Ronski's Solar & battery DIY build with whole house backup

Yes, that's the max, only one roof left and that's north east, so not worth the cost, or work involved.
 
They're alright if you've got plenty of open space, but we've not got that, and have neighbours, so just not practical.

Now if perovskite solar panels come out in a few years I may be tempted to change some panels, as that would be a big jump in power generation, but there are complications with doing that, with regards to the solar charge controllers, inverter size, even cabling.

If I'm thinking correctly, then if you have a 20% efficient panel and you increased that to 30%, then that's a 50% increase in power for a panel of the same physical size.
 
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Surprisingly it wasn't raining today apart from early morning, so this afternoon I started fitting the bird mesh.

In the picture below I'm using Enviroguard 30mm SolarGuard Clear Speed Clips, these clip onto the edge of the panel that doesn't have lip underneath.

For the sides with the lip, I'll be using Enviroguard Budget Solar Guard Clip, both from City Plumbing.

For the actual bird mesh, its simply plastic fencing, with a 5mm square hole, I bought a huge roll years ago when I did the Solaredge system.

The bottom edge is tucked under the tiles.

2024-09-22-Bird-mesh.jpg


2024-09-22-Fine-mesh-fencing-bird-mesh.jpg
 
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Anybody fancy working at height?

I've secured all the ladders with ratchet straps.

This was to fit the bird netting to the rear edge of the panels, bit tricky as I had to work one handed whilst hanging on with the other!

2024-09-29-Ladder-to-apex-of-scaffold.jpg


View from the top of the ladder.

2024-09-29-Bird-netting-top-of-panels.jpg


Rear edge, this is what I had to fit from the ladder.

2024-09-29-Bird-netting-rear-edge.jpg


Netting up the centre, birds have already messed on the panels - the end of the aerial is just above the panels.

2029-09-29-Bird-netting-middle.jpg


And the front panels, luckily I was able to reach to put this on, no need for the ladder up the front.

2029-09-29-Bird-netting-front-panels.jpg


Just need to get the scaffolding taken down now.
 
Ron-ski said:
Anybody fancy working at height?
Click to expand...

That's not working at height :D

Maybe I have become insensitive to height after my childhood where my father would send me (at 14) up ladders he wouldn't go up with steps tied to the top to get to paint the fascia and soffits on his three story house gable. I worked on single pole radio masts over 125m and various commercial buildings when working for him as well (I changed careers ASAP!)
 
I was similar as a youngster, we lived in a very large house (52 rooms - sold in 1986 for just £90k!!!), but we would often go up ladders and help him paint it, or even on the roof and that was 3 story's. I bought a house in the early 90's, and used his tripple extension ladder, that was three story's as well, got half way up and the wooden ladder was almost vertical!!! I came down, my younger brother went up instead.

Heights never bothered me, although I've never climbed a 125m radio mast, that might well do!
 
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What does the wife think of your new drip feed to anyone using the patio doors after rain Ron ? Mine would tell me that's a panel or 3 too far ;)
 
She took a bit of convincing, I said it will also help keep the bird muck off the bi-folds :cry:
 
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I'll be honest i'm not convinced with wall mounted ones. Theres a house near my parents with none on the roof, but the walls are covered. I'd imagine its planning related.



The sad thing is the rear roof is pretty much due south!
 
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Gav_r26 said:
I'll be honest i'm not convinced with wall mounted ones. Theres a house near my parents with none on the roof, but the walls are covered. I'd imagine its planning related.


The sad thing is the rear roof is pretty much due south!
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It’ll be interesting when new technology comes along with solar built into render or tile/cladding. I think that would look a lot better.
 
Gav_r26 said:
I'll be honest i'm not convinced with wall mounted ones. Theres a house near my parents with none on the roof, but the walls are covered. I'd imagine its planning related
The sad thing is the rear roof is pretty much due south!
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Would be surprised if planning related, the permitted dev for solar are quite permissive and would likely have a high failure rate of making an objection.
 
Gav_r26 said:
I'll be honest i'm not convinced with wall mounted ones. Theres a house near my parents with none on the roof, but the walls are covered. I'd imagine its planning related.



The sad thing is the rear roof is pretty much due south!
Click to expand...
That's incredible. Like a "when you order your X from temu" meme.
 
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