Solar panel installation

kenny000666

I am also interested in getting solar, had 3 quotes from sales guys from my planet, Rayotech and helm.

Ranging from £6250 (3.92kw), £6250 (3.4kw), 10k for (3.8kw) including 2 tesla batteries.

Now, have phoned around direct local installers through adverts on eBay, websites etc. And they range from £5000-£5500 for a 4kwh system. Had a over the phone ballpark quote for 14x 285w LG panels + SMA inverter for £5300

Any one has advice on choosing installers? The companies with sales guys seem to command a higher price however they claim they are insurance backed, low risk to bankruptcy etc and able to keep a good service for 25yrs.

Of course the direct installers are cheaper, but can they be trusted? Risk of liquidation after January etc. These sales guys are saying to not trust the lower price quotes as they cannot be reliable for 25yrs with many other digs such as they WILL do a s*** job. I understand the sales pitch, however they do have a point about potential lower cost installers not being around much longer.

I feel like I'm going through double glazing shopping again...
Any one have any recommended installers around the south east London area? I would like to get a better deal than £5000 for a decent system.

kenny000666

I stuck to choosing the cheapest deals.

I have a few quotes around the £5500-£5800 mark so looks like this is my price after all.

For a SSW system @ 4kwh with South panels split across 2 roofs, main roof and garage roof. I have no noticeable shading issues.

Quote 1)
14xLG 285w panels with SMA sunnyboy inverter. @ £5500

Quote 2) 14x8.33 Solar 285w Eternity panels with Solar Edge + 14 optimisers @ @5800

The quotes are not so bad from 2 different installers. With LG being the bigger brand. I have not heard of 8.33 solar. The only reason why I suggested Solar Edge is the fact that S panels will be split at 5 at top roof and 2 at the bottom roof. Understandably no shading but given its only £300 extra. I get better monitoring and potentially better panel output.

Quote 1) is attaching all panels on the top roof and the bottom roof in a single string.

Guys any thoughts/opinions to help me decide?

Regards

Ken

EricMears

You seem to have covered most points pretty well. You might find some cheaper quotes if you keep asking around but it could be a trade-off between finding a cheaper price or missing the FIT deadline.

If you can get SE for £300 extra and value the better monitoring then it might be worthwhile - and of course no obvious shading now doesn't necessarily mean none ever. You'd kick yourself if you omitted the SE but found out there was slight shading in December or even if a small sapling in neighbours garden grew to 60' during the FIT contract years.

You might want to confirm what warranties are offered and whether you're reliant on installers still being around in 20 years time or if the scheme is insurance backed.

kenny000666

Thanks for your reply.

I have already been through about 10 different suppliers. Not keen on the sales man talks, and enjoyed conversations with the local installers who actually do the work themselves. I dont think im going to get cheaper through initial quotes, unless i start negotiating prices with the suppliers.

I have voiced my concerns about the going under issue, and have been assured that there is an installation guarantee of 5 years, or if they are not around then insurance backed as they are members of REAL.

Quote 1) LG 285 monox have a standard 10 year product warranty with 25 year performance warranty of 80% efficiency after 25 years. The Inverter is standard 10 years warranty.

Quote 2) 833 solar eternity have a 20 yr product warranty with 25 year performance warranty of 90% efficiency after 25 years. The SE has a good 25 year warranty with 20 years on each optimiser.

My thoughts on this:-
the difficult part in comparing these 2 panels as they are not on the ECO Experts top brands/panels list. But given that LG being the better known company, pretty sure they would be sticking around for a while. 833 Solar is a spanish company, no idea if they are any good, reputable and given spain have been in economic financial difficulty over the years, but their 20yr product warranty and guarantee of 90% is excellent. So far, 2 firms are supplying these, whereas many other firms are supplying the LG panels.

To be fair, i might be able to negotiate Quote 1) to do SE for the same prices as Quote 2) or even lower the quote of 2) (based on not so good bargaining skills). So really, the big question is on the panels. I think i have been vying towards SE already, and your extra nudge has helped settle that

Regards

Ken

EricMears

kenny000666 wrote: »

So really, the big question is on the panels. I think i have been vying towards SE already, and your extra nudge has helped settle that

Regards

Ken

It wasn't really meant as a 'nudge'. I haven't got SE - but I'm absolutely certain that the only shading I get is from a chimney and after 4pm in winter (even later in summer). There are some nearby trees on our own land but local council have assured me that I don't need permission to prune them. I don't think SE would have been available 4 years ago anyway (or not at an affordable price if it was).

I'm quite happy with SMA monitoring - where comparing output of one half of the panels with the other half is good enough to establish that one panel hasn't failed - checking every panel individually strikes me as a bit over the top.

But I've also got additional monitoring via 'MyImmersun' for an instant view of what I can afford to switch on and 'Wattson/Holmes for a (not very accurate) indication of how system performed during a particular day. Perhaps one day MyImmersun will offer an even better history function (but not holding breath )


My apparently nudging comments were really just recycling your own thoughts.

kenny000666

Hi

Ended up getting the Solar Edge system and 14 inverters and 14x285w 833 solar eternity panels for £5600 all inc

Given that my next cheapest quote was £5500 for 14xLG panels and SMA inverter, it's not bad.

How would you guys rate that price?

Regards

Ken

1animal1

looks ok, i've got a quote for 15x JA panels and Edge for £5350 which I'm still trying to reduce - again, local firm.

ProudMum

Can anyone give me some advice. Have a S/E roof, 16 panels recommended by one of these salesmen firm at a price of £9k which from posts looks expensive. Any tips and any recommendations for a London installer really appreciated.

EricMears

ProudMum wrote: »

Can anyone give me some advice. Have a S/E roof, 16 panels recommended by one of these salesmen firm at a price of £9k which from posts looks expensive. Any tips and any recommendations for a London installer really appreciated.

Any building work in London tends to be dearer than elsewhere - but double the going rate seems a bit excessive.

Hopefully, someone from the smoke will read this thread and reply but meanwhile, knock on a few doors where roof has panels and ask occupier (or leave them a note) who their installer was and if they were happy with them.

ProudMum

after quote from salesman firm have received a quote for 16 panels/4kw system of £7400 including iboost and then another for £6500 for a 14 panel system using BISOL 285 mono panel including iboost and solis 3.6 inverter or solar edge and 14 optimisers for £85 each optimiser which for the same panels ups the price by about £12000. Can anyone advise me whether the optimised system is better and whether they have any advice re the makes quoted for the panels and inverter.

ProudMum

Anyone had a good reliable and reasonable quote for installation of solar panels in London? from the posts on this (very helpful) forum the quotes I am getting would appear to be rather higher than others are able to get. Interested though in what other North Londoners may have been able to obtain