Soldato
Its also for me to know if they are worth it also.
Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?
- Thread starter GinG
- Start date
If that’s the case, just get a few desktop quotes done, that will give you a rough idea pending any final survey.
Soldato
I did….i came downstairs, told the mrs i was installing solar as its the right thing to do to help the planet. She said, ok
job done
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Man of Honour
It was my decision ultimately as I pay for mainly everything. Also I manage the home. However, it's also something that is important to us to reduce our carbon footprint.
Soldato
My Mrs always say I will do what I want anyway so why bother asking her, but I do ask. Its me that does the work, and me that pays for the bulk of it anyway. Its always a good idea to discuss expensive purchases, especially the ones you can't smuggle in without being noticed
Man of Honour
My Mrs always say I will do what I want anyway so why bother asking her, but I do ask. Its me that does the work, and me that pays for the bulk of it anyway. Its always a good idea to discuss expensive purchases, especially the ones you can't smuggle in without being noticed
I mean of course we discussed it first. However she understands the benefits and understands that it's the right thing to do. Ultimately I saved up for it and paid for it. The pros of it were clear it benefits everyone really.
Soldato
At the end of the day, you all did your due diligence and looked at the numbers and asked questions like I did before jumping on it.
That's what I am doing lol
That's what I am doing lol
Man of Honour
You should always evaluate things - but a lot of us got it before the prices went too nuts.
Even in the UK panels make a lot of sense for reducing your carbon footprint, your dependence on the grid. The "bonus" is earning some money after reducing your actual bills.
Just checked my numbers and it's the other way round, 4 months of the year I've paid for electricity, the rest of the year I'm in profit. Even through the worst months still saving a few pounds a day from the combination of charging the battery cheaply overnight and what solar is available. This month, after gas and standing charges I reckon I'm going to be somewhere between £120 and £150 in profit. Time to payback the system looks like it may be under 6 years (though that may change if energy prices drop, though suspect long term they will always head upwards).
I work from home with a couple of PCs and a NAS and run a fairly hefty home cinema system for all my TV viewing in an evening (including a projector and 9.1.2, or possibly 7.1.4, I'm never quite sure where the front heights fit in the numbering) and usage is around 10KWh per day on average (varying between 8-12 generally).
Soldato
Yea exactly.
The price is crazy for sure. My work mate spent over 12k installing them a few months back
Soldato
I average between 8 to 10 kW at the moment but I don't have my surround sound system setup at the moment (my living room is under construction and looks more like a B and Q store with all my tools lol)
Soldato
I spent around £13.5k, the price is semi irrelevant since within reason the more you pay the more you get.
Including the benefit from savings sessions I saved just over £1k in 6 months.
Although I would say due to the length of likely return, 6-10 years is likely, you kind of have to take a leap in the dark. No one can accurately predict energy costs over that timescale.
The best return is IMO knowing your doing your part in regards reducing carbon used for generation.
They will pay back eventually but thats so variable, based on cost, energy unit costs, special tariffs etc dont go too hard on trying to decide if its financially worthwhile.
Soldato
Why are costs so high?
Is it to entice the majority to keep on paying to the energy providers pockets rather then generating most of our own enegery ourselves?
Soldato
Its a few things
Panels themselves are relatively cheap, but they have quite a high install cost, which is why most of us say within reason get as many as you can.
Mine was roughly 50/50 between panels install, 14 panels, 5.6kw potential and batteries to store excess and store cheap units in the winter.
The batteries remain quite expensive.
Its got nothing to do with energy providers.
Right now due to demand installers are doing really well. As ever, supply and demand.
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Soldato
The cost of electricity jumped. So the potential 'savings' you can make from solar also jumped. So - installers can make bigger profits.
The actual components aren't that much different in price - although people do expect a lot more from their systems than was typically available a few years ago.
The actual components aren't that much different in price - although people do expect a lot more from their systems than was typically available a few years ago.
Soldato
I cant remember were the post is now, so thought this may be the best place.
Those that have added fans to help dissipate heat from their inverter, what fans have you used, are they on a timer switch or are they just running all the time??
I have power available in the attic space were the inverter is placed and think adding a USB Computer type fan on a timer may help reduce heat and increase production a little, as the inverter wont be getting so hot
Those that have added fans to help dissipate heat from their inverter, what fans have you used, are they on a timer switch or are they just running all the time??
I have power available in the attic space were the inverter is placed and think adding a USB Computer type fan on a timer may help reduce heat and increase production a little, as the inverter wont be getting so hot
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Associate
Others have used these, some have thermostatic control https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=cooling+fan+aquarium&crid=39Y4ZPFKKL79B
Soldato
will take a look....
Soldato
I've just used an old 80mm pc fan, connected to a usb adapter on a spare smart plug that's set on a routine to turn on when it's usually working hardest. I 3d printed a mount that holds it just underneath the inverter.
It's only a gentle breeze - but seeing as the inverter is designed to run passive - shouldn't need much.
It's only a gentle breeze - but seeing as the inverter is designed to run passive - shouldn't need much.
Soldato
do you think its helped with production or not?? or are you just using it to keep the inverter cool