Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

Vaddoc · 21 Oct 2022 at 17:21

This is what I cannot understand. I cannot see the point of having panels in North facing roofs.
There are couple of more bits of unshaded roof, one SE and the other SW that I am sure can accommodate 7 more panels. The main SE roof I am sure can take more than 9. That was my initial thinking.
I ve actually spoke with the guys, no mistake, they are adamant this is the best solution. Easy 14K

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 21 Oct 2022 at 17:23

Vaddoc said:
This is what I cannot understand. I cannot see the point of having panels in North facing roofs.
There are couple of more bits of unshaded roof, one SE and the other SW that I am sure can accommodate 7 more panels. The main SE roof I am sure can take more than 9. That was my initial thinking.
I ve actually spoke with the guys, no mistake, they are adamant this is the best solution. Easy 14K

Do you want to say the company name?

I am semi near you and my installers will cover your area as well.
Mine isnt installed yet so I am not vouching just they were very good in regards advice and discussion

gpuerrilla · 21 Oct 2022 at 17:24

If I could see your roof I could comment. As higher wattage panels are available thus reducing roof space needed, your best off getting as many on the south(ish) facing roofs and a battery to accommodate that. From the prices some have paid (very reasonable) on here its possible to get the figure down by some margin.

Vaddoc · 21 Oct 2022 at 17:44

I have contacted a number of installers
Some replied but never bothered to send a quote
Some replied they cannot send a quote
Two came, spend an hour measuring but never send a quote
A few send quotes for 10 pannels and 5kwh batteries as high as 17.6K!

It is a jungle out there and probably the wrong time to get panels.
Very grateful for your responses, I tried to insert a photo of my rather complex roof but cannot make it work.

HungryHippos · 21 Oct 2022 at 17:46

Put the photo on imgur.com, when it's uploaded right click open in new window. Copy the url to the full file that way.

Vaddoc · 21 Oct 2022 at 17:49

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
Do you want to say the company name?

I am semi near you and my installers will cover your area as well.
Mine isnt installed yet so I am not vouching just they were very good in regards advice and discussion

It's a Bedford based company...
Yes, any recommendation of anyone reasonable would be most welcome

Vaddoc · 21 Oct 2022 at 17:53

Got it! The garage on the right is mine as well, has power supply with armoured cable and a consumer unit and the roof can easily take 4 panels

gpuerrilla · 21 Oct 2022 at 18:06

Its very blocky can you draw round the garage? Also which direction is south.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 21 Oct 2022 at 18:12

Sent you details @Vaddoc

Vaddoc · 21 Oct 2022 at 18:12

Apologies, this should be better

ci_newman · 21 Oct 2022 at 18:43

Freefaller said:
Had a few problems with the dongle and my wifi at home - but despite the grey-ish day today the advantages of having a lot of panels has its benefits.

I think with the scrapping of the price cap next year the ROI will increase so I think despite prices being high it's a good time to invest in solar and battery IMO.

As an aside, how noisy are the inverters? Do they give off any audible hums or buzzes, or are they completely silent?

gpuerrilla · 21 Oct 2022 at 18:46

@Vaddoc

And put them all over garage.

Vaddoc · 21 Oct 2022 at 19:13

gpuerrilla said:
@Vaddoc

And put them all over garage.

Now this is interesting.
Both the small North East roof and the North west garage roof are always in the shade. Are panels there going to produce any meaningful energy?

gpuerrilla · 21 Oct 2022 at 19:23

SO when the sun rises in the East they are in shade? The small roof with E+SW should be fine, although if they are shaded by what? My east facing panels can generate from as early as 630am

Vaddoc · 21 Oct 2022 at 19:37

Well, I never really focused on the North roofs as I thought they were out of the question for panels. I think the NE roof in the main house has a bit of sun early in the day but very quickly goes in the shade, the roof angle is about 45 degrees. The garage roof again has a reasonably steep angle so pretty much always is in the shade. I doubt they will produce enough energy to justify the cost and hassle. Do panels produce reasonable energy even if in the shade and only a short time in direct sunlight?

I hope I can get 17-18 panels in the south facing roofs, this would be a 7KWH system which maybe would just about cover house + a bit of electric car charging.

gpuerrilla · 21 Oct 2022 at 19:41

What time of day was that aerial shot taken on google maps, and rough time of year would be helpful. I take your word that they get shaded but sometimes that doesnt mean they are wasted especially if you have awkward shaped or small spaced roofs.

Freefaller · 21 Oct 2022 at 20:03

ci_newman said:
As an aside, how noisy are the inverters? Do they give off any audible hums or buzzes, or are they completely silent?

I genuinely can't hear them. But I have hearing loss/ tinnitus issues. However my wife says she can't hear anything. Put it this way I can just about hear the fridge but haven't heard a peep from either inverter so far.

ci_newman · 21 Oct 2022 at 21:42

Freefaller said:
I genuinely can't hear them. But I have hearing loss/ tinnitus issues. However my wife says she can't hear anything. Put it this way I can just about hear the fridge but haven't heard a peep from either inverter so far.

My understairs cupboard looks identical to yours. I had discounted it as its attached to the living room, but in hindsight its probably an excellent choice if the kit is silent. I'd need to find a new home for all the crap in there though

Freefaller · 21 Oct 2022 at 22:35

ci_newman said:
My understairs cupboard looks identical to yours. I had discounted it as its attached to the living room, but in hindsight its probably an excellent choice if the kit is silent. I'd need to find a new home for all the crap in there though

It's an "open" cupboard/ alcove. We actually have the fridge near it hence my comment. That said as and when we do the extension that will become the Comms cabinet with a bit of ventilation etc.... When the inverter is on it gets warm but not roasting.

We had shelving in there... I now open cupboards and find stuff that my wife has decided to squirrel away following the decimation of the shelves!

SoliD · 22 Oct 2022 at 09:18

Givenergy app seems to have had an update to show current cost per hour when drawing from the grid, although csnt see where its taking the p/kwh from as my smart meter isn't enabled for that and can't find any setting in the dashboard or app.