I am a new PV householder - advice please. Unbalanced strings and wrong inverter

[juniperz]

Make sure you keep a retention (say 10%) to cover possible snagging (sounds likely to be needed to me!), they are not allowed to withhold your MCS certificate simply because you haven't paid in full (see REAL).

Also get a completion date from them and get your Good Energy FIT application prefilled in as much as you can, http://------/Good_Energy, also give Good Energy a call (01249 766090 ) and work out your best way to get the application to them before the end of the 31st July.

Wow - that's a whole new set of information I didn't know about! (haven't followed link yet). I have already filled in as much as I can of a form for EDF - is this in addition?

Missed a theard about solar edge dam it !!!! to busy moving house NO interweb at home !!!!

solar edge it !!!

They wanted more than 10% of contract price to do Solar Edge (inverters must be about the same price, but you need 16 optimisers), which seemeed like a lot more than the benefit (if it can be quantified accurately). And if I said I wanted to do that today, they would have to source the parts, and I would lose my installation date (Monday 16/7). And my wife would kill me for spending even more money!

 

[Worcester]

See the thread 'Best FIT Provider' http://www.electriciansforums.net/p...een-energy-forum/59966-best-fit-provider.html it is INSTEAD of EDF.

At least with Good Energy you can actually talk to someone! They don't have a 6 week backlog, they respond to queries, they came #1 for customer service.

 

[juniperz]

See the thread 'Best FIT Provider' http://www.electriciansforums.net/p...een-energy-forum/59966-best-fit-provider.html it is INSTEAD of EDF.

At least with Good Energy you can actually talk to someone! They don't have a 6 week backlog, they respond to queries, they came #1 for customer service.

OK, thanks. So they would also become my electricity provider, it's a switch. All feels a bit late in the day and yet another thing to go wrong!

Edit: Dur - obviously, you wouldn't have one firm for FIT and another for buying electricity after dark...

 

[Earthstore]

You can choose your FIT provider, it does not have to be the same as your energy provider.
You can use Good energy as your energy provider if you choose, but my advise would be get the FIT sorted first, keep it simple.

I have posted many times that I recommend Good Energy for FIT's, and most of my customers have used them.

I hope this helps.

 

[babba]

Make sure you keep a retention (say 10%) to cover possible snagging (sounds likely to be needed to me!), they are not allowed to withhold your MCS certificate simply because you haven't paid in full (see REAL).

But they can withhold the final invoice

 

[Worcester]

Your FIT agreement is a completely seperate agreement from your electricty supplier there is no need to switch.


So long as juniperz has got the copy of the contract or the installers commissioning certificate, that will do, all he has to prove is right to ownership, the final invoice is not the only acceptable document (even though it is often the one people use) hence the reason to give the FIT provider a call and find out what is acceptable.

 

[Noshocks]

Your FIT agreement is a completely seperate agreement from your electricty supplier there is no need to switch.


So long as juniperz has got the copy of the contract or the installers commissioning certificate, that will do, all he has to prove is right to ownership, the final invoice is not the only acceptable document (even though it is often the one people use) hence the reason to give the FIT provider a call and find out what is acceptable.

Electricity suppliers have contacted me quite a few times to check the customers has paid the invoice, its the words they always use, sometimes i forgot to stamp paid on the invoice and they have always phoned me to check, so right or wrong they want proof that the customer has paid for the system in full.

 

[provr6]

I think they are going to do 6 + 10 (so that must be 4 at 35% + 2 at 30% on one string, and 10 at 30% on the other).

Am I correct in saying they are changing from 4 + 12 to 6 + 10 but only 4 panels are actually sited on the garage roof and the other 2 in the string on the main house? Apart from the different inclinations 30 & 35 degrees i think i read (which shouldn't cause a problem) are the roofs at different heights because this could impact on the efficiency?

You seem to have benefitted with Power 0ne inverter I would agree. Funny enough I was quoted on one and the installer substituted it without telling me to an SMA 3600 TL. I looked up some reviews and felt it was comparable so didn't kick up a fuss.

Apart from the documents required by your FIT provider, two things I would check from my own experience, is one that he has notified building control (who will come out and check its being installed correctly (if you ask them to) and issue a Part P cert) and two make sure he has notified the DNO of the installation and ask for a copy of the G83 notification. He has upto 28 days after the installation to submit the notification.

 

[provr6]

You can choose your FIT provider, it does not have to be the same as your energy provider.
You can use Good energy as your energy provider if you choose, but my advise would be get the FIT sorted first, keep it simple.

I have posted many times that I recommend Good Energy for FIT's, and most of my customers have used them.

I hope this helps.

Do you not think there is some leverage in having your elec supplier as your FIT supplier? If there are problems in getting paid you have got some money you can withhold also. I would also like to think they would be keen to remedy any problems quickly so as not to lose your custom.

In any event, I think you can change FIT suppliers but don't quote me on that.

 

[Worcester]

Don't see any advantage at all of having them the same.

