Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

@Journey I think you said there was a site before where you could see the best place for SEG rates currently, but can't seem to find it. I'll be looking to stay on my current rates for another year and a bit as I managed to fix for 2 years last October at sub 4p/20p for gas/electricity retrospectively, so should give me time to work out what tarriff would be best once Solar is installed and I have a winter of running, I'm hoping for 8-9 months of the year with my set up and battery storage I won't need to use the grid at all.
 
I have a local company coming out Friday to get a better idea of what I want and what the install will entail.They were going to go with Solaredge but have said they are getting difficult to get hold of. I'm currently leaning towards Victron and Tigo optimisers.
 
SoliD said:
@Journey I think you said there was a site before where you could see the best place for SEG rates currently, but can't seem to find it. I'll be looking to stay on my current rates for another year and a bit as I managed to fix for 2 years last October at sub 4p/20p for gas/electricity retrospectively, so should give me time to work out what tarriff would be best once Solar is installed and I have a winter of running, I'm hoping for 8-9 months of the year with my set up and battery storage I won't need to use the grid at all.
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this possibly: https://solarenergyuk.org/resource/smart-export-guarantee/

I'm going with Scottish Power for mine.
 
Siliconslave said:
Had an installer round yesterday for another quote, said its getting almost impossible to get SolarEdge hardware at the moment. They are suggesting using tigo solar optimizers with two strings instead. Doesn't sound like they are quite as effective in shade conditions but slightly less drain in full sun and less complex and have a lower failure rate (maybe).

Anyone had any experience with Tigo / optimizers in general? Is it worth waiting and going for solaredge? (on a decent fix through to next summer so not in an urgent rush)
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I was going for Optimisers until I was told they were almost impossible to get right now.
I did some research and turns out you don't actually need them. Modern panels don't suffer the loss or aren't impacted by shade, as much as the Optimiser marketing teams make you believe.

Take a look at this test video carried out in Australia : optimisers vs non-Optimiser panels in shade conditions

 
I've recently had solar panels installed. An experience I have been disappointed with. I'm not going to name the company until I've given them what I think is a reasonable amount of time to rectify the issues. The system is working but I have the following outstanding issues, am I been unreasonable:

  • Cables Dangling underneath panels and not clipped out the way. zero cable ties have been used, some cables are even starting to dangle into the guttering, almost.
  • Flashing Kit not used for cable entry into roof. This was in a quote I originally sent the installer
  • Panels damaged on rear elevation. Scratched on the side showing bare aluminium.
  • Panels installed unevenly on rear elevation. Not level with each other.
  • Guttering clip damaged to front of garage. Noticed a few days afterward and they did the install of of ladders rather scaffolding (Garage Roof install)
I've reviewed the MCS complaints procedure and have submitted a formal complaint stating they have until 5th July to rectify the issues before I raise it with MCS.

Would you guys settle for scratched, uneven panels with no cable clipping and the cables just shoved under tiles?

Cheers
 
ardy89 said:
I've recently had solar panels installed. An experience I have been disappointed with. I'm not going to name the company until I've given them what I think is a reasonable amount of time to rectify the issues. The system is working but I have the following outstanding issues, am I been unreasonable:

  • Cables Dangling underneath panels and not clipped out the way. zero cable ties have been used, some cables are even starting to dangle into the guttering, almost.
  • Flashing Kit not used for cable entry into roof. This was in a quote I originally sent the installer
  • Panels damaged on rear elevation. Scratched on the side showing bare aluminium.
  • Panels installed unevenly on rear elevation. Not level with each other.
  • Guttering clip damaged to front of garage. Noticed a few days afterward and they did the install of of ladders rather scaffolding (Garage Roof install)
I've reviewed the MCS complaints procedure and have submitted a formal complaint stating they have until 5th July to rectify the issues before I raise it with MCS.

Would you guys settle for scratched, uneven panels with no cable clipping and the cables just shoved under tiles?

Cheers
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Do they have a website/gallery of their other installs. I've checked mine out and they look good, if they do I would argue you'd want the same standards as their portfolio show they can do.
 
SDK^ said:
I was going for Optimisers until I was told they were almost impossible to get right now.
I did some research and turns out you don't actually need them. Modern panels don't suffer the loss or aren't impacted by shade, as much as the Optimiser marketing teams make you believe.

Take a look at this test video carried out in Australia : optimisers vs non-Optimiser panels in shade conditions

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Thats really interesting
As ever with people, problems can be assumed remain forever even though things can change

I am interested in the 2 string one, need to see if he has done that yet as my install will be two sides of my house so will one large string converter likely be fine or not....
 
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SDK^ said:
I was going for Optimisers until I was told they were almost impossible to get right now.
I did some research and turns out you don't actually need them. Modern panels don't suffer the loss or aren't impacted by shade, as much as the Optimiser marketing teams make you believe.

Take a look at this test video carried out in Australia : optimisers vs non-Optimiser panels in shade conditions

Click to expand...

I was too until I was told it wont help as I have no shade/trees/obstructions and I also watched a few videos on this (seem to be tested by Australian fitters) where the difference is minimal and introduces another part to maintain. My first quote engineer touched on this but only explained in details when I was choosing which installer I was going with.

Lots of bash it out fast installers will grease the one way to install so it may not cater for all needs if you let them dictate what they want to install.
 
HungryHippos said:
Do you have a pic further back? is that roof level or is that caused by it being uneven where they added the rails underneath?
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Roof is perfectly level, its a reasonably new build garage roof. Plus the rails have adjustment to amount for uneven roofs and should be modified accordingly.
 
@ardy89 Certainly doesn't look good, and lots of damage to the side of the panels, only cosmetic, but it shouldn't be damaged.

The wiring on mine wasn't great, they just wrapped it around the rail's, I was going to tidy it up but once the panels are on you can't get to it.
 
Looks shoddy for something that is not a small amount of money. Hopefully they rectify but quite a few cowboys in the industry so not totally surprising.
 
I'm currently waiting for a 16kw battery install to complement my current PV array, is anyone else experiencing issues obtaining batteries?, I've been waiting since March. The installer I'm with is awaiting GivEnergy.
 
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I know Givenergy are moving to their new 9.5kwh battery range - have you checked Sto k/delivery dates on the new ones? Think they are arriving July onwards - possible they're prioritising supply of them?
 
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