G98 Fast track so far, and existing inverter yep. I want to add additional panels to prolong our generation window and improve winter performance.
Solar panels and battery - any real world recommendations?
- Thread starter GinG
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G98 Fast track so far, and existing inverter yep. I want to add additional panels to prolong our generation window and improve winter performance.
Soldato
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so why cant you diy the panels like i did into your inverter for the 2nd string?
Oh there’s nothing stopping me taking ownership and DIYing it but I was wondering about how to maintain the MCS certification. Sorry should have made that clearer.
Soldato
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mcs is on your original panel install.... thats all thats required. your new panels can be diy'd. As long as the original panels are not being moved
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Really?? Tremendous. I could have sworn I’d read that would require a recert somewhere. Ooof.
So I just need to take ownership of the inverter to adopt the optimisers and define the string and I’m away? Besides getting up a ladder of course.
@randal
You already have an MCS cert (its only really required to get paid for export), just don't mention the additional string
If connecting to an existing inverter then you won't be increasing your export potential presumably? If not no need to alter the G98
You ideally do need building regulation approval/sign off.
Biggest problem is setting it all up with SolarEdge, I've no idea what's required there.
You already have an MCS cert (its only really required to get paid for export), just don't mention the additional string
If connecting to an existing inverter then you won't be increasing your export potential presumably? If not no need to alter the G98
You ideally do need building regulation approval/sign off.
Biggest problem is setting it all up with SolarEdge, I've no idea what's required there.
Soldato
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the only people that want the mcs cert are the suppliers for your export, keep the mcs for that and diy the new ones
@randal
You already have an MCS cert (its only really required to get paid for export), just don't mention the additional string
If connecting to an existing inverter then you won't be increasing your export potential presumably? If not no need to alter the G98
You ideally do need building regulation approval/sign off.
Biggest problem is setting it all up with SolarEdge, I've no idea what's required there.
I’m more than happy to get that signed off.
Reading through the SE docs I need to submit a request to support to take ownership, which essentially sets up a new site and I get made an admin instead of a monitoring user and my installer is out of the loop.
Then you either input all the serials from the optimisers or use the QR codes and define the panel layout and build the string.
In theory.
Beaut. I will need/want/Jones to upgrade my inverter at some point and the BMS, but that’s down the line.
This is why I asked the question. Once you are on your SEG with the original MCS as long as you have the G99 approval for your export the SEG supplier has nothing to do with it at all. As long as they can meter what you export and pay you then you are all good. You could in theory get a 1kW MCS install done with a 8kW inverter, and a G99 for 8kW export, then add all the extra panels yourself.
Interesting. So my G99 was a fast track application which was rated down at a measly 3.68kw to push it through. I’m just about to go through the process to see if I can get my export limit raised ahead of an inverter upgrade, or is it better to do it the other way around?
You need to know what inverter you'll be using to get an approval as it has to be on the ENA type test register, you can do the G99 months ahead of the install, 90 days, with another 90 day extension possible, and install has to be complete within 12 months and the paperwork sent by then.
Apologies if this is the wrong thread to discuss EV chargers. I ordered a Renault 5 last week (well I certainly placed the order, Renault aren't exactly quick to confirm that there actually is an order 
). Contacted the company that installed the solar panels and batteries, came back with £1200 to supply and install a Zappi. They haven't actually had a look at placement and cable runs as I'd like the charger in the garage, as that's where the car will be parked. Replied back with what I'd like with regards to positioning and they've gone quiet. Are there any other national companies that are recommended? I know Octopus do it but I'm guessing it's subbed out and would just be the standard slap it on the wall near to the consumer unit.
). Contacted the company that installed the solar panels and batteries, came back with £1200 to supply and install a Zappi. They haven't actually had a look at placement and cable runs as I'd like the charger in the garage, as that's where the car will be parked. Replied back with what I'd like with regards to positioning and they've gone quiet. Are there any other national companies that are recommended? I know Octopus do it but I'm guessing it's subbed out and would just be the standard slap it on the wall near to the consumer unit.
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I recently bought a home battery with 0% VAT (from Heatable).
Now I want to add solar panels. How does the 0% VAT work - do I have to buy the solar panels and their installation from Heatable or can I get them from someone else still on 0%?
Initially I though of ordering the panels online and getting someone to install them, but I guess in this case I'll be paying 20% VAT.
Now I want to add solar panels. How does the 0% VAT work - do I have to buy the solar panels and their installation from Heatable or can I get them from someone else still on 0%?
Initially I though of ordering the panels online and getting someone to install them, but I guess in this case I'll be paying 20% VAT.