Yes you can change FIT provider, in fact the standard FIT application from Good Energy includes a section for that if that is what you are doing.

Simples

 

[provr6]

No shading.
I don't really want to name and shame, especially while the work is still outstanding (I don't mean that their work is outstanding!!).
It is a dilemma.

• I want solar and the current FIT.
• I signed a contract.
• They may have breached it, but they have complied with all my requests (agreeing to fit the quoted Growatt, fire retardant board, labelling, configuration) and due to lack of supply, I am not getting what appears to be a superior inverter (Power One) for no change in price.
• I have a house covered in scaffolding that they paid for, brackets on the roof, panels in the garage, inverter in the attic, AC cables to the utility room, a meter fitted ("generation"? I am forgetting my jargon already). I don't think I could get out of the contract, get the hardware satisfactorily removed, scaffolding down, quotes and a new contractor engaged, scaffolding up, installation and paperwork done, before 1st August.

Or am I just being a bit pessimistic?? Install completion date is now Monday 16th July by the way, which is giving me grieve at work because (not surprisingly) my wife wants me to be around!

They are acting on your concerns and remedying any breaches. I would not change horses now, get it registered for the FIT and sort out any problems afterwards. Don't let them take down the scaffolding till you are happy. Building control will make sure they are installing the brackets etc and weathering to building regs etc.

The retention is a good idea but you won't be able to do it because then the installer will not issue you with a payment in full receipt which you need for the FIT application. You are ok for time at the moment. Just make sure you email/fax your FIT application and send it special delivery and check for the signature online.

 

[Worcester]

See above, you do NOT need a payment in full receipt for your FIT application. from Good Energy's FIT application form

Proof of ownership (copy of installer’s invoice or sale agreement).

So a copy of the contract is just fine .. (p.s. contract law is one of my specialisms)

The FIT application, merely requires proof if ownership, with our commercial systems, our standard contracts allow our clients a retention amount. Standard practcie in the construction industry.

Before you release payment in full provr6's idea of getting building control in is a good idea, however the danger is that if it doesn't comply, then the MCS Certificate is not valid, and as such your FIT application won't be valid.

 

[provr6]

See above, you do NOT need a payment in full receipt for your FIT application. from Good Energy's FIT application form

So a copy of the contract is just fine .. (p.s. contract law is one of my specialisms)

The FIT application, merely requires proof if ownership, with our commercial systems, our standard contracts allow our clients a retention amount. Standard practcie in the construction industry.

Before you release payment in full provr6's idea of getting building control in is a good idea, however the danger is that if it doesn't comply, then the MCS Certificate is not valid, and as such your FIT application won't be valid.

I agree with you on the wording on ownership and an invoice should suffice. The problem can arise if a particular FIT provider dosen't understand the requirement and insists on a receipt to show payment has been made (mine did but I called them first). I would say that SSE was very good and said that any errors could be corrected without affecting the eligibity date once they received the docs.

A fair point about Building Control, and only you can make that call. The main thing they will be concerned with is the fixings to the rafters/noggins and the weathertightness. The last thing you want to have to change is the fixings because everything has to come off.

I dont think Building control will care at all about the MCS cert or the FIT application - not their remit

 

[Eco Deal]

Most fits providers WILL ask for a invoice (stamp or in pdf format) stating the customer has paid in full.

To me you have a big problem here as the installer must give you the mcs cert but they can not issue you with a paid in full invoice because your holding ten percent back.

I like to ask the other installers here would you issue an paid in full invoice if a customer told you they going to hold back 10 percent ???

If I was you I resolve issue quickly or if you think you have been mis-sold the if the installer can not resolve the problem then the real should be first port of call .

Id point them to this forum just so they know your seeking other installers advice then maybe name and shame as its not fair if somebody else follows in your foot steps.


This is what i hate about this industry the dis-honest installers who sell a load of rubbish and dont know the bums from the elbows and know nothing about designing or installing a pv system .

 

[Earthstore]

Sorry, but why would you want to hold back 10% of payment?
If you did not agree that at the signing of the contract then you probably can not legally do that now, the contract is what you both agree to.
Personally I think that is a bad idea, and it may well delay things for you, which time is not really on your side.

Building regulations, there is and has been so much confusion over this, and over the last 2 years I have gone into great detail with my local building control to try and clarify the situation, following my last conversation with them after they had received new guidance you do not need building regs, although it may be a good idea, they check for Part P (electrical certificate) Part C (water ingress) and structural loadings (which you should have calculations for.)

So what you should have from your installer is structural calculations (you need proof that your roof is strong enough) wind loading calculations, and a copy of their Part P certificate.

None of this will effect your FIT application, or will it effect how the system works, it may cause problems in the future if you decide to sell your property and a surveyor/solicitor asks for these documents.

Building regs in my area costs just over £100, it may be worth it for peace of mind, and they may pick up something that is not correct, however, they are not PV experts, just inspectors with limited training and ever changing guidance.

Just get on and have it installed, I am sure it will all be fine, you can post pics on here after, there are many that will find fault if there is any.

I hope this helps.