Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

[SBo]

At those kind of prices it might be worth going solar panels only route? Like if your roof can handle 6-8kwh of panels might be better doing that than as it could be cheaper to install and you benefit a lot more in winter? Could go for maybe a small battery perhaps just to have it topped up for the night like a 2-3kw one maybe.

Those are higher than even the current high average prices. My average export price in June was 19p kWh.
I read in the Telegraph that the govt commented last week on expecting micro producers to get paid a price reflective of the actual market (less costs) in the ongoing electricity sector review which is due to report in the autumn. It’s finally getting recognized that the 3/4/5p kWh SEGs are exploitative in todays market and a barrier to solar adoption.

 

[TNA]

Those are higher than even the current high average prices. My average export price in June was 19p kWh.
I read in the Telegraph that the govt commented last week on expecting micro producers to get paid a price reflective of the actual market (less costs) in the ongoing electricity sector review which is due to report in the autumn. It’s finally getting recognized that the 3/4/5p kWh SEGs are exploitative in todays market and a barrier to solar adoption.

If that happens it will make it a hell of a lot more attractive to install the panels as I may be able to get away with not bothering with batteries or as I mention just get a small 2-3kw one.

 

[Harbz]

Just wondering because of the crazy battery prices at the moment can I go with a simple solar install now and add a battery in a couple of years? What would I need to
ensure to get at a minimum now in terms of inverter?

 

[JayP84]

Hi all, I am new the forum and found this thread invaluable. Im currently doing a house renno and sadly my main roof doesn't lend itself well to solar. Instead I may be building a garden room with a flat roof. Im getting laughable quotes at the moment (3.6kwh, no battery.... over £10k!!!) Needless to say I may wait for the market to cool down. But in the meantime what wiring/cable types do I need to pull from the main house to the garden room so when I'm ready to install solar in the future it's easy enough to do? There will be a consumer unit in the garden room - do I need to specify a certain type or spec? The battery and inverter will live in the garden room.

 

[94JDH]

Hi all, I am new the forum and found this thread invaluable. Im currently doing a house renno and sadly my main roof doesn't lend itself well to solar. Instead I may be building a garden room with a flat roof. Im getting laughable quotes at the moment (3.6kwh, no battery.... over £10k!!!) Needless to say I may wait for the market to cool down. But in the meantime what wiring/cable types do I need to pull from the main house to the garden room so when I'm ready to install solar in the future it's easy enough to do? There will be a consumer unit in the garden room - do I need to specify a certain type or spec? The battery and inverter will live in the garden room.

Hi,
I'm also having solar to my garden room flat roof ( and garage at the same time) in about 4 weeks time. What size roof area and position, as I've gone for an East/West configuration on both roof areas to maximize the number of panels and spread the generation throughout the day.
I have a small consumer unit at the back of the garden room, but the solar cables will all go into the garage - again I'm having a new consumer unit here to cope, as there isn't any room on the old one.

 

[JayP84]

Hi,
I'm also having solar to my garden room flat roof ( and garage at the same time) in about 4 weeks time. What size roof area and position, as I've gone for an East/West configuration on both roof areas to maximize the number of panels and spread the generation throughout the day.
I have a small consumer unit at the back of the garden room, but the solar cables will all go into the garage - again I'm having a new consumer unit here to cope, as there isn't any room on the old one.

Hey, it will be 7m x 4m and also planning to get an east/west array to maximise production (west facing garden)

 

[94JDH]

Hey, it will be 7m x 4m and also planning to get an east/west array to maximise production (west facing garden)

My garden room is east/west over the shortest dimensions ( 6.2 x 3.5m) which means a maximum of 6 panels for that room.
The garage is east/west over over the longest dimension ( 7.4m x 4.2m ) perpendicular to the garden room and will support 12 panels ( 18 total).
What dimension is east/west on your design?

 

[Hawk Tuah]

If I were in that situation, I'd make sure that they wire in a consumer unit with a few spare slots, and run cable capable of carrying the solar load back to the main house consumer unit.

I've installed a couple of panels with micro inverters on my shed. Runs back to my main PV combiner box via SWA cable.

