Solar panels and battery - any real world recommendations?
- Thread starter GinG
- Start date
Who did your installation, and would you recommend them? I'm just down the road from you based on your profile location.
This is insane value compared to what I paid for mine just a year ago.
I think the difference is going to be very marginal, and there are always flaws in videos on YouTube that claim they work better.
Soldato
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- 4 Aug 2007
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- 22,428
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- Wilds of suffolk
I saw something the other day about battery prices really crashing hard again.
Forget where but it was something like down another 50% vs about a year ago.
Its why over the last year I have moved from "i should protect my batteries for their 10 year warranty life" to "rinse the hell out of them and if they fail then plan to get new asap"
Also I believe from stuff I have read that they are now saying most LFP degradation is coming from age as opposed to usage, so you may as well work them hard up until the warranty point.
I haven't got any idea on Jan yet, but my system is just over 2 years old and as of end of 2024, I had just passed 30% recovery at 30.1%
Its not an exact science modelling that, but its going to be ballpark reasonable.
I would probably be able to buy a system like mine for 30% less now. So you could say I haven't gained anything, but that cannot carry on forever.
And if it does, roll on the next system
Forget where but it was something like down another 50% vs about a year ago.
Its why over the last year I have moved from "i should protect my batteries for their 10 year warranty life" to "rinse the hell out of them and if they fail then plan to get new asap"
Also I believe from stuff I have read that they are now saying most LFP degradation is coming from age as opposed to usage, so you may as well work them hard up until the warranty point.
I haven't got any idea on Jan yet, but my system is just over 2 years old and as of end of 2024, I had just passed 30% recovery at 30.1%
Its not an exact science modelling that, but its going to be ballpark reasonable.
I would probably be able to buy a system like mine for 30% less now. So you could say I haven't gained anything, but that cannot carry on forever.
And if it does, roll on the next system
Soldato
- Joined
- 7 Sep 2020
- Posts
- 4,247
- Location
- Gods Country
good to see you back....I saw something the other day about battery prices really crashing hard again.
Forget where but it was something like down another 50% vs about a year ago.
Its why over the last year I have moved from "i should protect my batteries for their 10 year warranty life" to "rinse the hell out of them and if they fail then plan to get new asap"
Also I believe from stuff I have read that they are now saying most LFP degradation is coming from age as opposed to usage, so you may as well work them hard up until the warranty point.
I haven't got any idea on Jan yet, but my system is just over 2 years old and as of end of 2024, I had just passed 30% recovery at 30.1%
Its not an exact science modelling that, but its going to be ballpark reasonable.
I would probably be able to buy a system like mine for 30% less now. So you could say I haven't gained anything, but that cannot carry on forever.
And if it does, roll on the next system
Heatalbe are a joke wit their banging on about REA panels, and 380w Micro inverters, and they are forced to install an inverter for the ESS. They are 100% off my recommendation list for people, there are edge cases where it may be better but not £7k better. A Tesla PW3 with more panels will cost less, and be waaaaay better over all.
Associate
- Joined
- 16 Oct 2003
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- 652
- Location
- West Sussex
We used Cahill renewables for the install, They’re based in Kent and Essex.
The sales staff were pretty good and were open to tailoring the system to my needs not just a standard this is what we fit install. The actual installers were great and listened to where I wanted the components put and how I wanted the cables run through the house. After care has let the side down slightly with the office being super slow getting my handover pack out to me.
Overall I would recommend them. Cost wise it was 2k cheaper for the same kit from another installer I was originally going to use (skylar solar).
I see Octopus are advertising their solar / battery install service a lot at the moment but do they offer any advantage over other installs? They also offer battery only installs which might work out if they allow cheap overnight recharging.
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From what I remember other posters saying, is Octopus solar installs are expensive, and subbed out. You'll be better off finding a good local installer.
Yes, you can get onto Octopus Go without an EV, as they don't ask, and charging a battery overnight looks just like an EV. If you got room for panels, fit as many as possible.
Yes, you can get onto Octopus Go without an EV, as they don't ask, and charging a battery overnight looks just like an EV. If you got room for panels, fit as many as possible.
Soldato
- Joined
- 29 Dec 2004
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- 17,114
- Location
- Shepley
Do Octopus actually require any proof of an EV to join Go? They've asked me what car/charger I have but not sure if they probe more than that!
I told them I had a home battery storage system and needed to charge overnight, they were happy with that.(no EV)
Been on GO over 3 years now.
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Make sure you're joining Go and not intelligent Go.
That's not THAT big, particularly for his energy consumption. That said, it was a bit silly to to locate them on the floor next to some hedges and then complain they get shaded. If they absolutely cant be raised, they should have had optimisers or micro inverters.
I saw in the comment he was getting flamed for his consumption, particularly his heat pump and I actually agree with him, he seems to be getting excellent efficiency out of it, particularly given how old it is. His running a flow temp of 30C-35C to heat the house and garages, that's perfect. its 22kw which sounds big but he is also heating over 400m2 of which some of that is garages. The heated outdoor swimming pool heat pump will absolutely be drinking the electric here in the UK.
I saw in the comment he was getting flamed for his consumption, particularly his heat pump and I actually agree with him, he seems to be getting excellent efficiency out of it, particularly given how old it is. His running a flow temp of 30C-35C to heat the house and garages, that's perfect. its 22kw which sounds big but he is also heating over 400m2 of which some of that is garages. The heated outdoor swimming pool heat pump will absolutely be drinking the electric here in the UK.
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A good attempt there, but just today I was helping a client with their new 500kWp install, and how they are going to monitor and/or use the excess since they can't export!
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Harry has solar on a different scale.
Shame he doesn't really seem to know what he's talking about on quite a few points, and totally dismisses batteries when they could potentially save him a fortune.