Advice on quotes.

tunnel

Going on the "retail" prices on the site I linked you're looking at about £3k for the panels, inverter and optimisers, add on fittings and wiring at £500 and scaffold at £500 that's £4k, then it all comes down to the installers price for fitting. Don't forget your iboost, a necessity if you have a hot water tank!!


Let us know how you get on

theboylard

If any of the quotes you've had have come from an installer who's been recommended on here a few times, then he tells me he doesn't like SolarEdge anymore and prefers Enphase micro inverters?

Personally, can't see much difference in SE kit and microinverters, they both fit a need to handle shade issues by allowing each panel to operate independently, rather than as a group or string.

From a cost perspective. SE is much cheaper than Enphase (or Enecsys) and if it's a mainland UK install, (ie not Northern Ireland as they have an export FiT) then I struggle to justify the extra cost for micro inverters?

tunnel

theboylard wrote: »

If any of the quotes you've had have come from an installer who's been recommended on here a few times, then he tells me he doesn't like SolarEdge anymore and prefers Enphase micro inverters?

I've noticed the amount of people coming on these boards these days with quotes for micros is increasing, even on a system with no shading...what's that all about?
It's getting harder to convince people that they're not needed when the installers are recommending them all the time, telling the gullible that they are 10-15% more effective. Talk about the blind leading the blind!!

Martyn1981

tunnel wrote: »

Just had a look at other benQ's and there's one at 285W, 14 of those would get you 3.990kWp and they're quite reasonably priced
Take a look here http://www.swithenbanks.co.uk/shop.php?action=index

Well today's been an eye opener.

Shock one was how much micro's cost, compared to SolarEdge.

Shock two is the price of those 285Wp panels. I can't really see that there's any real price premium for them, they just cost a bit more as they are a bit bigger (powerwise). But still on par with most panels, including the slightly smaller LG or YingLi panels.

Nice spot. Cheers.

Mart.

tunnel

I had to do a double take Mart, at near enough 1/2 the price of the 327's it's worth squeezing them on(and nearly same price as the "german 250Wp panels), shame they weren't around at that price when we first had our installs.

Rolandtheroadie

After all that, I'm going with the 3.25kw Black Solarworld monochrystalline, with string inverter @ £4700.

I'm now also going to consider some sort of heating system too, but that'll be another thread a few months from now.

tunnel

I still believe you could have got a higher kWp system for the price your paying with a little bit of haggling, still...your choice, thanks for posting the quotes anyway, it does help others who are getting much higher quotes.

Martyn1981

scotsman4th wrote: »

After all that, I'm going with the 3.25kw Black Solarworld monochrystalline, with string inverter @ £4700.

I'm now also going to consider some sort of heating system too, but that'll be another thread a few months from now.

Well done, glad you're pleased. And don't worry about that troublesome tunnel , I chuck all sorts of info on the threads about panels, inverters, set ups etc, and he just keeps coming along with these ever lower (and real) prices that just blow me away each time. It's hard to keep up, but fun!

I wrote this line in the PV FAQs 3 years ago

*IMPORTANT* Ask on this forum (or others) for opinions on the price of the install before committing, if you are at all unsure. Prices are in dramatic flux at the moment.

Each time I edit the pages (when FiT rates change etc) I go to amend the rather 'extreme' last sentence, but then quotes go down again! :T


Regarding heating systems, just for starters, you may fancy a read of this thread, something I'm planning to revisit now, or in the autumn, since my last attempts, when the weather was hot, got no call backs/visits from busy air-con guys:

Discussion ... ASHP(Air/Air) with Solar pv ....

Mart.

Rolandtheroadie

He's just looking after those of us who's generally clueless about all this.

Thanks for the link, I'll have a read through that as well.

Discodave

Scotman ..

This is the quote we got from some local chaps - they actually travel all the UK. Obviously, this price/figs are subject to change and home survey may be required.. How does it compare to yours

---

Design & installation of 3kw solar PV system (12 x 250w CSUN modules in portrait orientation)

Hosolar 2500TL inverter with 5yr guarantee.

Price includes scaffold, EPC and VAT.

First year benefits approximately £500 (this is made up of Feed in tariff and estimated electricity savings. The FIT is guaranteed for 20 years and rises with inflation. Your savings will increase as electricity prices rise).

Installation usually takes 1 day with minimal disruption.

Total - £5,450.00

(Obviously, this price/figs are subject to change.. How does it compare to yours)