Solar PV Quote seems excessive

Ageing_Stick_Insect

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Hiya Ray, well ..... my thoughts Hmmm.

It sort of matches crucian's post and price, which is probably our best guide at this point. And isn't far off my admittedly wonky guesstimation of £7.5k to £7.9k (£6k + extras).

So, I suppose given that it's a complex 3 roof fit, with lots of necessary rail measuring and fitting, it sounds about right. Be nice if you could get it cheaper, like tunnel says, but you also have to keep the installer on side if you trust him.

I agree with your point about the added complexity of a 3 roof install. It's bound to push up the cost over a single rooof. Unavoidable I'm afraid.

Last reality check, going back, you were very keen on the triangles, and unhappy about the way the rectangles would look. Are you sure you're happy with this compromise, and not just focused on getting PV regardless now, as you've committed so much time to it?

I went off the triangles for three reasons:-
1) They were 45 degrees and my roof has a 32 degree pitch so they would still look odd.
2) I can get closer to 4kW with fewer panels - 16 versus 21.
3) They don't get MCS accreditation until 31/3/14.

I'm not trying to be negative, if you're happy, go for it, and as discussed before, you can only work with what you've got. But given the slightly higher price, slightly lower generation, and slightly less acceptable appearance, are you 100% happy to have PV fitted?

I'm 90% happy to have got the deal I've been offered. I've always been lousy at negotiating so that's why I did it via email rather than face-to-face. The output is up with the Panasonic - 3224 against 2895. That's 11.4%. Because of the layout I feel the panels will look okay and I will certainly benefit from them as I'm home most days and will use a fair amount of what's generated.

Hope you appreciate where I'm coming from, take a deep breathe, have a thunk, and if you decide "yep" with a nod and a smile, then go for it. If not, then what the hell, you gave it your best shot.

Mart.

Thanks Mart. It's been intense for the past 12 days and I wouldn't want it to carry on for much longer. I feel I've given it my best shot and have chosen quality components. I always remember a bit of advice given to me by my dad many years ago... "quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten". That's been my driving force behind most consumer things I've bought and it's been proven to be right.

I will write back to him tomorrow and accept his price with the proviso that an immersion heater be added and wired into a hot water tank. Can't see him turning that down and it will knock about £70-£100 off the bill.

This isn't the end of this story. I'll keep you posted regarding the install assuming it happens.

Many thanks to you and tunnel. You've been a great help. :T

Ageing_Stick_Insect

Chaps,

Sent a reply this morning agreeing to his price if he'll sort out the immersion heater in the hot water tank. Waiting to hear back.

This got me thinking about how I would heat that water. I don't want a manual switch that I have to remember to flick on. Did some searching and found iBoost.

Although it looks a bit expensive might it pay for itself over a few years with the added bonus of me using all the spare power I don't use which I'm being paid for anyway.

Watched a YouTube video and it seems very effective. Might be able to do a deal too on a slightly cheaper price and fit.

Martyn1981

Evening Ray. Diversionary switches are not my thing, as I have a combi, and no water tank, but there is a thread with lots of info, maybe start near the end, as there were lots of arguments on it, going back some. The most common brands mentioned are the Immersun, Solarimmersion and the Iboost, but I think there is quite a range now:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4152489

One thing worth noting, if done during the PV install, then it will also attract 5% VAT, rather than the usual 20%, and presumably, having sparkies on site, will mean cheaper than as a separate job.

Mart.

Ageing_Stick_Insect

Hi Martyn,

I've decided against an immersion heater for now so it follows that there won't be an iBoost or equivalent. As there's only me in the house the quoter advised it would take a long time to recoup the cost especially as I have a standing charge of 25p / day for gas.

He said there are devices coming onto the market soon that will store your generated energy and release it slowly after dark. That might be of interest in a few years.

Anyway, the significant news today is I signed up for an install on 25 March that may be brought forward to 21st. He's confident he can do the paperwork to guarantee the current FIT rate.

Feeling very happy now I have made a decision and just need to clear the downstairs cubbyhole where the meters are. I'll keep you posted once the kit is installed.

tunnel

Looks like you got there in the end, good work.


When its in hop onto the renewables thread and post some readings. You'll soon get an idea of how your performing then.

Martyn1981

Ageing_Stick_Insect wrote: »

Feeling very happy now I have made a decision and just need to clear the downstairs cubbyhole where the meters are. I'll keep you posted once the kit is installed.

:T Ray.

Before long, thanks to PV, you'll be flying all over the world for free, so long as the weather's not terrible.

[That paragraph should confuse the hell of google searchers!]

Keep us updated. I think this might be a good thread to link to the FAQ as it contains a lot of info on S v's N rooves, when to quit, when to keep going, hipped roof ideas etc etc. I'll probably do something when the rates change, and I have to do some Spring cleaning on that thread.

Mart.

silverwhistle

Ageing_Stick_Insect wrote: »

I've decided against an immersion heater for now so it follows that there won't be an iBoost or equivalent. As there's only me in the house the quoter advised it would take a long time to recoup the cost especially as I have a standing charge of 25p / day for gas.

I've got an iBoost and my experience as a single person with electric cooking, well-insulated 3 bedroom house and low usage is that it's worth it for me to go to the Ebico zero standing charge tariff (which has a higher unit rate). I've hardly used the gas for hot water since Christmas as there's been enough from the PV, and in the last few days I've been exporting a higher percentage as the tank has been hot.

So pretty well no gas to pay for for the next 8 months.. particularly as I'm moving from nPower and their notorious inability to produce bills!

Ageing_Stick_Insect

tunnel wrote: »

Looks like you got there in the end, good work.


When its in hop onto the renewables thread and post some readings. You'll soon get an idea of how your performing then.

Will do tunnel. Can't wait for the system to go operational.

Ageing_Stick_Insect

Martyn1981 wrote: »

:T Ray.

Before long, thanks to PV, you'll be flying all over the world for free, so long as the weather's not terrible.

[That paragraph should confuse the hell of google searchers!]

:rotfl:It will indeed!

Keep us updated. I think this might be a good thread to link to the FAQ as it contains a lot of info on S v's N rooves, when to quit, when to keep going, hipped roof ideas etc etc. I'll probably do something when the rates change, and I have to do some Spring cleaning on that thread.

Mart.

Thanks Martyn. I'm amazed it's only 13 days since it started. I hope it will be helpful to others.

Ageing_Stick_Insect

silverwhistle wrote: »

I've got an iBoost and my experience as a single person with electric cooking, well-insulated 3 bedroom house and low usage is that it's worth it for me to go to the Ebico zero standing charge tariff (which has a higher unit rate). I've hardly used the gas for hot water since Christmas as there's been enough from the PV, and in the last few days I've been exporting a higher percentage as the tank has been hot.

So pretty well no gas to pay for for the next 8 months.. particularly as I'm moving from nPower and their notorious inability to produce bills!

I made a decision to move to EDF in November because of the 4 year fixed prices. I may have to re-evaluate that decision. A standing order account certainly is at odds with pv generators.

I'm guessing you already had an immersion heater which I don't. That cost needs to be taken into account for me. For people who live on their own I accept they won't use a large amount of hot water which suggests the cost of gas to do that must be a factor. It's not a straight-forward decision for me to switch to iBoost as it seems quite expensive for what it is.

Maybe a decision will be easier after a couple of quarters with pv and I see how much I save.