 

[94JDH]

If I were in that situation, I'd make sure that they wire in a consumer unit with a few spare slots, and run cable capable of carrying the solar load back to the main house consumer unit.

I've installed a couple of panels with micro inverters on my shed. Runs back to my main PV combiner box via SWA cable.

I'm having a 25mm armoured cable running back to the house to accommodate the increased load

 

[BUDFORCE]

Electrician came out this afternoon, it is our inverter, completely dead. He checked all the other wiring though and fine.

He said it's very rare, and also probably a good thing it went so soon as likely would have gone at some point.

They are ordering a new one to our house, then are going to sort the warranty out on the old one themselves later.

Fair enough.

 

[SoliD]

Sounds like you've had a good service from them!

 

[BUDFORCE]

Sounds like you've had a good service from them!

Too bloody right. 7 days post install and your inverter ***** itself, that's not very good.

Anyway, it's being sorted.

 

[rodders]

I spoke to ProjectsolarUK today, £325 to come out and they just replace the bits that have failed. I need to check if it's there and then, or if they come back another day, but just wanted to know a call out fee.

Spoke to a local repair place, £75+vat to come out and look. I asked if they can help with warranty and also interested in getting the tigo monitoring installed, so I can see each panel in the future. Might help them aid me with the warranty on parts, if I'm spending more with them. If it's just a tigo box, the call out plus the cost of that should be well under the £325 of PSuk, so might just be better to do that anyway.
Waiting on a quote from them and will go from there.

 

[Cadder]

Not too bad actually considering the comical prices out there. Who's that with?

As an example, trade price for some 405/410W JA solar panels is around £122-125 and the public can access those prices.

It's the markup, silly install costs and high battery costs/install that really are ruining it atm if you want a system installed that's grid-tied.

That was a quote from Solar Energy Store Ltd
It didn't include for scaffolding.

Toying with the idea as it would be typical of me to buy at peak cost, then prices come crashing down.

The good news is I have a hot water tank that can be heated via electric so I won't need to do much there. I think I need to do more research on ROI and other factors to take into account. Don't have a clue where I'd stick the batteries.

 

[gpuerrilla]

Too bloody right. 7 days post install and your inverter ***** itself, that's not very good.

Anyway, it's being sorted.

What make/model is the inverter? I know they seem to be the component that takes the brunt of the work so seem to have 5yr warranties.

 

[BUDFORCE]

What make/model is the inverter? I know they seem to be the component that takes the brunt of the work so seem to have 5yr warranties.

Solis S6 - 5kw version

 

[Hawk Tuah]

I'm having a 25mm armoured cable running back to the house to accommodate the increased load

Can save a lot if you don't mind getting your hands dirty.

Pardon our interruption...

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[SBo]

I spoke to ProjectsolarUK today, £325 to come out and they just replace the bits that have failed. I need to check if it's there and then, or if they come back another day, but just wanted to know a call out fee.

Spoke to a local repair place, £75+vat to come out and look. I asked if they can help with warranty and also interested in getting the tigo monitoring installed, so I can see each panel in the future. Might help them aid me with the warranty on parts, if I'm spending more with them. If it's just a tigo box, the call out plus the cost of that should be well under the £325 of PSuk, so might just be better to do that anyway.
Waiting on a quote from them and will go from there.

I’ve read that Tigos have a very low failure rate.
The monitoring is easy to setup once you have the serials. My Tigo CCA and TAP is in the loft I didn’t even need to install the TAP physically under the panels.

 

[rodders]

Welcome to my luck!

 

[Freefaller]

These are the quotes I've got at the moment:

Company	Panels	Power	Battery	Cost
Contact solar	12​	5.2kw	10.24kw	£13,990​
So Energy	12​	5.1kwh	10kw	£12,454​
Gas & Electric	12​	6kw	13kw	£13,550​

We're likely to get payback based on our usage within 5 years according to my calcs. And we're close to pulling the trigger on an extension - I think if we don't go ahead with extension I'm still keen on doing the solar installation. These prices seem largely ok? This includes installation, scaffolding, commissioning etc...