also done the C&G2399 PV course I knew what to look for in the installation. The electrician and roofers that came knew their stuff and did the job to my satisfaction. They were contractors to Ploughcroft and not employee's but that didn't matter much to me.

Here's a few photo's from my installation.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/GaryMo/Solar%20PV/pv_02.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/GaryMo/Solar%20PV/pv_01.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/GaryMo/Solar%20PV/pv_04.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/GaryMo/Solar%20PV/pv_03.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/GaryMo/Solar%20PV/pv_05.jpg

Numbnuts

GaryMo wrote: »

I was more than happy with them though I knew what I wanted to the sales guy didn't have to work for his money, only to offer the system I wanted for the price I wanted to pay.
As I'm an electrician with 23yrs experience and have also done the C&G2399 PV course I knew what to look for in the installation. The electrician and roofers that came knew their stuff and did the job to my satisfaction. They were contractors to Ploughcroft and not employee's but that didn't matter much to me.

Here's a few photo's from my installation.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/GaryMo/Solar%20PV/pv_02.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/GaryMo/Solar%20PV/pv_01.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/GaryMo/Solar%20PV/pv_04.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/GaryMo/Solar%20PV/pv_03.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/GaryMo/Solar%20PV/pv_05.jpg

Did you not do the A.C side of the installation your self?

do you do Solar pv installs for ploughcroft?