Current situation with PV winter 2019?

Mr.Boy

Ah OK so the same cable would supply energy to the cabin from the meter, and send it back when we are generating... we need special kit at both ends (meter, inverter, etc) but it's not one cable for in, one for out?

Ectophile

If the cable is up to it, there's no reason why the same cable can't work both ways.

Reed_Richards

d000hg wrote: »

Sorry I had thought "feed in" was a general term for selling energy back. What I'd heard was that you were restricted how much you could sell generally. If I was installing right now (before 1.1.2020) how should I proceed?
When you say I need permission, how will I know I'm doing this and would a system stop me? Or would they simply take it but not pay beyond that level?
.

AFAIK there are no restrictions on how much you can sell for any likely domestic system. If you have a huge roof area (like a barn) it may be different. The permission is not about how much energy you export but the instantaneous current and hence the instantaneous power. My export meter tells me not only the total amount of electrical energy I have exported (kWh) but also the instantaneous export power (kW) so that is how I know. I can set a power limit via my inverter.

If you go over the limit your Distribution Network Operator will probably not find out unless you are caught-out when someone reads the meter or you contribute to a problem.

I see no problem installing before 1.1.2020 but you may find it hard to get paid for any export before that date.

Martyn1981

As has been mentioned the weight of PV is quite small, so point loading will be tiny, let's say ~20kg per panel including rails and fittings, so 20kg per 1.6m2, compare that to the point loading from an 80-100kg builder spread over the area of one boot as they step.

Multiply the panel weight up for total roof loading, and the impact on the center(s) between load bearing walls. If you are at all worried, perhaps add some additional rafters.

Regarding buried cables, just a tip I've picked up from the off-gridders who seem obsessed with building out ever more renewable generation and tinkering, and that is to put the cable inside a larger pipe, such as waste pipe, drain pipes, soil pipes (to the required size), and to include a length or lengths* of rope ready to pull more cables through if you ever need them.

One length should be enough, so long as you tie a new length to the cable beforehand, so as you pull one out, you pull a new one in. Simples!

Mr.Boy

Thanks! On that last part we just bought a nice roll of duct for exactly that reason.