You need to buy the equipment and install from the same business to benefit from the 0% VAT. Installers will add a margin on which is probably more than the VAT anyway.
However to get an MCS certificate (which you need) you need an MCS registered installer. As you already have a Tesla Powerwall you also need a registered Tesla installer who is willing to touch the power wall someone else installed.
You’d be very lucky to find an MCS registered Tesla installer who is willing to give up all their margin on not supplying the equipment who is willing to do the work on something someone else installed - functionality what you are asking for doesn’t exist. You also need 2 roofers to install the panels and a scaffolder.
It’s a bit late now but you’ll end up paying way more doing this as two separate jobs instead of buying the power wall and solar panels from the same installer at the same time because of the way most installers are set up.
They essentially add a charge per job, you’ll be paying this twice. They charge to do the paperwork, you’ll be paying this twice. They have install teams with roofers and electricians which work together on each job. They bill out the electricians time for the whole period of the job, you’ll be paying this again even if they have next to nothing to do - they don’t have any other installs to work on because the roofers are on your job.
I’m not sure if you are aware or not but Heatable are one of, if the the most expensive national installers in the whole country. You’d get a far better price going with a local installer for your area.
You’ll need to get some quotes. Don’t buy a ‘package’, you want to fill your roof with whatever number of panels fit and they need to be connected to the existing Tesla install. Don’t go with someone who can’t deal with the Tesla unit and plan to slap in a separate solar string inverter.
You may well have to use heatable if you can’t find some else who will do it but I’m sure you probably can get a better price out of someone else.
Per the previous posts, don’t overpay for ‘fancy panels’, you’ll make the money back in any reasonable timeframe. 450w panels are standard now and only cost £60-70 each. It’s not worth paying >double for 10W per panel more (say 160w over 16 panels).
However to get an MCS certificate (which you need) you need an MCS registered installer. As you already have a Tesla Powerwall you also need a registered Tesla installer who is willing to touch the power wall someone else installed.
You’d be very lucky to find an MCS registered Tesla installer who is willing to give up all their margin on not supplying the equipment who is willing to do the work on something someone else installed - functionality what you are asking for doesn’t exist. You also need 2 roofers to install the panels and a scaffolder.
It’s a bit late now but you’ll end up paying way more doing this as two separate jobs instead of buying the power wall and solar panels from the same installer at the same time because of the way most installers are set up.
They essentially add a charge per job, you’ll be paying this twice. They charge to do the paperwork, you’ll be paying this twice. They have install teams with roofers and electricians which work together on each job. They bill out the electricians time for the whole period of the job, you’ll be paying this again even if they have next to nothing to do - they don’t have any other installs to work on because the roofers are on your job.
I’m not sure if you are aware or not but Heatable are one of, if the the most expensive national installers in the whole country. You’d get a far better price going with a local installer for your area.
You’ll need to get some quotes. Don’t buy a ‘package’, you want to fill your roof with whatever number of panels fit and they need to be connected to the existing Tesla install. Don’t go with someone who can’t deal with the Tesla unit and plan to slap in a separate solar string inverter.
You may well have to use heatable if you can’t find some else who will do it but I’m sure you probably can get a better price out of someone else.
Per the previous posts, don’t overpay for ‘fancy panels’, you’ll make the money back in any reasonable timeframe. 450w panels are standard now and only cost £60-70 each. It’s not worth paying >double for 10W per panel more (say 160w over 16 panels).
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Perhaps a national company was the wrong term, more a company that is ok with travelling. I wasn’t aware that any electrician could do it, thought there might be some extra qualifications to do it. The garage is detached from the house but it’s less than a meter away. The company that installed the panels were able to run the cables down the back of the house in some trunking and then go across to the garage. Can SWA (which is what I’m guessing is used) be run internally? The consumer unit is in the meter box, which isn’t ideal but it’s only a small ish one. Would either have to run the cable out of the meter box and up in to the loft and down the back of the house, following the same run as the PV cables. Or, go out of the meter box and then around the carport roof and down into the garage. They did manage to feed the ac feed and CT clamp cable to the inverter past an RSJ that is part of the carport roof but I’m guessing the EV charger feed would be too thick to get through.
We're off... should be here for the weekend. Yeah the optimisers are overkill but they were a good price.
Yeah the optimisers are overkill but they were a good price.| Quantity | Item | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | JA Solar 440WP Full Black N-Type Bi-Facial PV Module JAM54D41-440/LB | £372.82 |
| 6 | SolarEdge S650B Optimisers | £237.94 |
| 25m | PV Ultra 4mm Dual Core | £132.23 |
| 4 | Pair MC4 (spares) | £10 |
| 6 | Adjustable mounting arms | £95.94 |
Total | £848.93 |
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