Nothing like leaving it to the last minute! Couple of PV questions...

ASavvyBuyer

Temrael wrote: »

Thanks all, looks like we're in business!

The EPC check came back as a C which is great (we'll actually be a B with PV) and the installer is going to bung another panel on the back so 6 east, 9 west for around 4.5kWp (up from 4.13).

One thing the installer has left me mulling over is where I want the inverter. He's suggested the loft but I'd naively assumed it had to go in the meter cupboard (where the consumer unit is).

The meter cupboard is located on the ground floor in the middle of the north/gable wall, directly beneath the middle part of the attic. So it's no difference really in terms of the run of cable from the panels to the inverter i.e. we'd come into the house at the same point on wall the only difference is whether it's at attic level or ground level.

What are the pros and cons? Presumably if we add batteries later they ought to live with the inverter, and there would obviously be a lot more room for them in the loft. But do indoor battery packs like a nice stable temperature (the loft gets really hot in summer and properly cold in winter) in which case should we pop the inverter in the meter cupboard in readiness?

I'm happy for the inverter to live out the way in the loft (I guess the generation meter can still live in the meter cupboard?) but I should probably avoid that if that'll complicate adding batteries later.

What do you guys reckon?

We have our inverter mounted in the garage under the house where there is a steady cool environment.
Like you, our loft is very hot in summer and and cold in winter.

Electronics don't like large fluctuating temperatures. That is why in companies they are mounted in air conditioned equipment rooms.

Temrael

Thanks both yep I'll stick with having it in the main part of the house (which is what I'd originally assumed).

mre15

If you are considering batteries for the future you should ask how much extra the hybrid inverter would be. It doesn't have to have batteries to work straight away. You can add them later when they get cheaper.
my installers supplier had an offer on for a hybrid with a battery which was £500 more than a standard inverter. I took a punt at that as it looked a good deal. Working well so far.