Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

Doobedoo · 16 Jun 2022 at 08:20

94JDH said:
Can't seem to PM you, try me

Are you affiliated or something? Strange how your posts have been exclusively in this thread where you are recommending an supplier/installer.

VaderDSL · 16 Jun 2022 at 08:22

SDK^ said:
To everyone getting quotes - have you checked the company can source the panels and batteries?
Demand is massive across the globe and most stuff is sold out or on a long waiting list.

The quote for ours is available, panels only, they were upfront on the battery side and said they have 3 people waiting currently and expected to have them sorted by end of July.

94JDH · 16 Jun 2022 at 08:27

Doobedoo said:
Are you affiliated or something? Strange how your posts have been exclusively in this thread where you are recommending an supplier/installer.

Wish I was considering the demand has sky rocketed - I'm still in the process of having mine installed, planned end of July/early August - have been very happy with the pricing and response so far - time will tell once in place though.

aurobindonaik · 16 Jun 2022 at 08:41

I am not aware of what is TAP and monitoring system. I was asking for solarege optimisers but was advised to go for Tigo as they are cheaper and does the same job? Tell me more about the TAP and monitoring system please so that I can ask them. Thank you

SBo · 16 Jun 2022 at 09:34

aurobindonaik said:
I am not aware of what is TAP and monitoring system. I was asking for solarege optimisers but was advised to go for Tigo as they are cheaper and does the same job? Tell me more about the TAP and monitoring system please so that I can ask them. Thank you

See: https://youtu.be/4kqVPCz4TP8

Malpaso · 16 Jun 2022 at 09:56

I've had a first quote from Anglian Renewables,all reviews are very good, we're generally low users (7kwh in winter 5 in summer) 12 panels JA solar and a 16 a Solax inverter, I asked about a battery and he was very honest and said it wouldn't be financially viable due to low usage £6450

94JDH · 16 Jun 2022 at 10:14

Malpaso said:
I've had a first quote from Anglian Renewables,all reviews are very good, we're generally low users (7kwh in winter 5 in summer) 12 panels JA solar and a 16 a Solax inverter, I asked about a battery and he was very honest and said it wouldn't be financially viable due to low usage £6450

Wish my usage was that low!

john_smith · 16 Jun 2022 at 10:20

SDK^ said:
To everyone getting quotes - have you checked the company can source the panels and batteries?
Demand is massive across the globe and most stuff is sold out or on a long waiting list.

My local company is booked up well into 2023 already. They have 25 Powerwalls on back order, they are still waiting for PW ordered in 2021 and most of their back orders for PW have ETA in 2023.

Malpaso · 16 Jun 2022 at 10:44

94JDH said:
Wish my usage was that low!

We have logburners , live on the southcoast and not a 'tech ' family so haven't got things going on 24/7, looking at possibly an EV in the near future and the guy said the set up should cover that , only do 5000 Miles a year so mostly local journey's

BUDFORCE · 16 Jun 2022 at 11:19

Malpaso said:
I've had a first quote from Anglian Renewables,all reviews are very good, we're generally low users (7kwh in winter 5 in summer) 12 panels JA solar and a 16 a Solax inverter, I asked about a battery and he was very honest and said it wouldn't be financially viable due to low usage £6450

Not bad, we are paying £7000 for very similar set-up but with a hot water diverter.

Original quote was £6750 on pretty much like for like of what you would be getting.

Malpaso · 16 Jun 2022 at 11:32

BUDFORCE said:
Not bad, we are paying £7000 for very similar set-up but with a hot water diverter.

Original quote was £6750 on pretty much like for like of what you would be getting.

Are you fairly low usage ?

BUDFORCE · 16 Jun 2022 at 11:41

Malpaso said:
Are you fairly low usage ?

Not really, we use just over 5000kw/a with a slightly higher split during winter months.

Family of 4 with one young one, it's the Mrs bloody washing addiction, uses the washing machine way too often. And our dishwasher goes on basically every day.

But the Mrs and I both work from home, so we have IT equipment running all day, then we will use the dishwasher/washing machine during etc the day.

Malpaso · 16 Jun 2022 at 12:05

BUDFORCE said:
Not really, we use just over 5000kw/a with a slightly higher split during winter months.

Family of 4 with one young one, it's the Mrs bloody washing addiction, uses the washing machine way too often. And our dishwasher goes on basically every day.

But the Mrs and I both work from home, so we have IT equipment running all day, then we will use the dishwasher/washing machine during etc the day.

bloody washing addiction, that's funny

SDK^ · 16 Jun 2022 at 12:39

VaderDSL said:
Makes sense, you don't happen to have photos of the outside cabling by any chance? Just wanting to get an idea of how a decent company does it (your installer looks like they did a great job).

Some photos of the outside cabling.
Just waiting for the panels, the myEnergi Eddi diverter and the Huawei Smart Power Sensor, all hopefully installed the start of July.

Malpaso · 16 Jun 2022 at 14:43

Out of interest with a lot of tariffs upping the 'cheap night' rate and some pulling them down think that might slightly tip the balance in favour of a battery with regards EVs

SDK^ · 16 Jun 2022 at 15:07

Malpaso said:
Out of interest with a lot of tariffs upping the 'cheap night' rate and some pulling them down think that might slightly tip the balance in favour of a battery with regards EVs

Off-peak tariffs will around for a long time yet, which works in winter when solar is generating less, to charge those batteries up, to power the house the next day.
Obviously you can charge an EV at the same time too.

in the the summer I expect all my excess solar will go to trickle charge my EV, via the 3-pin plug cable charger.

Will also get some A/C units - should be free to run off the solar.

Malpaso · 16 Jun 2022 at 15:39

SDK^ said:
Off-peak tariffs will around for a long time yet, which works in winter when solar is generating less, to charge those batteries up, to power the house the next day.
Obviously you can charge an EV at the same time too.

in the the summer I expect all my excess solar will go to trickle charge my EV, via the 3-pin plug cable charger.

Will also get some A/C units - should be free to run off the solar.

I think current estimates are we'd save about £200 annually so over a 10 ish year life of a battery that wouldn't really make much sense at the moment , I'm new to this so learning all the time

BUDFORCE · 16 Jun 2022 at 16:31

Malpaso said:
I think current estimates are we'd save about £200 annually so over a 10 ish year life of a battery that wouldn't really make much sense at the moment , I'm new to this so learning all the time

Its very difficult to run the numbers with any accuracy without building up your own statistics over say a year.

I'm varies vastly on how much your panels generate, your usage, and also what time of day.

Most solar systems have an app or similar that tracks all this information.

After 12 months you'll then be able to pretty accurately work out if it's worth it.

Our installer reckons we won't benefit from one so for now I'm going with that.

Doobedoo · 16 Jun 2022 at 19:10

I didn’t really get too caught up on numbers per se. We’re all electric no gas what so ever, we’re not home during the day Monday to Friday so most of our generation was being exported which was really annoying. I made the decision I was getting one and would basically use our fit payments to pay for it. That was nearly 3 years ago and prices are what they are now and will only get more expensive. My decision was worthwhile.

peter · 18 Jun 2022 at 16:27

We have had our solar system for over 12 years now it produces 3800 kWh a year. We also have a Eddi power diverter which gives us free hot water most of the year any spare then goes into heating when needed .
It all helps as our electric tariff has just gone up 200% and gas 300%.