PV - What do you wish you had known before?

fuuoldself

As someone who is considering solar PV at home, a simple question came into my mind whilst walking this morning.  If I could speak to someone who already has solar at home - I wonder what they wish they knew before they had it installed?

Would love to hear your thoughts solar PV-havers

EcoScruples

I wish I'd installed more, could have got 6.5kw easily on my roof but chose the standard option.

Krakkkers

I wished they had moved the 16 panels up a bit so i could squeeze some more on instead of putting them in the middle of the roof.
When i had mine installed the max was 4kwp for domestic use, any more was a commercial venture and a smaller FIT payment.

Screwdriva

The importance of choosing the right brands for the right components that comprise a PV system. 

Krakkkers

Basically go for the most you can get on.

70sbudgie

I wish I had known how to do my own calculations for predicting generation. Then I would have I stalled a solar divertor at the same time. (I have since learned about PVGIS).

fuuoldself

sounds like the fundamentals then - understand how much you're going to use, and maximise your generation potential

Niv

Make sure the company you pick are MCS certified. Check the accreditation database yourself, don't just accept what they tell you.

ABrass

I knew that solar production was sporadic due to cloud cover, but I hadn't realised exactly how sporadic.

I have a large array and it has been covering around 80% of my electricity use since it has been installed, but it would have been a tiny fraction of that if there hadn't been a battery.

Waywardmike

Just how little I would generate in the winter.  I have had a 4kW array for 8 years now, so I now know it's not rare to generate less than 0.5kWh a day, some days in winter.

Also, how much of an effect clouds have on generation.  I didn't know anyone with panels when mine were installed so couldn't ask and properly fell for the 'they still generate on cloudy days' statement.  They're not technically wrong, they do still generate, but if it's heavy overcast all day it's not a lot at all...

Waywardmike

Screwdriva said:

The importance of choosing the right brands for the right components that comprise a PV system. 

Not sure this is a statement that can be verified until you hit the 20-25 year mark surely?

My PV system is all German, so maybe I did make the 'right choice' as it's behaved flawlessly the last 8 years.  It paid for itself in FIT alone maybe a year ago.  Alternatively if I had chosen the other quote from the same installer for a SolarEdge system at several thousand quid more I wouldn't be there for another year or more.  If I get to 20 years with no warranty claim SE wouldn't have been the 'better choice', although I could buy two more inverters fully fitted and it still not cost as much as a SE system, only time will tell.

Not bashing SolarEdge, I know you're a huge fan, there are applications (shading etc,) where it's clearly the better choice.  Just choosing on brand name alone doesn't necessarily mean you're getting a better product.