Octopus Solar and battery install - issues to watch out for

Shoose

Hi

If anyone is having solar fitted by Octopus, please regularly check during the install process and ask to see proof that the items are being fitted correctly.

We recently had solar panels and a battery installed and had issues from start to finish.

In summary:

-our measurements indicated we could fit 10 panels on the roof, Octopus measured and came back with 7, then during the install we were able to show the fitters that 10 could be accommodated.
-battery and inverter installed on plywood on an outside wall.
-roofing membrane ripped where every bracket had been installed (not advised by Octopus, found this ourselves when letting the electrician into the loft). Octopus wanted to patch the areas, but we wanted the membrane put back the way it was.
-brackets installed incorrectly, so the tiles did not sit flush (not advised by Octopus, found this out ourselves).
-broken roof tiles (not advised by Octopus, found this out ourselves).
-replacement roof tiles did not match.
-additional scaffolding needed so the verge could be repointed, but this was not used as it was in the incorrect place

The installer was sent for retraining, but if anyone has had any installs done recently, you may want to check.

We had to chase at every step of the way, and felt that were not believed when raising issues, and felt more like project managers.

To have the issues resolved it ended up taking just short of four weeks from the start date. We are up and running, but it was a painful process which we would not have expected from this company. 

wakeupalarm

Have you had these issues fully resolved?  How did they replace the roof membrane?  Did they have to remove the solar panels in order to replace the membrane?

Shoose

wakeupalarm said:

Have you had these issues fully resolved?  How did they replace the roof membrane?  Did they have to remove the solar panels in order to replace the membrane?

Hi
The issues have been resolved.
To replace the roofing membrane the brackets were removed (the solar panels were not on at this stage), the tiles were stripped off, and the roofing membrane replaced - they came to patch it twice but we refused.

digido

Hi Shoose
I am having a similar system(based on a Enphase system) that's being installed in November with Octopus. Could you elaborate more on your experience. Particularly the battery being fixed to Plywood on an external wall ! Also I have queried the amount of panels they say 8 panels I calculated 10 ! Did they use the correct flashing kit for the cables going into the roof space for instance the Dektite kit. Please feel free to PM if you prefer. Thank you

EssexHebridean

It sounds like we may have dodged a bullet. We went through the quote process a while ago - did our own calcs relating to panel numbers etc - we came up with a result that 8 would fit - Octopus insisted on 6 only. The other two companies that quoted both quoted based on 8 though. The deal breaker for us came when Octopus suddenly decided that mounting the battery outside at the rear was an issue - and said it would have to go on the front of the house in full view of the road and passers by - again, this was in spite of having had various conversations about where the battery would go throughout. There were various other issues as well - and in the end I was getting such an uneasy feeling about the whole thing, we just said no, and walked away. 

As I recall their argument for the lower number of panels was down to them wanting to ensure more space round the edges than some installers do - they reckoned this was a legal requirement. 

Rock_Boulder

Hi Shoose,

Were you able to get the installers to install the full 10 panels in the end, or did they have to just install the 7 even though they agreed with you?  If they did, how did you go about that - did you need to talk to Octopus on the day of installation, or were the installers prepared to just change it on the spot?

I'm in a similar position - I think that 10 is possible, certainly 9 in landscape, but Octopus say 7.

bluestripes

I’ve had the same issues as the OP and currently trying to resolve (his foot went through the roof and ripped the membrane).