This is a question I have also. Solar inverter up on the top floor, fuse board down on the bottom. Not sure if it needs to go with the current inverter or close to the power in / fuseboard.
Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?
- Thread starter GinG
- Start date
This is a question I have also. Solar inverter up on the top floor, fuse board down on the bottom. Not sure if it needs to go with the current inverter or close to the power in / fuseboard.
Soldato
GivEnergy uses a wireless one as an option, all my kit is close together though so makes no odds for me.
What my 2kW solar generated in 9 months 
Tempted to see if it's worth adding /replacing a panel or two for higher output. I know it would invalidate my FIT but if i'm getting a battery I may need more than a 2kW system to make the most out of the sun. Existing inverter is good up to 2.4kW but sure it never gets pressed that hard.
Tempted to see if it's worth adding /replacing a panel or two for higher output. I know it would invalidate my FIT but if i'm getting a battery I may need more than a 2kW system to make the most out of the sun. Existing inverter is good up to 2.4kW but sure it never gets pressed that hard.
Last edited:
Did you get a chance to take any photos of your battery/install in the end? Going to try to size up if I can get my batteries in the understairs cupboard rather than outside, will save on cabling and mean don't have to trunk some cables through the conservatory.
Soldato
No not yet, the entire garage is still filled with crap, and I hope it gets moved soon as I need to get the inverter swapped out. Trades people cancelling and re-organising is making my life a difficult, first world problems but I'd also like to get my mountain bike out, and I've missed most of the nice weather now.
I could do with a new garage door as well, as mine is an old up-and-over jobbie, and it is beyond poop, but it is been on the house since new.
Soldato
I'm not joking it is literally packed floor to ceiling, its a death trap trying to get in and out of it, and it looks like I am not going to b getting my work done now until May, and my new inverter might need to be put in before then. I hope we have some good weather, if not I am going to have to hire a storage unit, and a van and move everything for a couple of months.
Question again - Givenergy inverters.
You have the AC inverter (just takes from AC to charge battery)
You have the Hybrid inverter (takes from both battery and solar PV)
I already have an inverter installed as part of my 2kW solar install but it only goes up to 2.4kW. If I need an inverter anyway with GivEnergy am I best off getting a Hybrid one up to 5kw so that if I upgrade my panels in the future I have a lot more headroom? Even though this may be capped at 3.6kW so permission from distributor not needed? Especially as the cost difference between an AC inverter (3kW)a and Hybrid 5kW is about £300 - although I admit more labour would be be required.
Or am I getting the wrong end of the stick?
You have the AC inverter (just takes from AC to charge battery)
You have the Hybrid inverter (takes from both battery and solar PV)
I already have an inverter installed as part of my 2kW solar install but it only goes up to 2.4kW. If I need an inverter anyway with GivEnergy am I best off getting a Hybrid one up to 5kw so that if I upgrade my panels in the future I have a lot more headroom? Even though this may be capped at 3.6kW so permission from distributor not needed? Especially as the cost difference between an AC inverter (3kW)a and Hybrid 5kW is about £300 - although I admit more labour would be be required.
Or am I getting the wrong end of the stick?
Soldato
You could upgrade your inverter, that is always a sensible option if you going to upgrade the panel in future and buying a battery anyhow.
I think so, may as well upgrade a few key components now rather than more work later. My inverter is 2.4kWh max atm which is a bit low, as is my whole setup (2Kw). Could be an easy upgrade in the future as long as the inverter has the capability.
Soldato
Yep, might be worth doing the 5kW option, even if it means having a G99 done for the DNO. Do you have plenty of spare space for more panels?
No, for me it would eventually be a swap out. Roof is pretty rammed (my 8 panels in middle)
Some general quotes from a tesla motor club forum:
---------------
For reference I’ve recently had:
20 x 330 Black Panels (with in roof trays)
1 x GivEnergy 5kWh Hybrid Inverter
2. GivEnergy 8.2kWh batteries
Total installed price £12,917
---------------
Mine was for 12 x 400w panels, flat roof supports, 5kW inverter and 2 x 8.2kW batteries,
£11.5k
---------------
---------------
For reference I’ve recently had:
20 x 330 Black Panels (with in roof trays)
1 x GivEnergy 5kWh Hybrid Inverter
2. GivEnergy 8.2kWh batteries
Total installed price £12,917
---------------
Mine was for 12 x 400w panels, flat roof supports, 5kW inverter and 2 x 8.2kW batteries,
£11.5k
---------------
Is that measuring for the presumably larger 9kW batteries when they are finally available later this year?
No sizes yet anywhere but there is plenty for the 8.2s.
Any ideas on the providers?
@Kill_Phil just go round and start getting quotes, you'll find some are expensive and some are cheaper. No point trying to get recommendations iwth no idea of your location.
Soldato
We had our previous install done by https://www.tlgec.co.uk/ back December 2015, just spoken to them, and they said about 4 weeks to get back to us, and 7 to 8 months install time 
I'm pretty sure the electrician (https://www.totalelec.co.uk/) we use at work is already an approved Givenery installer - been on holiday this week, so will check on Monday and if so speak to them. This may be the preferred option, as I can do all of the install work myself apart from the electrical work, which will hopefully speed up the install and keep costs down.
I'd ideally want a system that can pretty much work out for itself when to charge from the grid on cheap off peak electricity, so I think that limits us to Tesla or the Givenery, are there any others, which are straightforward?
Can anyone recommend any other firms in the Kent/south east area (we're in Thanet) please?
I'm pretty sure the electrician (https://www.totalelec.co.uk/) we use at work is already an approved Givenery installer - been on holiday this week, so will check on Monday and if so speak to them. This may be the preferred option, as I can do all of the install work myself apart from the electrical work, which will hopefully speed up the install and keep costs down.
I'd ideally want a system that can pretty much work out for itself when to charge from the grid on cheap off peak electricity, so I think that limits us to Tesla or the Givenery, are there any others, which are straightforward?
Can anyone recommend any other firms in the Kent/south east area (we're in Thanet) please?
Soldato
Givenergy list a 9.5kWh battery on their website, and the dimensions are in the data sheet 800 x 223 x 480 (HxDxW)
That bottom quote was my best original, I've upped it to 18 panels and 2 gen2 inverters, 2 9.5kW batteries and optimisers and just placed the order.