Solar PV returns in Scotland

OffGridLiving

spgsc531 wrote: »

The first number is average daily generation. So for May/June 14.4kWh per day. The second number is expected monthly generation, so for May 445kWh June 431kWh.

Total expected generation for the year 3350kWh.

Think that's right.

Thanks. That sounds a bit more like it.

I was scratching my head wondering why anyone installed solar with those figures! :eek:

I'm really impressed with the amount of energy solar can generate, although I wouldn't be able to fit much more than a 2kw system it's really given me an incentive to push our listed building officer along. Cheers.

Martyn1981

OffGridLiving wrote: »

Sorry about the formatting, but am I right in thinking that in May/Jun I could generate 14.4 kw for the month? In Dec I could generate 3.12kw for the month?

And for the year, the value would be 3350kw?

Confused.

Hiya, I always have problems with the formatting, and it looks like you are 1 column out, you want the Em column, so 431kWh's for June, etc.

[Edit - I see I was on the wrong page, and already sorted.]

Mart.

counting_down_the_days...

Well, panels went in today as promised :j They look very tidy on the roof (there is a house round the corner, and theirs seem quite high off the roof & one is out of line :eek: )

I'm sorry, I had hoped to give a detailed response, but I'm sooo tired, I'm in my bed already and didn't even have a last look at my meter before coming upstairs When I checked at about 7pm we had generated 1.10kwh's but it has been very cloudy today.

More info to follow tomorrow

[Deleted User]

Hey, sounds great keep us posted

dreaming

counting_down_the_days... wrote: »

Well, panels went in today as promised :j They look very tidy on the roof (there is a house round the corner, and theirs seem quite high off the roof & one is out of line :eek: )

Good news CDTD - you will probably spend the next day or so staring at the meter at odd times (like me). My panels down the side of the house are higher than those at the back but that is because my bathroom extractor vents though one of the air vent tile in the roof so the company raised them all up to avoid blocking airflow.
I can't quite read my generation as meter is high up (above front door with elec. meter) and have dodgy eyes and no stepladder. I think I have read about being able to send readings to computer so will look into that, although was discussing making a periscope out of kitchen roll inners and mirrors - sure they did one on Blue Peter!:rotfl:

Dave_Fowler

dreaming wrote: »

Good news CDTD - you will probably spend the next day or so staring at the meter at odd times (like me). My panels down the side of the house are higher than those at the back but that is because my bathroom extractor vents though one of the air vent tile in the roof so the company raised them all up to avoid blocking airflow.
I can't quite read my generation as meter is high up (above front door with elec. meter) and have dodgy eyes and no stepladder. I think I have read about being able to send readings to computer so will look into that, although was discussing making a periscope out of kitchen roll inners and mirrors - sure they did one on Blue Peter!:rotfl:

I've used two of the Velleman counter kit (type 8035) to count the flashes on the TG meter LED. The counters are in my office some 30 metres away from the TGM. I can see the display quite easily without getting out of my office chair! I just had to initially synchronise the count on the counter to the reading on the TGM and the two readings have remained identical ever since. You need two counters if, like mine, the TGM flashes 1000 times per kWh. By stacking the counters in series, you can count up to 99999.999 kWh. (Should last a few years)!

Dave F

counting_down_the_days...

I still don't have much of an update as the inverter is in the attic & I've not really been up to see it Can't believe how much I'm ignoring it after waiting so long to have it installed! However, the meter says we have generated 19.70 kwh since it was installed :j Woop woop, that's about £3!! Also got two loads of washing done, the dishwasher on and normal usage without paying :T It was a lovely day though

However, our normal meters display has started to flash with the reading then 'red'. It wasn't doing this yesterday, not sure if I should phone the electric company to query it????

Martyn1981

counting_down_the_days... wrote: »

However, our normal meters display has started to flash with the reading then 'red'. It wasn't doing this yesterday, not sure if I should phone the electric company to query it????

Don't panic!!!

That's a good sign. rEd means reverse energy detected, so the meter is just displaying that something 'unusual' has happened.

It noticed that leccy flowed in the 'wrong' direction. As you have PV, no longer unusual. You should also see that instead of a blinking red light when importing, you'll get a continuous red light whenever you are exporting.

Wifey likes the red light game, which is to try to do stuff in the kitchen whilst keeping the light on, if it goes off, then time to switch something off or down. I don't know where she gets this childish behaviour from?

Mart.

counting_down_the_days...

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Don't panic!!!

That's a good sign. rEd means reverse energy detected, so the meter is just displaying that something 'unusual' has happened.

It noticed that leccy flowed in the 'wrong' direction. As you have PV, no longer unusual. You should also see that instead of a blinking red light when importing, you'll get a continuous red light whenever you are exporting.

Wifey likes the red light game, which is to try to do stuff in the kitchen whilst keeping the light on, if it goes off, then time to switch something off or down. I don't know where she gets this childish behaviour from?

Mart.

Ah, cool, thanks! Will that rEd thing go off once it gets used to us exporting our own electric?

Had noticed the continuous red light and assumed that meant the meter wasn't recording as must all be exported energy we were using. :j

I don't think my 3 year old really cares where the power for his light or ipod comes from, but I'll get him learning soon

Martyn1981

counting_down_the_days... wrote: »

Ah, cool, thanks! Will that rEd thing go off once it gets used to us exporting our own electric?

Had noticed the continuous red light and assumed that meant the meter wasn't recording as must all be exported energy we were using. :j

I don't think my 3 year old really cares where the power for his light or ipod comes from, but I'll get him learning soon

Nope, like a dog, rEd is for life. In fact to put it bluntly, your meter has 'grassed you up!'. It's there to let the meter reader know that it spotted export, so will stay permanently. Obviously the meter reader won't be concerned as you have PV, so the unusual becomes usual.

Eventually we'll be getting smart meters, so then you'll be able to see how much you have exported.

Think of the fun you'll have teaching your 3 year old all about leccy and where it comes from. His friends will say it comes form big buildings with cables, and he'll say, no it comes from our roof! :cool:

Mart.