Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?
- Thread starter GinG
- Start date
Anyone built their own off grid battery setup? Was looking into it to supplement my solar as an AC coupled system is quite expensive and not sure if it would pay for itself even if I get hold off a decent one.
Was looking at getting some 12v 200ah (2.4kWh if my calcs are correct) batteries, a suitably sized inverter and a charge controller plus any associated cabling. Going by my research so far this looks like I could use this in the evenings to power the kit in my room where my PC's are and then charge the batteries during the day when I have excess solar (happy to self monitor that if necessary and turn the charger on when required).
Going to do some more research later but was wondering if anyone here has done such a thing.
Was looking at getting some 12v 200ah (2.4kWh if my calcs are correct) batteries, a suitably sized inverter and a charge controller plus any associated cabling. Going by my research so far this looks like I could use this in the evenings to power the kit in my room where my PC's are and then charge the batteries during the day when I have excess solar (happy to self monitor that if necessary and turn the charger on when required).
Going to do some more research later but was wondering if anyone here has done such a thing.
@OldKitMan
Here you go, everything you need to know. Just soak up the info and be careful building (wear goggles)
Here you go, everything you need to know. Just soak up the info and be careful building (wear goggles)
Did you go-ahead with this @Mr.Cookie? My quote has come through for solar together (central bedfordshire) and I have to decide soon. My quote is £2.5k more than yours for 10 panels but that might be explained by the extra demand.
So is that basically £9k? What is the panel wattage, and battery capacity? You can get a 4kW PV system with a 4.8kWh of batteries for that quite easily.
No I excluded the battery as we're not considering that at the moment as we can't afford it right now
Personal package breakdown
£6,510
Your offer is made up of the following:
Complete solar panel system
£6,510
- Roof survey
- Installation
- 10 panels
- Inverter
- Materials and fittings
- Monitoring tool
- Extended warranties
- Insurance-backed guarantee
FWIW my quote under Solar Together Buckinghamshire was about 60% more than I paid going outside of the scheme. Ensure you get other quotes if you haven’t already.
Exactly what I've been watching
Far better than the crap on TV for sure, he is addictive to watch will loads of hands on testing, good info/insight into building battery banks..
I went to, but due to demand they had exceeded their quota.
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Soldato
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This just popped up on Facebook from Costco, no idea if it's they're well priced or not but thought I'd share in case they were - https://www.costco.co.uk/Home-Improvement/Solar-Panels/c/cos_20.3
Soldato
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Deposit paid. Install should happen in the next month or so.
15x panels
3.6+ inverter
Cabling
Install inc scaffold
2* 5.2kwh wall mount batteries
Disconnect cable in place for 3rd battery (will be floor mounted 9.5kwh)
3* additional panels if they can fit for total 18* panels (£600 extra)
£12379 + circa £3600 + installation for 9.5kwh unit.
Total between £16k and £16.5k inc VAT.
6kwh - 7.2kwh system with 20kwh batteries (which I’ll top up with seasonality using “Go”.)
I’m hoping to be pretty much none reliant once I ditch the gas and go air source.
In the mean time I’m getting an AC unit that can also heat to cover the office during the day so I can leave the house cold until it’s needed.
Battery cycles shouldn’t exceed 180x annually if the maths works out (an approx) so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t last 10-15 years before they need looking at again at which point I’ll just stick £50 a month back during this time and replace as and when.
15x panels
3.6+ inverter
Cabling
Install inc scaffold
2* 5.2kwh wall mount batteries
Disconnect cable in place for 3rd battery (will be floor mounted 9.5kwh)
3* additional panels if they can fit for total 18* panels (£600 extra)
£12379 + circa £3600 + installation for 9.5kwh unit.
Total between £16k and £16.5k inc VAT.
6kwh - 7.2kwh system with 20kwh batteries (which I’ll top up with seasonality using “Go”.)
I’m hoping to be pretty much none reliant once I ditch the gas and go air source.
In the mean time I’m getting an AC unit that can also heat to cover the office during the day so I can leave the house cold until it’s needed.
Battery cycles shouldn’t exceed 180x annually if the maths works out (an approx) so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t last 10-15 years before they need looking at again at which point I’ll just stick £50 a month back during this time and replace as and when.
Soldato
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- 25 Mar 2004
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- 15,991
- Location
- Fareham
3.6kwh inverter only? Isn't that going to clip your panel generation?
@Andrew Moore Not only will it clip what the panels can produce, it will also limit how quickly you can charge the batteries from off peak in the winter - you may not be able to fully charge 20kwh of batteries during the off peak period. You need a bigger inverter which will require a G99 application.
PS. Also check the maximum charge rate of the batteries.
PS. Also check the maximum charge rate of the batteries.
Last edited:
- Joined
- 14 Jun 2004
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- 17,510
- Location
- Newcastle U/T
Aye that inverter looks like it'll be a problem clipping and battery wise.
As above look at a larger one
As above look at a larger one