Solar Panels Quote

Minrich

I have decided to get them and have had a quote where the company will price match any other quote with same materials used , the company is CJ Solar based in Ipswich .
The quote is for a 4kw - 16 solarworld panels with micro inverters and on two sections of roof . The price is £8190 and i am sure i could get that down quite a bit , the company is really good and been established for many years . I also know that for the same installation about a year ago they charged the same amount , prices have come down since then , haven't they ?

Anyone reccommend anyone else to quote who do work in Suffolk ?

Sterlingtimes

My roughly equivalent system also with micro inverters with an iBoost thrown in was about £6,400. The installer of my system was based in Northamptonshire. Some may advise a lower price still.

tunnel

Minrich wrote: »

I have decided to get them and have had a quote where the company will price match any other quote with same materials used , the company is CJ Solar based in Ipswich .
The quote is for a 4kw - 16 solarworld panels with micro inverters and on two sections of roof . The price is £8190 and i am sure i could get that down quite a bit , the company is really good and been established for many years . I also know that for the same installation about a year ago they charged the same amount , prices have come down since then , haven't they ?

Anyone reccommend anyone else to quote who do work in Suffolk ?

Can I ask why they are suggesting micro inverters? Do you have shading on both rooves?

If not then a 2 string(dual MPPT) inverter would suffice and be a much cheaper option, basically one roof side forms one string and the other the second.

As for the price.....they're not going to match anyone, their price is way too much and unless they're willing to drop that price by about £3k then you should look elsewhere for your system

First things first...answer my first question and please state how many panels per roof they've offered, which direction they face and pitch of the rooves.

Above all...DON'T make any snap decisions without first posting on here, not if you want to protect your wallet!!

Hopefully someone on here may be able to recommend an installer to you at a sensible price

Minrich

The system will be split 7 south facing and 9 west facing both roofs are 30 degrees . I have no shading at all .I was advised by another person who has had panels installed to have micro inverters , although they didn't fully explain why . They have 16 all facing west and no shading either . Also the paperwork states the panels with micro inverters make the panels 14% more effecient (produce more electricity)than a string ? True ?

Minrich

I have had a quote from TP Solar already ?

A 4kw split system comprising of the following –

16 x 250watt SolarWorld panels
16 x Enphase micro inverters
All roof mountings, fixtures and fittings
Scaffold as required

All associated warranties and paperwork (including the feed in tariff paperwork) would be completed with you on the day of installation

Total price - £6950.00

So thats £1200 less already....they have also called me and quote £6200 with a string inverter

I also have a string inverter quote from CJ Solar at £7140 with the same everything else

tunnel

Minrich wrote: »

The system will be split 7 south facing and 9 west facing both roofs are 30 degrees . I have no shading at all .I was advised by another person who has had panels installed to have micro inverters , although they didn't fully explain why . They have 16 all facing west and no shading either . Also the paperwork states the panels with micro inverters make the panels 14% more effecient (produce more electricity)than a string ? True ?

Total b*llocks, if that was true then everyone would have them. I have 3 systems one of which has solaredge(same concept as micros) because I have shading issues and its the only reason to consider having them.

If there's no shading then a straight dual MPPT inverter would suffice. The person who has them on a West facing roof knows nothing about what they're advising/telling you about, probably just regurgitating what their installer told them.

Ignore them and take your advice from PV minded people on here who have no reason to lie to you to lighten your pocket.


Edit, seen your other quote, now ask them to quote on a 2 string inverter rather than micros....you don't need them

tunnel

Minrich wrote: »

A,So thats £1200 less already....they have also called me and quote £6200 with a string inverter

B,I also have a string inverter quote from CJ Solar at £7140 with the same everything else

A,Getting better, to give you an idea though, I got a price of £5200 for a full system fitted for a very good friend of mine last month(could have been cheaper but I wanted to make sure he got quality gear), as yours is duel aspect(2 rooves) then hopefully £5500 should be achievable


B, £2k too much still...see A

Martyn1981

Minrich wrote: »

The system will be split 7 south facing and 9 west facing both roofs are 30 degrees . I have no shading at all .I was advised by another person who has had panels installed to have micro inverters , although they didn't fully explain why . They have 16 all facing west and no shading either . Also the paperwork states the panels with micro inverters make the panels 14% more effecient (produce more electricity)than a string ? True ?

Hiya Minrich, I'm with Tunnel. I also have a SolarEdge system with individual power optimisers on each panel, on my WNW system.

This is a very similar idea to micro's. But like Tunnel my WNW has shading issues, hence the need for individual panel operation.

If you don't have any such issues, then I really can't see how generation would be improved 14% as the biggest improvement is the prevention of shading on one panel affecting the others, and you don't have that. Generation would probably/possibly be improved a little bit, but not that much. And you then also have 16 extra bits of kit up on the roof, requiring access if anything goes wrong.

Also, do the maths ....... in one example you gave, the cost of micros versus string inverter was 6,950 v's 6,200, which is in itself a saving of 11% ....... doesn't leave much change from that overhyped 14%! If extra generation is less than 11% then you'd actually be out of pocket in terms of return on investment.

Anyhows, south plus west, with a dual MPPT inverter, sounds great. Will give a very nice generation profile. Get those prices down, and then start generating.

Mart.

Minrich

tunnel wrote: »

A,Getting better, to give you an idea though, I got a price of £5200 for a full system fitted for a very good friend of mine last month(could have been cheaper but I wanted to make sure he got quality gear), as yours is duel aspect(2 rooves) then hopefully £5500 should be achievable


B, £2k too much still...see A

But do i have to pay more because i am in the south ?

£5500 and i would sign up now ....

tunnel

Minrich wrote: »

But do i have to pay more because i am in the south ?

£5500 and i would sign up now ....

Shouldn't think so, house prices may vary considerably up and down the country but from the many posters over time that have frequented these boards....solar PV systems do not.

Better to spend a couple of hours researching other installers and saving the extra £500-£1k if you ask me, try eb8y? I found a bl**dy good installer on there whom I've recommended to quite a few people(unfortunately they don't go as far south as yourself or I'd recommend them to you)


Edit, In eb8y type in solar pv system


Here you go, don't know anything about them, just plucked it out of the many on there
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4kWp-Solar-PV-System-Fully-Installed-Axitec-Panels-and-SMA-Inverter-/291339651810?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item43d5324ae2

pw22

I don't think it depends on location but the type of panels and inverter do make a difference to the price. You can get a 4kw system with 16 Canadian solar panels and an SMA inverter for £5250 (this is the price which a friend of mine recently paid for an install with T P Solar who have quoted you).

For some reason the Solar world panels seem to make the price higher - not sure why but maybe someone with more knowledge may know.