Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

Ron-ski said:
That's more like it, is your front roof south facing as per the picture you posted.

If you wanted more panels it might be worth seeing what they'd charge for doing in roof on the lower section.
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Yep, front roof is facing 195º so pretty ideal for solar. I had considered getting more for the front bit too, but I mostly agree with a previous poster that it will look very "obvious" every time we park or walk to the front door. Using just the main roof feels a bit less imposing.
 
Yes, an ‘in roof’ install on the front would be less imposing. In roof is where the panels replace the tiles, it’s more expensive to retrofit which is why most don’t go for it when generally, you can’t actually see the main roof from within your own property.
 
I've received a first draft of my renovation plans and am looking at how many panels I can squeeze in. A big proportion of the roof will be new (possibly all of it if I decide to bite the bullet and replace the existing), so I'm looking at in-roof panels.

In general, panels seem to vary between 1.6-2.1m in length. If going for an in-roof solution, is there a more 'standard' size? And do you still need to leave 300mm around all the edges, or can you get away with less as there's not the risk of the wind getting underneath?

Due to the roof style, I'm likely going to have lots of 'bitty' roofs where can I only fit 1-3 panels per face, a mix of orientations, etc. Just wondering if there's any any other things to take into account. E.g. perhaps this means I'm forced to go down the microinverter route, or maybe it's not worth bothering when you've got less than 3 panels per roof.
 
The gap seems to vary from installer to installer, I think there is a guideline, but again depending on where you look it varies, not sure if in roof makes any difference. People presume it's the wind getting underneath, but it's also negative pressure pulling the panels upwards. I think as long as the calculations cover it, it's fine. In my experience there is no plan for the roof hooks and rails, and they just whack them on on the day, usually 1200 apart which is the maximum allowed in general IIRC, I went closer with mine though. Obviously in roof has trays, so these may end up more securely fitted, I think the trays fit different size panels, you just overlap them to suit.
 
5.46kW Solar PV: 12 x 455W Panel 'AIKO Neostar + Mesh' System + 5.18kW FOX ESS - Hybrid Battery
PV Installation for a total cost of: £7,095.00 Inclusive of VAT

Given my 6 panel system was installed at a "cost" of £7.5k with no battery and half the amount of 405w panels, though that sounded OK. Also said they could move the old system to my garage roof...

What do we think?

James
 
SeatIbiza said:
Yes all in price there (I've emailed to check!). Not sure if that includes moving the old stuff to my other roof, or if that will be a bit extra but he said it wouldn't take them long to do....
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Be sure to check on the inverter size and make sure they aren't doing the usual and just putting in a 3.68kW one. You'll want a 5kW inverter and G99 doing really. The battery will be a Fox EP5 and it can discharge at 5kW, so it would be silly not too.
 
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