Solar panels questions

[Deleted User]

I am thinking of putting solar panels on our apex garage roof - it runs North South
Is there going to be any restrictions on doing this?
What voltage is actually AT the panel?
We have around 20 sq metres of roof space (5 metres long by 2 metres wide (2 sides) 

Jeepers_Creepers

Obviously you'd choose the South facing roof!

Restrictions? You mean Planning? I doubt it, but don't know.

Voltages from panels can vary depending on how they are connected - series, parallel, but I understand are typically in the order of - ooh - 50, 80, perhaps 100V DC. Ish. Ie, they can be very dangerous in their own right.

[Deleted User]

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Obviously you'd choose the South facing roof!

Restrictions? You mean Planning? I doubt it, but don't know.

Voltages from panels can vary depending on how they are connected - series, parallel, but I understand are typically in the order of - ooh - 50, 80, perhaps 100V DC. Ish. Ie, they can be very dangerous in their own right.

The panels would face 'East and west 
The roofline is North South 

onomatopoeia99

Solar panels are generally PD so provided you have PD rights (not all properties do) you should be OK.  Checking with the local authority is advised.

Are you intending to DIY this?  I'm curious why you would ask the question about the voltage. 

[Deleted User]

onomatopoeia99 said:

Solar panels are generally PD so provided you have PD rights (not all properties do) you should be OK.  Checking with the local authority is advised.

Are you intending to DIY this?  I'm curious why you would ask the question about the voltage 

No not DIY - purely a safety point of view
PD?? 

FreeBear

PD - Permitted Development.

onomatopoeia99

Deleted_User said:

onomatopoeia99 said:

Solar panels are generally PD so provided you have PD rights (not all properties do) you should be OK.  Checking with the local authority is advised.

Are you intending to DIY this?  I'm curious why you would ask the question about the voltage 

No not DIY - purely a safety point of view
PD?? 

I have solar panels professionally installed on my roof and there are no exposed wires, everything is insulated so the only way you'll get a shock is if you start disconnecting things or decide to attack the cables with shears.

Ectophile

There should be no restrictions unless it's a listed building.  If you're in a conservation area, check with the council.

Panels are normally wired in series "strings" to give a higher voltage.  That's typically around 300V, but can vary quite a bit depending on how many panels.  If you have lots of panels, they need to be split into two strings.

[Deleted User]

onomatopoeia99 said:

Deleted_User said:

onomatopoeia99 said:

Solar panels are generally PD so provided you have PD rights (not all properties do) you should be OK.  Checking with the local authority is advised.

Are you intending to DIY this?  I'm curious why you would ask the question about the voltage 

No not DIY - purely a safety point of view
PD?? 

I have solar panels professionally installed on my roof and there are no exposed wires, everything is insulated so the only way you'll get a shock is if you start disconnecting things or decide to attack the cables with shears.

Sorry - maybe I failed ot explain - I am concerned - since a house roof is consideraby higher than a garage roof and doesn't get cats etc walking on it !

II am just worried about the safety vs heght

[Deleted User]

We current use £250 pa in Electricity - which, obviously would only be neutralised during (some) daylight hours

I guess I am asking is - is this worth doing ?

Any extra would generate how much ?

[Deleted User]

The Solar Energy calculator tells me NO - It gves a overall lifetime benefit of minus £130

I am shocked that the buy back rate is SO low - 3.99 p per unit - they NEED to raise this to a reasonable level to get more people to go solar - I mean - they are paying 1/4 of the rate that they sell it at - DISGUSTING !