Help needed with DIY solar and battery spec please

[xtremedetailz]

Ok guys I’m going to go for a solar setup on my end corner terraced house.

After looking around the field it is mind blowingly complicated.

Now I have asked a company to quote which came to £12,500 for a 5.6k setup which I thought was excessive.

Now I don’t mind doing most of the work and sourcing the parts myself if I have the help of you good people.

Besides I want pretty much the best I can get for my money and not be forced to have whatever makes the company’s more profit.

So to start off I don’t even know what I need.

I do know that off the company’s quote they said I can get 14 x 400w panels.

So where do I start, I’d love someone to spec me system and a full breakdown on what I’d need to buy.

Thanks

 

[HungryHippos]

It won't be easy, and I doubt you can fully get the advice you need here.

@Ron-ski has a thread over here where he's doing a DIY setup, but it's on a garage roof which is a much easier location to DIY install onto.

I'd consider turning to Youtube personally, I'm sure some people will have documented their DIY solar installation experience in the UK.

 

[xtremedetailz]

It won't be easy, and I doubt you can fully get the advice you need here.

@Ron-ski has a thread over here where he's doing a DIY setup, but it's on a garage roof which is a much easier location to DIY install onto.

I'd consider turning to Youtube personally, I'm sure some people will have documented their DIY solar installation experience in the UK.

Yeah i will be turning to the tube to help with the install side of things, its more the equipment and where i start etc and how i spec the batteries etc.

 

[HungryHippos]

Whilst I think you could pay less if you DIY it, you will have to learn a bunch of stuff, and there will be downsides. There is a fixed cost for kit, as well as things like scaffold if you need it. Once you add panels, inverter, battery, and extras like rail kits and such, I think you'd be approaching half of your quote in terms of cost probably.

I would not DIY a system onto my primary house roof because if you do it wrong and it sets your roof on fire, insurance may not be valid to cover it. I had to inform my home insurance about my work, but they were OK with it because I was using a professional company who had accreditations and public liability insurance.

Your kit will likely have limited or no warranty.

You can't DIY the inverter elements for example. You need to use an electrician for some of the work as it needs to be wired into your consumer unit so Part P work.

Whole thing isn't impossible but there is a reason they can get away with charging so much I think, and these reasons I've given above are just part of it, at least the parts I can think of.

If you can ground mount or use an outbuilding you may find DIY a bit easier, and far less risk than attaching the system to your house.

 

[Ron-ski]

It's certainly not easy and there's a lot to learn and take in, and as HungryHippos states you'll need to find an electrician that's willing to work with you. I started back in the spring, first getting quotes, then learning whats required to DIY some of it, and I'm still learning now, only just ordering the solar gear at the moment.

I watched this https://www.youtube.com/c/OffGridGarageAustralia/videos but its an expensive route to go.

 

[Uhtred]

Ok guys I’m going to go for a solar setup on my end corner terraced house.

After looking around the field it is mind blowingly complicated.

Now I have asked a company to quote which came to £12,500 for a 5.6k setup which I thought was excessive.

Now I don’t mind doing most of the work and sourcing the parts myself if I have the help of you good people.

Besides I want pretty much the best I can get for my money and not be forced to have whatever makes the company’s more profit.

So to start off I don’t even know what I need.

I do know that off the company’s quote they said I can get 14 x 400w panels.

So where do I start, I’d love someone to spec me system and a full breakdown on what I’d need to buy.

Thanks

Charliediy did a video on this recently and he's UK based

How to Install Solar Panels - a COMPLETE DIY Guide

This video is a complete guide to installing solar panels from a DIY homeowner's perspective. I talk you through why I did it, what kit I installed, and what...

youtu.be

 

[HungryHippos]

Saw his video even he said that mostly you're better off going to a pro outfit for installation, in his install he had to use pros for certain things.

 

[LuckyBenski]

I've worked with sustainable energy kit a reasonable amount in the past and feel confident I could handle all the construction/electrics bar the fact it's at height on a roof.

I costed up my own small-medium install and it came pretty close to the quote I had from a Solar Together group buy scheme. 8x5m metre flat roof, so I think it was 9x panels for 3.2kW. Once you look for quality inverters and fixings etc, it's not cheap. Plus you can't get the VAT discount if you DIY, but professionals can (assuming that scheme is still on).

Battery added another 3k to the quote and same if I sourced it myself.

IMO what swung it, was that for the price difference I would a) do zero labour and b) not work at height, which I just don't want to do. So basically I would consider the factors like physical effort, tools, time, etc. If you're confident you could physically get all the frames and panels mounted and cabled up properly - then consider saving cash on parts. I'm an electronic engineer but I still liked the idea of a warranty and professional sign off.

Full disclosure, I can't afford the 6k this year regardless so put it on ice

 

[thezappa]

I would have thought you will need to get the work signed off as well by an installer that can issue an MCS certificate. If down the line you sell the property it won’t count towards the EPC, although that may not be a concern.

 

[HungryHippos]

Yes you do if you want an mcs cert, the video above he had the pro installer/electrician come out and wire it all up so he could get the mcs cert, effectively he did the labouring job of putting stuff in place for wire up.

 

[xtremedetailz]

Thanks guys for the links etc.

I have a brother that is very hands on so when it comes to fitting the panels on the roof i would just get scaffolding so he is ok to work at roof height.

I will get hold of an electrician to do the final connection to the grid etc but for the panels and other bits that need doing im pretty sure between me and my brother we could do it.

Thats why i asked for help on here as £12,500 for a 5.6k 14 panel system with a 5k battery just seems really expensive and like i said im not shy about doing things myself or at least trying.

Besides i assume its all self explanatory to connect to the different things in the system.

