Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

fullspizz said:
Well, first quote back:

Proposed System Pricing​



Customer Name : Date: January 26, 2023
Customer Address: Project Ref:
Description of GoodsQtyUnit PriceTotal Price
SHARP All Black Solar Panel 410W Per Panel12176.572118.84
Fox Hybrid Inverter with Batteries14038.564038.56
On Roof Mounting System1812.10812.10
Generation Meter, Isolators and all Electric ancillaries1607.42607.42
Description of Services
Design and Installation11,733.101,733.10
Testing and Commissioning1225.00225.00
iBoost1N/AN/A
MCS Registration1266.22266.22
Scaffolding110001000
Technical Survey1F.O.C0.00
SUB TOTAL10,801.24
VAT
TOTAL		0.00
10,801.24

Battery is a 5kw and can also add Iboost for £500
Click to expand...

What panel orientation?
Could be worth adding another 2-4 if you have space. I would within reason get as many panels as you can.

Whats your annual usage on kwh?

Oh and bird netting, consider it
 
Last edited:
Inverter size is 3.7kw (had to google)
Apparently, I don't have the space for any more panels.
I will ask for the quote to include bird netting.

Annual usage is between 4.400 and 4.600kwh
 
In my last house, I had solar panels since 2012. Never had a single issue with birds. Seems to be a very recent obsession / excuse to extort more expense. £100, sure tag it on. £800 - pull the other one.
 
Last edited:
Bug One said:
In my last house, I had solar panels since 2012. Never had a single issue with birds. Seems to be a very recent obsession / excuse to extort more expense.
Click to expand...

It's not as if it's made up, you may be fine if you don't have it done, but if you need it later the extra expense is a pain I think.

If the cost difference is small it's worth adding when the panels go up.

There was a video posted here a while back where someone had pigeons going in and out from under the panels all day. The mess + potential damage to the cabling is always present.
 
Bug One said:
In my last house, I had solar panels since 2012. Never had a single issue with birds. Seems to be a very recent obsession / excuse to extort more expense. £100, sure tag it on. £800 - pull the other one.
Click to expand...
Our panels were installed in December 2015, never had an issues for a couple of years then it started, think we ended up with four pairs of pigeons nesting at once. The constant cooing drove me mad, so I fitted my own netting.

At the time I did speak to my installer and queried why they didn't offer it as an option, they said it never used to be an issue, but they do offer the option now as it seems to have become a major problem, guess the pigeons learned they made a nice dry and warm location to nest.

For what it is many companies charge silly prices, but I'd say it's essential.
 
There are various grades as well.
Mine was around £600 fitted but the kit was around £300 from googling it so I wasn't going to fight that hard about it.

Mine is like a line of thick zip ties in look which fold down over any obstacles.

Expensive yes
**** takingly expensive yes really
Worth it to avoid pigeons, 100%
 
So, further quote back. They can up the panels to 14, but want £900 for the van de valk bird protection stuff!!
The scaffold cost has come down though to £750.
New quote below:-
Customer Name : Date: January 26, 2023
Customer Address: Project Ref:
Description of GoodsQtyUnit PriceTotal Price
SHARP All Black Solar Panel 410W Per Panel14176.572471.98
Fox Hybrid Inverter with 5kw LION battery14048.564048.56
On Roof Mounting System1822.10822.10
Generation Meter, Isolators and all Electric ancillaries1607.42607.42
Description of Services
Design and Installation11,733.101,733.10
Testing and Commissioning1225.00225.00
iBoost1N/AN/A
MCS Registration1266.22266.22
Scaffolding1750750
Technical Survey1F.O.C0.00
SUB TOTAL10,924.38
VAT
TOTAL		0.00
10,924.38
 
Last edited:
Unfortunately there were some unexpected issues with the roof tiles so different mounts needed which means the panels won’t go up until Monday now… but the batteries and inverter all installed and operational.

Tonight I’ve set it to charge from the grid at the night rate and we shall see how it all works out!

neat job by the guy as well… only problem is he’s left a perfect space for a third pack there and I’m currently fighting my need for visual perfection vs spending another 2.5k on a third unit lol.

t39QKgb.jpg
 
Last edited:
Zeeflyboy said:
Unfortunately there were some unexpected issues with the roof tiles so different mounts needed which means the panels won’t go up until Monday now… but the batteries and inverter all installed and operational.

Tonight I’ve set it to charge from the grid at the night rate and we shall see how it all works out!

neat job by the guy as well… only problem is he’s left a perfect space for a third pack there and I’m currently fighting my need for visual perfection vs spending another 2.5k on a third unit lol.

t39QKgb.jpg
Click to expand...

Nice install.








Shame my Photoshop skills are not very good.
 
fullspizz said:
So, further quote back. They can up the panels to 14, but want £900 for the van de valk bird protection stuff!!
The scaffold cost has come down though to £750.
New quote below:-
Customer Name : Date: January 26, 2023
Customer Address: Project Ref:
Description of GoodsQtyUnit PriceTotal Price
SHARP All Black Solar Panel 410W Per Panel14176.572471.98
Fox Hybrid Inverter with 5kw LION battery14048.564048.56
On Roof Mounting System1822.10822.10
Generation Meter, Isolators and all Electric ancillaries1607.42607.42
Description of Services
Design and Installation11,733.101,733.10
Testing and Commissioning1225.00225.00
iBoost1N/AN/A
MCS Registration1266.22266.22
Scaffolding1750750
Technical Survey1F.O.C0.00
SUB TOTAL10,924.38
VAT
TOTAL		0.00
10,924.38
Click to expand...

I think thats what mine is, bird blocker
I think one pack would do 14 panels, I have 14 panels and whilst I didn't watch them specifically I am pretty sure it was one box.

It took them about 30-45 minutes to fit, but that was 3-4 of them as they were finishing off.

I would push them on that.
 
Bug One said:
In my last house, I had solar panels since 2012. Never had a single issue with birds. Seems to be a very recent obsession / excuse to extort more expense. £100, sure tag it on. £800 - pull the other one.
Click to expand...

Same here. Installed in 2011 on mine and my parents and in 2012 on the house I live in now. I think it's made up too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom