Help with my 3 kw solar panel quote please

shafeeq

Hi Mart.

That is great help. Company A got back to me about Sunrise 260w panel. They did not give me a price but state this
"There is hardly any difference except that you are unable to get a 4.00kWp system out of it due to the irregular output, therefore they do not manufacture as may of these panels and the prices are a lot higher."

Company 3 got back to me as well for a Hyundai 3kwp system with Arora inverter and a fusebox change is £5972.61 (Fusebox £250 + vat)

For a YingLi 3kwp with Arora Inverter and fusebox change is £5598 (Fusebox £250 + vat) same system with company A it will cost me £5219, £379 cheaper or go with Sunrise Panel and it will cost me £5529.

So all is pointing toward company A and decide between YingLi or Sunrise Panel. They prefer Sunrise.

As for Company B they are sending a roofer this afternoon then they will quote me.

Mart. Thanks again

Shafeeq

Martyn1981

Morning Shafeeq, I'm sure company A are great, but they are being a little 'defensive' regarding that reference to a 4kWp system. After all 15 260W panels is 3.9kWp, and 15 265W panels is 3.975kWp, close enough to 4kWp tariff limit for most people.

The crucial factor about the YingLi price they quote - what is the system size? If they are going for lesser power panels, then it won't really be cheaper. Also, I agree with them about getting a better panel warranty, so worth opening up both YingLi links (theirs and mine) and comparing the difference in warranties. Maybe they just aren't aware of the Pandas. Maybe they like to stick to one make and model for better buying power, which is a perfectly valid point. Shame though not to squeeze a few more Watts onto the roof if you can. After all, that's pretty much it for the next 25 years!

Sorry to keep saying this, but I only mention the YL panels for comparison, I really think it's starting to come over a little like I'm promoting them - I'm not. There are too many panels to learn, for example when I used Sunny Design to find some specs on those Sunrise panels, I had to scroll through about 30 panel makes (not models) whose company name started with 'Sun....'.

Head spinning yet, or getting fed up with the whole thing?

Mart.

shafeeq

Thanks Mart.

I am printing the out the both set of Yingli Panel and look at it and see the difference.

Thanks

Shafeeq

shafeeq

Hi

Company 3 has got back to me. They are quoting be for Panda 265 series Panda 250 panel and have agreed to do the Fuse box for £100 + 5%vat. so total £5443

There quote is itemised with price of each item.

Shafeeq

Martyn1981

shafeeq wrote: »

Hi

Company 3 has got back to me. They are quoting be for Panda 265 series Panda 250 panel and have agreed to do the Fuse box for £100 + 5%vat. so total £5443

There quote is itemised with price of each item.

Shafeeq

Looks like your quotes are starting to 'crystalise' around £5.5k, your budget limit. At least that makes it easier to access. Didn't want to comment on the fusebox, but all my Screwfix, Toolstation etc catalogues regularly advertise consumer units for £100 or less, and that would be retail and at 20% VAT.

Can your budget stretch for the 265's rather than the 250's? I'm guessing at £400 more. Hope I'm not encouraging you to spend all your money!

Mart.

shafeeq

Mart.

Yes thanks for all your help. For my budget YingLi Panda series will do. Once I get quote from company 2 and see what panel they quoted me. I will go back to Company 3 and asked them to quote me for 265's panel. If I have to stretch I suppose I can...

For SMA inverter with company 3 it will cost me £121 more.

Thanks again. To be honest if Mart. you didnt advise me I would have probably gone with Sunrise, or YingLi and not realising about the YGE series and I would have ended up with it.

T

shafeeq

Hi

Finally got my quote from company B. quote as follows

3 kwp using Yingli 250W using the SMA 3000TL Inverter which has the 1 MPP Tracker. ££5,979.96 including Fuse box £250 + 5% vat. They refused to go less saying it's a full day work.

3.18kWp, Yingli 265w using the SMA 3000TL Inverter which has the 1 MPP Tracker. £6214.01 including Fuse box £250 + 5% vat.

So far the cheapest for me is CompanyC 3kwp using Yingli 250W using
Auroa inverter £5443 including fusebox.

Shafeeq

shafeeq

Hi

I just written a long message but screen got refreshed so lost it.

I emailed Company B saying Thank you but I will not be going with them since they are very expensive then others. I had email back and thanking me for letting them know. They asked me what Inverter the other company quoted. After I sent them the information but not the price they dropped their price

3 kwp using Yingli 250W using the Aurora £5,479 inc VAT including Fuse box.

In the second email they sent 3 kwp using Yingli 250W using the SMA 3000TL Inverter which has the 1 MPP Tracker. £5,579 + Vat including Fuse box. I think plus VAT is a mistake, I emailed to check but no reply back yet.

In their quote they said they will be using 2 strings. I am not quite sure what are benefits of this.

I didn't ask them to reduce the price they did it themself.

I told all 3 companies that I will be getting 3 quotes. So I was clear at start.

The problem was they all used different panels and Inverters. I have no idea about Solar Panels. So I was really confused but I had great help from Mart. from here.

Once I knew what the Panels I wanted and Inverter. It was easy get the quote and rest they reduced the price themself without me asking. Only think I asked was fusebox. When 1 company said they will do it for £100 + vat 5%, I used that against other companies.

As for Company A I asked them to quote me for Panda Series yesterday and had a reply back straight away that they are making enquiries soon as they find out they will let me know. So far no news. So not sure to give them more time.

So Mart. Thanks for your help I hope also my experience helps other people.

Shafeeq

EricMears

shafeeq wrote: »

The problem was they all used different panels and Inverters. I have no idea about Solar Panels.

I had very similar experience last year. First two quotes were offering completely different setups so I researched market for myself and prepared a full spec of what I wanted then asked first two companies to requote based on that and told subsequent quoters exactly what I wanted.

Compared to this month's prices, my panels were of course very dear - but OTOH, my FIT rewards are also a lot better than offered this month.

Martyn1981

shafeeq wrote: »

In their quote they said they will be using 2 strings. I am not quite sure what are benefits of this.

Shafeeq

Hiya, sounds like your getting there slowly.

Strings - Panels are connected in series, one after another. Each panel has a maximum operating voltage, so as you add each one on the voltage goes up as a multiple. Each inverter will have a minimum and maximum voltage. For the YL Panda 250's the maximum that can be connected to a SB3000TL is 12. It's actually the same for the SB4000TL too, so at that point you'd split them over 2 strings, which would run in parallel. This would half the total voltage, but double the amperage, but the total wattage would stay the same.

The other reason for operating 2 strings, which might be the reason in your case, is to help with shading. It really is the big bad enemy of PV. Partial shading of 1 panel (or more accurately, enough of one panel, to shut it down) can drag the whole string down by 50% or so.

By splitting panels across 2 strings, especially where you expect some shading (chimney in early morning, or late afternoon for example), then only the one string is affected, and the unaffected string still runs well.

Even better, for shady roofs, is an inverter with dual MPPT, where each string is connected to a separate MPPT which does it's best to maximise generation.

You thought you were gonna escape a lecture tonight, didn't you!

No worries about helping, just pay it forward when someone knocks your door after the install, and asks for some help and advice. The student becomes the master.

Mart.