New Solar system 4kw

EricMears

1animal1 wrote: »

Have you guys any recommendations of firm's worth contacting for further quotes?

Time to get some more quotes. I'm on the outskirts of Sheffield

Have sent you a PM.

michaels

Is the shading on the front or only on the back. Might it be cheaper to have 12 higher efficiency panels and only the 1 aspect as then you might not need micro optimizers either so a cheaper inverter too?

1animal1

Morning all, thanks for all the replies, some excellent useful information. I'm going to try and take some pictures to post up the dilemma as my front West facing roof has a small apex above an offset upstairs bay window, the rear also needs seeing so you can see the proximity to the trees.

I spoke with the local firm after the latest quote and had a brief discussion around options before dropping the bombshell that i was looking a lot cheaper than he was able to offer - I obviously received the sales patter and the expected line 'we would have been cheaper a few weeks ago before learning about the 1st of January' to which i replied 'That's fine and understandable, however if I don't get it for the price I'm after then we simply will not do it as it isn't as financially viable' (no come back to that). He did make one last recommendation, which was to have the 4 rear East facing panels (with the shading) coupled in a 2 on 2 shape at the top righthand side to get the maximum efect whilst reducing a bit of tree shading, I'll again try and show this in pictures later. I'll be calling a couple of recommended firms today from my PM's too - much appreciated

Martyn : That's where I was coming from, the black panels increasing heat soak, therefore making them slightly less efficient. Also good to hear your experience with solar edge - the chap with the last quote mentioned trying to link several panels into one edge system to bring the cost down - he'll be emailing a quote with the options.

Michaels - the shading is only on the back - we have a lower roof above the adjoined garage with a window that comes out with a further apex, apparently we could get 2-4 panels on here but again aesthetics and with it being so low down just wouldn't wash with the missus. Despite the nil shading on the front, one panel at the other side of the small apex would need a micro inverter as later sun would obscure this one pane, no reason why the rest can't go on one string though - the original sales pitch to not do this was cloud effect and the tolerance which gazapc has so kindly addressed above.

I'll try and drop the pics in later - presumably it's ok to use photobucket as a host and post the URL?

1animal1

Update: from the local firm. They can come in at £5k for a 4kw system. The chap said that he'd originally priced for 16x 54 cell JA panels which were 'premium' because of what he had witnessed systems producing with those panels and also that he'd selected them to enable him to get more on my West face. As it stands he is going to look at a solution for 5x 60 cell panels (slightly larger) on the back and 2 rows of the same on the front of 5 + 4 totalling 4kw - panels TBC. Running a duel inverter for front and rears, again TBC. He says I could buy an iboost myself or they could price them trade and source for me to fit on top if i wanted that solution.

Something I haven't yet researched is monitoring systems, should i expect that one will be included as standard?

EricMears

1animal1 wrote: »

- I obviously received the sales patter and the expected line 'we would have been cheaper a few weeks ago before learning about the 1st of January'

What on earth was he trying to say ?

Reduction in your FIT payments wouldn't increase his costs - they'd just reduce your ROI so you'd be looking for even cheaper capital costs rather than being prepared to accept higher ones ! Sounds like a good reason for looking elsewhere to me.

pinnks

Monitoring system depends to some extent on what kit you buy. I have SMA Sunny Boy inverters which have network/web connectivity and Bluetooth. This gives you access to Sunny Explorer free PC software within your home and web access to Sunny Portal and Sunny Places from any device with a web browser. Other inverters no doubt have similar connectivity.

I also have the immerSUN diverter for hot water heating etc. You can monitor to some extent by clicking through screens on the immerSUN but I bought their monitoring system myimmerSUN when it was released in May. That gives you real-time web browser access on most devices (not on my TV browser but fine on PC, MAC and phones) and records generation, import, export, diverted and other house consumption. I don't know what the likes of iboost offer.

Then you can buy products like Wattson to get web access to generation, use and other data which others can advise on...

ed110220

EricMears wrote: »

What on earth was he trying to say ?

Reduction in your FIT payments wouldn't increase his costs - they'd just reduce your ROI so you'd be looking for even cheaper capital costs rather than being prepared to accept higher ones ! Sounds like a good reason for looking elsewhere to me.

Presumably he means people are rushing to install before the expected cut, therefore he can raise his prices due to the increase in demand?

Ed

1animal1

Morning all!

I have finally persuaded 'her indoors' to allow this purchase to go ahead! Thought I'd better seek proper approval given her initial remarks that she'd ahem 'hate the house' if we had panels fitted. The pro's however are undeniable and I'm sure my badgering will pay off once they are fitted.

So to business - the original local firm are willing now as their final offer, to fit the following....

15x JA all black 265W panels
Duel aspect roof so 2 lots of scaffold
Solar Edge

for £5350 inc vat

They want me to pay for the EPC... I need to be £5k max with an iboost (of which i can buy the original version on Amazon for £150 - can't see the benefit in spending £350 for the + model)

Thoughts?