Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

No anti-bird stuff installed?

@BUDFORCE You'd best get some anti bird stuff installed before the scaffold comes down or you'll regret it.

@BUDFORCE get a nerf gun. Pigeons don't know which way to fly, plus it makes you smile like a little kid.

No Pigeons were harmed in the making.

It's ok fellas, Wilma's on it.

IMG-20220708-213600.jpg
 
Both lol and oh dear. No other options on the table then?
Nah, she has one already, so will just have to wait, could come forward as she knows a few colleagues who had it pushed back then miraculously moved forward a month later.
 
Got the first quote in the other day for an install how does this look?

  • Trina Solar 390w Solar Panel £170.00 x12 £2,040.00
  • LUX Power Hybrid Inverter + 7kw Battery £6,000.00
  • Emlite Generation Meter £25.00
  • Electrical Equipment + Cabling + MC4 Connectors £575.00
  • Roof Mounting Kit £525.00
  • Scaffold £750.00
  • Goods Total: £9,915.00
  • Description of Services Qty. Unit Price Total Price
  • Survey £0.00
  • Installation & Commissioning of Solar PV + Battery £1,000.00
  • Register Installation with HiES & MCS £0.00
  • Services Total: £1,000.00
  • Goods & Services Sub Total: £10,915.00
  • Delivery costs: £0.00
 
Got the first quote in the other day for an install how does this look?

  • Trina Solar 390w Solar Panel £170.00 x12 £2,040.00
  • LUX Power Hybrid Inverter + 7kw Battery £6,000.00
  • Emlite Generation Meter £25.00
  • Electrical Equipment + Cabling + MC4 Connectors £575.00
  • Roof Mounting Kit £525.00
  • Scaffold £750.00
  • Goods Total: £9,915.00
  • Description of Services Qty. Unit Price Total Price
  • Survey £0.00
  • Installation & Commissioning of Solar PV + Battery £1,000.00
  • Register Installation with HiES & MCS £0.00
  • Services Total: £1,000.00
  • Goods & Services Sub Total: £10,915.00
  • Delivery costs: £0.00
That's a pretty decent price IMO. Try and get another couple to compare against but it doesn't scream over priced to me overall, could argue that some of the bits are slightly expensive but other bits are very reasonable indeed so the bottom line number is fair.
 
Got the first quote in the other day for an install how does this look?

As pointed out, the overall price looks OK. Dunno why they've inflated the inverter and battery price so high to make the install look cheap, as you can get a Lux inverter with 9.6kWh of batteries fully installed (with 20% VAT paid) for £6.5k. Perhaps call their bluff, and ask how much it would be with just a standard 5kW PV inverter and no battery?
 
@goldy6660 That really depends on so many variables, how much you use, what size array, whether you have a battery, and if so how big.

I have a 4kw array, no battery and using about £100 of electric a month at the moment.
 
@goldy6660 That really depends on so many variables, how much you use, what size array, whether you have a battery, and if so how big.

I have a 4kw array, no battery and using about £100 of electric a month at the moment.
That'd literally half my bills then, I suppose you've got the how many etc and costs of the itinerary/supply. plus it's probably seasonal for the amount you can save per month based on the weather
 
What are people's electric bills like if you get solar?
Bill before I got my solar installed (PV only - no battery - 3.68 kWp inverter) £271, first full month with solar £132, that's gas and electric, my usage would have went down a little from May to June without solar but not that much - I'm on the price cap at the moment.

I'm using an eddi to heat my hot water, I've seen good savings with that.

Next steps will be to get a battery of some sort but I'm waiting on that technology to move on a little and see what happens with Vehicle to Home as if I can use an electric car as a battery then I don't necessarily need to get a battery in the garage. Also move onto a tariff that allows some sort of cheap off peak period where i can charge the battery.
 
Bill before I got my solar installed (PV only - no battery - 3.68 kWp inverter) £271, first full month with solar £132, that's gas and electric, my usage would have went down a little from May to June without solar but not that much - I'm on the price cap at the moment.

I'm using an eddi to heat my hot water, I've seen good savings with that.

Next steps will be to get a battery of some sort but I'm waiting on that technology to move on a little and see what happens with Vehicle to Home as if I can use an electric car as a battery then I don't necessarily need to get a battery in the garage. Also move onto a tariff that allows some sort of cheap off peak period where i can charge the battery.
Thanks that's fantastic, I'll take a look at suppliers in Cheshire then. At that rate it'd pay for itself in less than 10 years and then you're in the plus!
 
What are people's electric bills like if you get solar?
Currently I‘m just using solar energy - it powers my house, charges my home battery and heats water - so no gas use either.
Also, a small amount of excess solar energy goes into my electric car which saves a small amount too.
I charge my car overnight on Octopus Go at 7.5p kWh. Effectively a months driving miles (800) costs me about £15.

So my monthly Spring & Summer energy and fuel bill right now is about £18. (There is sometimes a little power draw from the grid as the inverter switches and manages the power).
Before solar it was £190 a month.

This will increase a little in Autumn and Winter as there is less sun. So instead of using the sun to charge my home battery, I will charge it overnight at 7.5p, avoiding having to use electric at 30p+ kWh and some gas at 7p (rising to ~17p from October)

:: Edit ::
Also, that £190 includes some use shifted to cheaper over night use (dishwasher & washing machine) so that bill would be higher if we didn’t have access to this, making the solar savings greater.
 
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Urgh, thought my panels were underperforming as they were dirty, but turns out I have in issue.
Either a panel has gone or a tigo box isn't operating.

What's the chances of the warranty working, as I've had pigeons under there....
 
Sorry if this is a daft question but what make inverter/battery should I be looking for? I heard lots of mention of GivEnergy and SolarEdge are they the best? Also are most 400watt panels the same or should I go for a specific make.

The type, should I go for Hybrid or standard? I will be calling companies for quotes in the next few days. Thanks.
 
Sorry if this is a daft question but what make inverter/battery should I be looking for? I heard lots of mention of GivEnergy and SolarEdge are they the best? Also are most 400watt panels the same or should I go for a specific make.

The type, should I go for Hybrid or standard? I will be calling companies for quotes in the next few days. Thanks.
if you aren't getting a battery a standard inverter will be fine, you can always add an AC coupled battery system later. You'd need a hybrid I think if you are adding a DC battery (I think).

WRT Panels - a lot will be due to what the company uses or more importantly can get actual stock of. Think most newer panels are much of a muchness in terms of power but can vary a bit on physical dimensions.

I believe batteries have some serious stock issues as well.
 
Ok so provided they notify building control your good?

Sorry Bud, I was on holidays got back today.

On top of your posts, I recall like most electrical work you can skirt around it lots, such as being an apprentice etc.. however you have to usually get a qualified spark to sign off the work anyway.
 
What are people's electric bills like if you get solar?
April electricity bill all on grid £100.11
May electricity bill all on grid £113.14
June first month with solar (albeit summer!): Refund £14.49

In terms of KWH we used more in June as we now use the tumble dryer like it’s a new discovery.
 
Urgh, thought my panels were underperforming as they were dirty, but turns out I have in issue.
Either a panel has gone or a tigo box isn't operating.

What's the chances of the warranty working, as I've had pigeons under there....
Buying a Tigo Tap and CCA (£250) will reveal which of your panels/optimisers is knackered but you will need the serial # of each Tigo…
 
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