Solar Quotes for the North West

QrizB

Spies said:

Getting a few more quotes coming in now!

Supply and install as per owners design 4x 365w 6 x 395w solis 3600 dual inverter onroof mounting system and solis WiFi stick all certification and commissioning

£4,654.6

That sounds more like it!

Spies

I've given up with this, most installers don't actually listen to what I'm telling them with regards to limited space and suggest 330w panels which would cut my generation right down, or they tell me I can't have different sized strings or their prices are stupid £5k+

Bunch of right idiots in this industry.

QrizB

Spies said:

Bunch of right idiots in this industry.

Possibly shelve your plans until winter when hopefully the decent installers (the ones who are currently too busy to quote you) will be less busy?

But you're right, the MCS scheme is a double-edged sword. It's meant to ensure a certain minimum standard but at the same time it reduces options (cf. Part P and even Gas Safe).

Spies

Been quoted by contactsolar who have really good reviews, assuming they're not all fake.

I wasn't considering a battery but this seems to be good value, thoughts?

Martyn1981

It looks pretty decent, but .... sorry about this ...... if you subtract the battery, and perhaps another £1,200 for a 'normal' inverter, so about £2.6k after the discount, then the price gets really interesting!

[Just a personal thing, but I really dislike high prices that then receive a 'discount'. I know companies need to find ways to market their products and services, but ........ ]

Solarchaser

Spies said:

Been quoted by contactsolar who have really good reviews, assuming they're not all fake.

I wasn't considering a battery but this seems to be good value, thoughts?

Batteries might be interesting soon, so given the option I'd take the quote with hybrid inverter,  but ditch the batteries, as the uhome are (imo) a poorer alternative to the pylontech most of us with batteries run, while also being much more expensive. 

QrizB

Solarchaser said:

Spies said:

Been quoted by contactsolar who have really good reviews, assuming they're not all fake.

I wasn't considering a battery but this seems to be good value, thoughts?

Batteries might be interesting soon, so given the option I'd take the quote with hybrid inverter,  but ditch the batteries, as the uhome are (imo) a poorer alternative to the pylontech most of us with batteries run, while also being much more expensive. 

If you're feeling brave / foolhardy you can roll your own batteries.

The one I'm using at the moment is only a 1.3kWh baby but I've just ordered another 3kWh of cells (16 x 60Ah) from China for £270 plus VAT and duty. I'll probably need a second BMS which will be another £50. Call it £110 per kWh.

Spies

Can you easily add a battery or do you need an MCS certified installer to do that? 

QrizB

Spies said:

Can you easily add a battery or do you need an MCS certified installer to do that? 

My interpretation is that once you''ve had the hybrid inverter professionally installed and MCS certified, adding a battery is DIY-able. However I am not an expert and may be completely wrong on this.

Solarchaser

I would take that view also, though the truth is I didn't bother with that, I just installed ac inverters and batteries,  it's really not difficult at all.
It's pretty much plug and play, it only gets more difficult when you go to the point of making your own battery banks and bms as QrizB is doing.