PV quote, what questions to ask?

k6chris
k6chris Posts: 782 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
in Green & ethical MoneySaving
Have a PV quote, see below. What insightful questions do I need to ask??

I've taken a look at your property on Google Earth and have come up with an initial proposal for you.

Your property could have a system size of 6.4 kWp. This would consist of 16 x 400W Perlight Delta panels on your south facing roof and two X1 Boost 3.0 inverters. The total cost of this system would be £6300 (excluding battery storage). 
"For every complicated problem, there is always a simple, wrong answer"

Comments

  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 17,033 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    On the face of it that's a pretty good price but the devil's in the detail and sably there isn't much of that!
    Both seem solid enough choices.
    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 33MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
    Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!
  • Spies
    Spies Posts: 2,256 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Check reviews of the company, depending in your tile type, ask what mounting method they plan on using, don't let them use limpets on a slate roof as they drill through the slate and wind forces can then stress the slate itself. 
    4.29kWp Solar system, 45/55 South/West split in cloudy rainy Cumbria. 
  • k6chris
    k6chris Posts: 782 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Spies said:
    Check reviews of the company, depending in your tile type, ask what mounting method they plan on using, don't let them use limpets on a slate roof as they drill through the slate and wind forces can then stress the slate itself. 
    They use K2 roof mounts, if that means anything??
    "For every complicated problem, there is always a simple, wrong answer"
  • Spies
    Spies Posts: 2,256 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    What type of roof do you have as they don't list any fittings for slate? 
    4.29kWp Solar system, 45/55 South/West split in cloudy rainy Cumbria. 
  • Martyn1981
    Martyn1981 Posts: 15,266 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Just a ponder, but why would they go for two inverters?
    Mart. Cardiff. 8.72 kWp PV systems (2.12 SSW 4.6 ESE & 2.0 WNW). 20kWh battery storage. Two A2A units for cleaner heating. Two BEV's for cleaner driving.

    For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.
  • 94JDH
    94JDH Posts: 146 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    Im fitting two inverters because of two batteries, so I can charge quickly in a short window on cheap rate if needed - also discharge at double the rate as required - but in this case no battery so why not a higher rated inverter 6kW?
    PV total 19.8 kW system:
    23 x 420W East/West split over two flat roof areas at 10 degrees inclination.
    13 x 390W South spit over two flat roof areas at 5 to 20 degrees inclination.
    6 x 390W south wall mounted at 90 degrees inclination.
    7 x 390W West wall mounted at 90 degrees inclination.
    2 x 5 kW hybrid inverters
    4 x 9.5 kWh batteries (38 kWh total)
  • k6chris
    k6chris Posts: 782 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    What are the pros and cons of two inverters??
    "For every complicated problem, there is always a simple, wrong answer"
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 17,033 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    k6chris said:
    What are the pros and cons of two inverters??
    A bit like twin-engined aeroplanes; more expensive than a single, and the chance of an inverter failure are doubled, but the chance of a total failure is halved.
    Although in this case it might just be what they've got in stock!
    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 33MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
    Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!
  • 94JDH
    94JDH Posts: 146 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    k6chris said:
    What are the pros and cons of two inverters??
    It also depends on what you are after, like I've explained above - double the charging in a small 4 hour cheap window, and also doubling the discharge rate if your house demands are high
    PV total 19.8 kW system:
    23 x 420W East/West split over two flat roof areas at 10 degrees inclination.
    13 x 390W South spit over two flat roof areas at 5 to 20 degrees inclination.
    6 x 390W south wall mounted at 90 degrees inclination.
    7 x 390W West wall mounted at 90 degrees inclination.
    2 x 5 kW hybrid inverters
    4 x 9.5 kWh batteries (38 kWh total)
  • NoobSolar
    NoobSolar Posts: 117 Forumite
    Second Anniversary 10 Posts
    Does it include vat? Why not add optimisers to ensure best generation? Why do you want to do the batteries thing rather than one battery? Are they going to use scaffolding or are they saving the money by somehow avoiding it? That is not necessarily bad BTW.
    London. 6.4kwh system, South facing. 16 Hyundai 400kw all black panels w/ optimisers, 6kw Solaredge HD Wave inverter, Solar Iboost with two immersion heaters on one 240l hw tank. Octopus Flux. Ivar 5 Wood Burning Stove. Leaf 62kwh plus Zappi. Two chickens: 1 Light Sussex, 1 Speckled Rock. Omlet walk-in run. Approx 1.5 eggs per day egg generation rate using Marriage's organic layers pellets.
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