Man of Honour
Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?
- Thread starter GinG
- Start date
That’s great info, thanks! A Gen 2 hybrid inverter is roughly £1500 so it’s probably not worth installing a Gen 1 now only to switch it out with a Gen 2 very soon afterwards.
My SMETS1 meter hasn’t been updated by the DCC yet so I’m not in a massive rush to buy a system, but at the same time it’s a gamble as to whether prices will rise and stock levels will get worse.
Associate
Yeah agree - unless your supplier will do this (quite a few are given the delays) - would definitely wait for a Gen 2. My installer has fitted gen 1 and I'll get 2 x Gen 2 fitted in End Jan/Feb. Supply has been very strained, but I do think there's a large shipment arriving in Jan, hence relatively confident supplies will improve somewhat....! (famous last words...!)
And it is quicker to respond to house demands, meaning less peak energy pulled from the Grid.
I've asked Eco Renewables if I could place the order now, but wait for the Gen 2 inverter to come into stock. Waiting to hear back from them.
Since I don't have a "smart" meter, and the PV generation is so poor at the moment, there isn't a massive rush to get it all installed, but I'd rather have the correct system when it is.
Kinda annoyed that it looks like we can only have 12 panels even though our roof is fairly massive. We have 3 triangular dormers at the front of the house (which are purely for aesthetics) that are getting in the way.
Since I don't have a "smart" meter, and the PV generation is so poor at the moment, there isn't a massive rush to get it all installed, but I'd rather have the correct system when it is.
Kinda annoyed that it looks like we can only have 12 panels even though our roof is fairly massive. We have 3 triangular dormers at the front of the house (which are purely for aesthetics) that are getting in the way.
Soldato
Large hammer
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Soldato
Ive been teaching my self power Bi today - using my solar data to create some nice charts.....basically money saved, average exported, panel efficiency etc etc
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PRaying for a dead inverter right now
Associate
Soldato
Could be waiting a while, guess your main issue is you can't charge for cheap so expensive electric until it's done?
At least it failed without setting fire to your house. I could really do with getting some kind of fire extinguisher for the various electronic things I have kicking about. Fire risk is low but if it burst into flames I'd have no way of stopping it
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Soldato
G
Mine is also faulty, but not burned. Not getting another one fitted, just keeping the new one in its box to be sold with the battery, and replaced with my new Victron setup in the spring. Leaving it in place until the new one arrives though so I can still use my system.
Mine is also faulty, but not burned. Not getting another one fitted, just keeping the new one in its box to be sold with the battery, and replaced with my new Victron setup in the spring. Leaving it in place until the new one arrives though so I can still use my system.
Could be waiting a while, guess your main issue is you can't charge for cheap so expensive electric until it's done?
At least it failed without setting fire to your house. I could really do with getting some kind of fire extinguisher for the various electronic things I have kicking about. Fire risk is low but if it burst into flames I'd have no way of stopping it
Still on my old rates fixed until next year so not charging overnight currently.
@Troop 5months...
Will just levae them to sort, i'm not missing out on huge amounts of generation or cost implications currently, so long as it's done early in the new year will be fine, providing it's Gen2
Soldato
OOof far from ideal, assuming you have batteries as well SoliD
I have decided my batteries are too cold.
Some odd behaviour but seems to stack up with the coldest weather so I am fairly sure its the BMS doing something
Eg last few nights its cut off discharging and started trickle charging just before midnight. Then it also ramps up slower when charging meaning the last two nights did not achieve full charge.
When on install it was warmer they would ramp up quite quickly to charge at over 5kw and be done within nigh on 2 hours in the go window.
I was planning to make a simple slightly insulated cover for the system anyway to keep direct sun off in the summer, so think I need to bring that forwards.
Thinking some nice wool insulation with a small gap at the bottom and top for convection. Summer I would try with and without insulation to see if the battery temp was higher or lower.
One of the negatives of being outside rather than inside.
I have decided my batteries are too cold.
Some odd behaviour but seems to stack up with the coldest weather so I am fairly sure its the BMS doing something
Eg last few nights its cut off discharging and started trickle charging just before midnight. Then it also ramps up slower when charging meaning the last two nights did not achieve full charge.
When on install it was warmer they would ramp up quite quickly to charge at over 5kw and be done within nigh on 2 hours in the go window.
I was planning to make a simple slightly insulated cover for the system anyway to keep direct sun off in the summer, so think I need to bring that forwards.
Thinking some nice wool insulation with a small gap at the bottom and top for convection. Summer I would try with and without insulation to see if the battery temp was higher or lower.
One of the negatives of being outside rather than inside.
Soldato
What make? Sorry if you posted above already.
Associate
Could be waiting a while, guess your main issue is you can't charge for cheap so expensive electric until it's done?
At least it failed without setting fire to your house. I could really do with getting some kind of fire extinguisher for the various electronic things I have kicking about. Fire risk is low but if it burst into flames I'd have no way of stopping it
I have a couple of these, best price I could find at the time and came next day.
Needed some reassurance if it went **** up when building my batteries in the house.
PREMIUM REFURB 2KG CO2 FIRE EXTINGUISHER, FULL, HORN & BRACKET,FREE DELIVERY! | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for PREMIUM REFURB 2KG CO2 FIRE EXTINGUISHER, FULL, HORN & BRACKET,FREE DELIVERY! at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk
Soldato
I have a couple of these, best price I could find at the time and came next day.
Needed some reassurance if it went **** up when building my batteries in the house.
PREMIUM REFURB 2KG CO2 FIRE EXTINGUISHER, FULL, HORN & BRACKET,FREE DELIVERY! | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for PREMIUM REFURB 2KG CO2 FIRE EXTINGUISHER, FULL, HORN & BRACKET,FREE DELIVERY! at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.www.ebay.co.uk
My only concern is do these have a shelf life? like having to replace them every now and then.
I mean if my house burns down I have insurance, and an awesome chance to get a new house built!
Associate
Still on my old rates fixed until next year so not charging overnight currently.
@Troop 5months...
Will just levae them to sort, i'm not missing out on huge amounts of generation or cost implications currently, so long as it's done early in the new year will be fine, providing it's Gen2
Best time of year for it to go down really, you're not missing much solar until at least Feb.
Hope you get a replacement fitted in good time.
Givenergy, guy said his first failure logged not OOTB was this morning elsewhere.
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