 

[Ron-ski]

Its not really self explanatory, but a lot depends on how you go about it. I'm building my own battery which further complicates things, it may be easier to use ready made batteries, but that may have complications I'm unaware of. Of course you could just buy a package such as Givenery inverter and battery, which would be the simplest way to do it, but they are almost impossible to get hold of at the moment.

Here's some forums that I've found very useful.

DIY Solar Power Forum

Love building DIY solar electric projects? Come hang out :D

diysolarforum.com

BuildHub.org.uk

UK Self Build forum and web community with blogs and advice about building, extending or renovating your home along with DIY & energy efficiency discussion

forum.buildhub.org.uk

Solar PV Forum

Photovoltaic / Solar Panels Forum. Questions and Answers relating to Solar PV, Photovoltaic & Green Energy in this forum, including feed-in tariffs, inverters, panels, calculations, schematics, installation, maintenance & fault finding.

electricianforum.co.uk

Solar Systems - camelot-forum.co.uk

And an interesting off grid build https://www.youtube.com/c/OffGridGarageAustralia/videos

 

[xtremedetailz]

Its not really self explanatory, but a lot depends on how you go about it. I'm building my own battery which further complicates things, it may be easier to use ready made batteries, but that may have complications I'm unaware of. Of course you could just buy a package such as Givenery inverter and battery, which would be the simplest way to do it, but they are almost impossible to get hold of at the moment.

Here's some forums that I've found very useful.

DIY Solar Power Forum

Love building DIY solar electric projects? Come hang out :D

diysolarforum.com

BuildHub.org.uk

UK Self Build forum and web community with blogs and advice about building, extending or renovating your home along with DIY & energy efficiency discussion

forum.buildhub.org.uk

Solar PV Forum

Photovoltaic / Solar Panels Forum. Questions and Answers relating to Solar PV, Photovoltaic & Green Energy in this forum, including feed-in tariffs, inverters, panels, calculations, schematics, installation, maintenance & fault finding.

electricianforum.co.uk

Solar Systems - camelot-forum.co.uk

And an interesting off grid build https://www.youtube.com/c/OffGridGarageAustralia/videos

What would you say are the best panels, best inverter etc ?

 

[Ron-ski]

I've absolutely no idea, what the best is depends on your aims, the space you have available for both the panels and the battery/batteries and inverter, and finally the size of your wallet, oh and what is actually available to buy.

I've gone with Victron because it's what I've seen used in YouTube videos, I like the user interface, its very versatile, they have a very good reputation, but it is expensive.

As for panels, mono panels are better, half cut will cope with shading better, if there is no shading then its easier, if you have shading you may need optimisers otherwise shading on one panel will drag the rest in that string down. I really should have optimisers, but for now I've gone without.

I was rather limited on panel choice, and had to use 1722 x 1134 or very close to that due to the size of my roof.

Designing a system is really involved, look at what quotes you've had that will give you a good idea to start with.

 

[xtremedetailz]

Yeah I got quoted on 14 x 400w panels to what brand I do not know, a 3.6kw hybrid bi-directional sunsynk inverter and a solar 5kw battery. I’m pretty sure there was optimisers on just 1 or 2 of the panels due to chimney shading.

I’m just after the best for my money and £12.5k seems expensive for a brand I’ve never heard of and only 5.6k maximum output.

 

[LuckyBenski]

So where do I start, I’d love someone to spec me system and a full breakdown on what I’d need to buy.

I fear this may be a circular conversation so I'll say it as others have above but more clearly: You won't be doing a self install unless you learn at least a little bit about the technicalities, in order to select parts suitable for your own property. It's not something that works off the peg.

 

[xtremedetailz]

I fear this may be a circular conversation so I'll say it as others have above but more clearly: You won't be doing a self install unless you learn at least a little bit about the technicalities, in order to select parts suitable for your own property. It's not something that works off the peg.

From looking on youtube it seems rather simple... panels, inverter and then battery if you require.

Like i said my brother can fit the panels etc but i would get a qualified electrician to install the inverter.

What technicalities are you referring to ?

The system i have been quoted is SunSynk and im asking is there better for the money than a brand ive never heard of.

I do appreciate everyones help

 

[LuckyBenski]

From looking on youtube it seems rather simple... panels, inverter and then battery if you require.

Like i said my brother can fit the panels etc but i would get a qualified electrician to install the inverter.

What technicalities are you referring to ?

The system i have been quoted is SunSynk and im asking is there better for the money than a brand ive never heard of.

I do appreciate everyones help

This is what I'm saying, the install is the easy bit. Speccing up the right kit for your needs and making sure it works together, is good brand etc, that's what takes (a bit of) learning

 

[Ron-ski]

From looking on youtube it seems rather simple... panels, inverter and then battery if you require.

Like i said my brother can fit the panels etc but i would get a qualified electrician to install the inverter.

What technicalities are you referring to ?

The system i have been quoted is SunSynk and im asking is there better for the money than a brand ive never heard of.

I do appreciate everyones help

YouTube always makes it look easy, its not, there is an awful lot they don't show you, and they often do it incorrectly, it may work, but its not done properly which could lead to problems.

LiFoPO4 can discharge up to 20,000 amps, use the wrong fuse and that amount of power can arc across a blown fuse, use the wrong MCB, or wire it the incorrect way it can actually catch fire if it trips.

If you're going to do your own install then you either need to buy a ready made package, or read and learn. Just go and read some of those forums linked to above, you'll then learn what makes a system, but there is also a lot of misinformation out there.

What are your goals?

1. Just solar and a battery - stops working in a power cut.
2. Solar, battery and critical loads - only critical loads circuit stays on in a power cut.
3. Whole house back up - stays on in the event of a power cut but must be isolated from the grid, and you have to watch your load or the inverter will trip.

PS. In the above list 1 is the simplest, and 3 is the most complicated.