How much are you paying?

[Martin Dawes]

I was wondering how much you guys are paying for your panels and inverters? The prices that I have seen on the internet vary massively and it's hard to know what the going rate is.

I'd appreciate some feedback and if you don't like posting this kind of thing then I'd appreciate a private message.

 

[Markc]

Rather than just looking online I found it more lucrative to make contact with numerous companies and discuss my requirements. Remember they want your business and they to are facing a competitive market with more and more suppliers popping up.

Look at what you want. Do you want kits of certain sizes over individually designed system comprising different components? Do you want to buy in bulk. A pallet of 30 panels are considerably less than say just 14. when work comes in look at buying in job lots and putting lots together. Yes the outlay is higher and storage may be an issue but the return is very profitable. Saving on delivery for one delivery can save hundreds on its own.

 

[Martin Dawes]

Thanks Mark,

My experience of finding a supplier wasn't great. I tried ringing a few different firms and their response wasn't great - which I found staggering. Maybe it's because they also install? I was on the verge of placing an order with one firm (a distributing partner of Sharp) and they bizarrely stopped answering phone calls and emails. They eventually got back to me a week later. Crap service and they won't be seeing any of my money.

I eventually came upon two firms which actually seemed keen for my business and both were very helpful.

I'll post photos of my first install which I'm undertaking this week.

I'll also go into a lot of detail about the MCS inspector visit when he comes so I can give some other newbies a heads up on what to expect.

 

[poheZ]

hey

i am using the ETSOLAR 185W panels at £1.59 per watt

 

[pcollins]

I'm recently newly MCS accredited and found sourcing panels for my first install a nightmare, many folks didn't answer my emails at all, some would only deal with MCS installers.

I've found since accredited and my details appear on the MCS and REAL websites that I'm suddenly inundated with offers, accounts etc. I've had 4 this week and several more since.

I nearly bought from Germany at one point as the price was pretty competitive but y eventually went with a UK supplier as I would prefer to keep my business within the country but also in case of any issues etc.

Good luck with your MCS, who are you going with? Make sure to take plenty of pics of your install, especially where it goes through the roof. Also, be sure to have a quarantine area for faulty material, clearly labelled and without any clutter in it. This was a non conformance I managed to achieve!

 

[Martin Dawes]

Thanks Pcollins, I'll take that on board.

I'm going with the NICEIC. I'm going to take plenty of photos. Not just for the MCS inspection but for potentially putting on a future website. I'm treating my install as if it were a customer install, complete with quotes, estimated yield etc. I've also sorted out a quarantine area.

My brother went on a QMS course in Chesterfield and he's sorting a lot of that side out.

 

[Markc]

Also, be sure to have a quarantine area for faulty material, clearly labelled and without any clutter in it. This was a non conformance I managed to achieve!

Interesting. Can I ask did you get a non conformance for not having a method in place to identify and store faulty items or was it your method was different from a clear area labelled "Quarantine"? Who are you registered through?

The reason I ask is our registration is through NIC. We do not have stores as such so do not have an area to store faulty goods other than a garage. We detailed in our QSM that damaged items are marked "Do Not Use" and placed to one side. We didn't get a non compliance for that. If the product is delivered direct to site the same method is detailed in our QSM. Seems they expect you to have a unit or something other wise you get a N/Com.

 

[pcollins]

Hi Mark,

I had a procedure in place for it - i.e that items are labelled up as faulty material and do not use but the inspector (Napit) asked me to show where such material would be stored pending collection/resolution with supplier etc. Like you, the only place I have to store goods if not delivered to site is in the garage, he asked to see this area and then advised it was not suitable as it wasn't labelled up as being exclusively for faulty goods. So I got a NC for it. Struck me as being a bit ott (for want of a better word) but there you go.

The NC report just references MCS 001 clause 9. I just painted a part of the garage floor a different colour and labelled the wall then sent in a photo.

I guess this chap was just being thorough, so guess I was lucky it was just this and the fact that I hadn't had my REAL membership through at the time were my only non conformances!

Paul

 

[Markc]

Hi Paul,

Does seem a bit harsh but I suppose they need to be seen as finding something. NIC were more than happy that we had identified a method and logged it in the QSM. They said they are not there to tell us how to run our business just that we have identify our methods we want to employ. At least they are minor non compliances and did't need a revisit....at more cost!

Failing that I'm not sure I could even find the corner of our garage let alone cordon a bit off!

 

[Noshocks]

I wrote in my procedure that materials ar edelivered to site so there is no quarantine area and all incorrect/dmaged goods are returned with driver after notifictation to supplier, any small items delivered to me have quarantine tags, NICEIC seemed happy with that.

 

[pcollins]

Yes it was a bit of a pain but like you say Mark at least it didn't require a return visit. It just means that for next year's assessment I'll have to clean out the garage and refix labels to the wall, as the space is in danger of being reclaimed.

Out of interest do you guys have much stuff delivered to site, or does it depend on the job? Reason for my question is that the next job I have lined up is (currently) a derelict cottage on a farm, so options for storage will either be on what will be a building site or somewhere on the farm, neither of which I would be happy to leave materials for risk of somebody driving a tractor over them or dropping bricks on! Its a pain in the neck having to cart stuff over but at least there is the peace of mind aspect...

Cheers
Paul

 

[Markc]

Just depends on the job. Private customer, one off job we get it delivered to our address and take two vans to the job site. Can get most things in our two vans but 6mt rails on the roof is going to draw the attention of the boys in blue one day!

Where we have done a small development (6 houses) we hired a container in (through the developer) for us to store our kit. We alarmed it and fitted a GSM auto dialler as well. It cost a bit BUT it did return a better profit by doing so. We were the only ones who had a key so it was as secure as it could be. Added it to our insurance as a one off just to cover the product. Once everything was to site and checked it went well. Our supplier liked it also as they sent one delivery out for all the works. This saved £775 on its own. We had the whole lot delivered for £155.

Now we have the auto dialler and alarm kit and a container supplier I think I would do it again if the job allowed.