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Thank you. Sure what not referral is always welcome.
Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?
- Thread starter GinG
- Start date
I’ve just pulled the trigger on a new install, and already I’m wondering if I should have gone for more battery storage. What are peoples views?
For reference, £9.6k:
16x 380w Canadian Solar Panels
2x 3.6kw Givenergy Inverters
1x 5.2kwh Givenergy battery
We’re on an east facing roof so good for morning power but less later in the day..
For reference, £9.6k:
16x 380w Canadian Solar Panels
2x 3.6kw Givenergy Inverters
1x 5.2kwh Givenergy battery
We’re on an east facing roof so good for morning power but less later in the day..
Associate
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Why 2 invertors? You could have 6kw inverter with 2 strings from those panels, would still charge you battery in under 2 hours.
Givenergy don’t do a 6kw inverter (max 5kw), and the pair of inverters give us more potential going forward for battery discharge rates.
It was spec’d as a single Foxess inverter at the start but apparently inverters/batteries are getting harder and harder to source. The 2 inverters were at the same cost to us as the single before
Associate
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Ah fair enough. I was gonna say why not a different brand hybrid that wouldn't have that issue. LUX for example do a 6kw hybrid version but if cost is the same then no issue (don't forget your DNO g99 though!)
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Oh now he gets all the referals 
refer me as yout still awake haOh now he gets all the referals
The way I see it, not taking into account cost/ROI you want enough battery to see you through the night on days that you can charge them fully.
What’s your dally usage? My guess is they have picked the 5.2kwh battery as they can’t get stock of the bigger ones.
The 5.2 is 90% depth of discharge, so only so is only 4.7. Also the warranty is on throughput not 10 years.
Why 2 inverters. Get them to fit one 5kw gen 2 inverter that has a higher rate of battery discharge.
Soldato
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Yeah this is the impression I got when discussing the quotes from multiple installers. Even then because of their cost was an oom and an ahhh when it came to payback on them.
My partner works from home, our evening usage is minimal. My main concern over batteries is the winter months; those with solar, how many 0 output days do you get? We use about 8kwh/day so need to cover that really. We’re on octopus go so will top up overnight once we reach the cheap window.
Is there any disadvantage to twin inverters? It’s at no cost to us, and I figured it might give us better cloud coping ability?
What’s your dally usage? My guess is they have picked the 5.2kwh battery as they can’t get stock of the bigger ones.
Is there any disadvantage to twin inverters? It’s at no cost to us, and I figured it might give us better cloud coping ability?
What’s your dally usage? My guess is they have picked the 5.2kwh battery as they can’t get stock of the bigger ones.
Soldato
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- Officially least sunny location -Ronskistats
Its not an issue if you can obtain an off-peak cheap tariff to top the batteries up overnight (or during winter). The problem I see is the lack of the cheap off-peak tariffs. Maybe on the mainland but over here the units are not cheap like they were 18+ months ago (plus they just keep pushing them up).
I’d be delighted to if you send me a DM. Phoenix211 has probably had a free system by now
he’s a good guy
Soldato
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- Officially least sunny location -Ronskistats
Have you some evidence to back this up?
The issue is charging too much for the 'cheap' rate. Residential customers should use less in this period so like in trying times the powers that be should be encouraging this - offering cheap night rates (capping supplier in some way) as plenty of vulnerable customers need E7 heating too.