Advice on quotes.

tunnel

Discodave wrote: »

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

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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)

That quote is way too much in todays market. Anybody looking for that size system should be looking at £3k-£3.5k. I sincerely hope you haven't taken them up on that price, there's no wonder they'll travel around the country with that amount of mark up on them.

Discodave

tunnel wrote: »

That quote is way too much in todays market. Anybody looking for that size system should be looking at £3k-£3.5k. I sincerely hope you haven't taken them up on that price, there's no wonder they'll travel around the country with that amount of mark up on them.

Sorry, should have said, that is based on a 3 story house South Facing roof. You show me where you can get that for £3.5k, and I'll take two today!?

tunnel

Discodave wrote: »

Sorry, should have said, that is based on a 3 story house South Facing roof. You show me where you can get that for £3.5k, and I'll take two today!?

It doesn't cost an extra £2k for an extra level of scaffold.
Did you not shop around? Have you not read the threads on here? Believe it or not...have you checked eb$y lately? You can get a 4kWp system for between £4k & £5k now, your price is massively overpriced for a 2.5kWp system.
It's one of the reasons I post on here, I'm not an installer but I do like to see people getting fair value for their money, maybe had you posted on here first you may have saved yourself a considerable amount of money.


Edit, did you take the time to read this thread? You'll see that the OP did indeed save a lot of their own money

Discodave

tunnel wrote: »

It doesn't cost an extra £2k for an extra level of scaffold.
Did you not shop around? Have you not read the threads on here? Believe it or not...have you checked eb$y lately? You can get a 4kWp system for between £4k & £5k now, your price is massively overpriced for a 2.5kWp system.
It's one of the reasons I post on here, I'm not an installer but I do like to see people getting fair value for their money, maybe had you posted on here first you may have saved yourself a considerable amount of money.


Edit, did you take the time to read this thread? You'll see that the OP did indeed save a lot of their own money

Not signed anything official get, its not 2.5, its a 3kw but its one of the lower quotes I had.

tunnel

Discodave wrote: »

Not signed anything official get, its not 2.5, its a 3kw but its one of the lower quotes I had.

Good, then start by giving your rough location(town not postcode) and maybe someone can recommend an installer that will smash that price you have out of the water.
Believe me it is overpriced, I had my WNW 2.5kWp system installed 15 months ago, I paid £4900, but for that I got the install and a retro fit of my SSW system with a solaredge inverter and power optimisers, that's 2 lots of scaffold and near as damn it 2 installs.


Edit, hold my hand up I misread your post, still, even a 3kWp system can be had for around the £4k mark, that's 3 years less payback

tunnel

I have to say DD, just re-reading your original post, I'm a little concerned as to why the installer quoted a 2.5kW inverter for a 3kWp system, why not quote for a 3kW inverter, there's no need for capping at that size system.

Martyn1981

tunnel wrote: »

I have to say DD, just re-reading your original post, I'm a little concerned as to why the installer quoted a 2.5kW inverter for a 3kWp system, why not quote for a 3kW inverter, there's no need for capping at that size system.

@ tunnel, there is an efficiency argument for undersizing inverters in the UK by 10 to 20%. Some agree, some don't.

The idea is that you'll suffer some capping at peak, but the inverter will be more efficient when it's running at very low levels.

I'm reasonably convinced by the claims for 10%, but a bit wary as you approach 20%, especially if it's a south facing system. I think in this case it may be a tiny bit undersized, especially given the cost.

Looking at the specs for that inverter it can operate at up to 2,700W DC input, and output of 2,500W AC. It's also got a reasonable euro efficiency rating of 96.6%.


@Discodave, I've just been scrolling through the new posts on this G&E board and I'm also a little concerned. You've posted your comment on 4 threads, and it reads slightly like an advert for the company. I appreciate that you haven't named them, but this practice might attract interested PM's.

Apologies for my suspicions, but I think there are rules on MSE for cut and pasting onto multiple threads. Even if completely innocent, it can still appear like spamming.

Suspicions aside (I'm probably wrong) I do hope these threads help you find the best deal for you. So feel free to call me a wally, clear the air, and start again.

Mart.

tunnel

Martyn1981 wrote: »

@ tunnel, there is an efficiency argument for undersizing inverters in the UK by 10 to 20%. Some agree, some don't.

Apologies for my suspicions, but I think there are rules on MSE for cut and pasting onto multiple threads. Even if completely innocent, it can still appear like spamming.

Mart.

I'm the latter on that one Mart, I regularly see my SSW hitting 90% generation in the peak months, with a 20% cap I'd be losing quite a bit of generation.


I also had my suspicions but gave him the benefit of the doubt even though like you stated he cut and pasted over 4 threads(4 threads I replied to state it was overpriced so others don't fall for the expensive prices)


I sincerely hope he hasn't signed on the dotted line but as yet has not replied, hmmm?

Discodave

tunnel wrote: »

Good, then start by giving your rough location(town not postcode) and maybe someone can recommend an installer that will smash that price you have out of the water.
Believe me it is overpriced, I had my WNW 2.5kWp system installed 15 months ago, I paid £4900, but for that I got the install and a retro fit of my SSW system with a solaredge inverter and power optimisers, that's 2 lots of scaffold and near as damn it 2 installs.

Edit, hold my hand up I misread your post, still, even a 3kWp system can be had for around the £4k mark, that's 3 years less payback

Well, were in the N/East (Newcatle/Sunderland) area, but have family in Yorkshire too who have been around the offered same price.

@Mart - Ive never posted on here for ages, (check my post history), simply offering what I thought was good advice/with a good price. Turns out thats not the case hey?

tunnel

Hi DD,
We'll start afresh then, to start with type "solar pv system" into eb$y, you'll find a whole host of companies, you'll also see that the price you've been quoted is on the high side. Many of the companies on there do countrywide so no need to pay a premium just because local installers charge more.
If you truly haven't signed up to that installer yet, you still have time to get quotes and get installed before the FiT rate drops in April.