First PV Install

[robbobnbill]

thought id share some pics of my 1st PV install, the array is made up of 10 x Sanyo HIT240HDE4's

 

[poheZ]

HI

I like your web site and congrats on your MCS. Now you will have to get all that investment money back!

How did you deal with shading issues on your install?

What mounting system did you use? Panels?

 

[Markc]

Hi

Good job. I haven't been brave enough to post any of ours yet! But I will.

Very impressive web site also.

Keep up the good work.

 

[robbobnbill]

HI

How did you deal with shading issues on your install?

What mounting system did you use? Panels?

the only real issue with shading was the chimney and the pike in the roof, so we separated the array into 2 strings, there is only an issue with shading very early in the day and last thing in the evening, so only 1 string is affected.

we used 10 x Sanyo HIT240HDE4's and a fronius IG30 inverter, the inverter is a bit over spec for a 2.4kWp but the clients looking at adding further panels in the future so the IG20 didnt allow for expansion, and fronius was all we could get at the time, the one we got we had to fight for!

the mounting is all schuco, really nice stuff to work with.

thanks for the website comments guys

 

[poheZ]

In your survey how did you calculate shading and where it was likely to occur in different times of the year?

 

[robbobnbill]

to be honest we have been working for this client for a while and there has been a scaffold up over 15 months, so id love to tell you that we used clever calcs or software, but to be honest we knew we got the solar job from day one and were just waiting for the new roof to go on so have been able to check for any issues with shading over that time period just good old looking and saying "it'll be fine"

edit: before anyone says "thats not a new roof", new roof old tiles

 

[poheZ]

Did you MCS inspector not want to see how you dealt with the shading?

 

[robbobnbill]

nope, he was happy that we had minimised any issues, like i said only one string was affected and in that string only 2 panels at a limited period of the day, the other problem we had was that this size system was what the client wanted, we explained the issue of shading to him, and got it in writing that he understood our concens so what more could we do?

 

[poheZ]

i dont know, it's interesting to see how other installers deal with the survey and its issues.

I was told that shading should be avoided!

 

[robbobnbill]

I agree it should be avoided, the problem we had was that the job was quoted with less panels to totally avoid any shading, another company came unsolicited and gave a quote with the setup we ended up installing, as the client wanted the 10 panels that the other company quoted and wouldn't budge, it was either install the system he wanted and get our MCS or not get the job, he was fully made aware of the shading issues and was told that we didnt recommend it, but its what he wanted! we made sure that he signed to agree to this to cover our arses

 

[Markc]

It is interesting how we over come these situations. One of our first installations involved a ground mount system and on survey we had concerns over a tree to the front where the proposed array would be just off to one side but below some of the overhanging branches. The client informed us that the tree would be coming down and so not an issue in the long term. Needless to say the tree is still standing and the array is under it! (well sort of) We asked our inspector his opinion. His response was as long as you have shown it in your design there is little that can be done. I had included it as an issue at design.

Shading is important to avoid if possible. But where it is feasible to have a system but a small amount of shading is possibly an issue and can not be avoided it has to be worked into the design. It shows by working certain collection of panels onto a separate string to reduce the shading effect a good working knowledge and good design criteria and it should be praised rather than questioned.

Not many people I have spoken to understand the full effects of shading or how to over come the result of it. Even the direction of the panel can reduce the effect fro example.

If its what the client wanted and it had been designed to reduce the amount of effect then it's a good job.

And back to the tree, the client is still insisting the tree will come out! Time will tell.

 

[robbobnbill]

i couldnt agree more with you, i dont think the perfect job ever presents itself its just a case of damadge limitation and the best way to deal with problems, shading is an issue on all installations but at the end of the day it depends what the client is looking for in an install, ours just wanted a 2.4kWp system, didnt care that it payed back, didnt care about FIT, he was just happy that he had the potential of 2.4kWP in good conditions, not what we recommend but what can you do? he is now living his eco dream and i cant argue with that

 

[piggyitm]

LOL " he is now living his eco dream and i cant argue with that ".
Have you sent out flyers with a copy of The Guardian hidden inside?
If only they hadn't set fire to Tesla's lab eh?

 

[robbobnbill]

Have you sent out flyers with a copy of The Guardian hidden inside?

he'd have only made it into a paper brick to burn in his stove

 

[piggyitm]

I'm sure he was well advised before his biomass install