Invest over free

[Markc]

Hi all,

I was worried to begin with over these "free" systems and not being able to compete. Today all those fears have gone away with the signing of a new client for a 10Kwp system mounted to a barn roof which it just happens is direct south @ 30degrees and no shade!

Client had a company contact him earlier this year as a cold call asking to fit 10Kwp system to the roof for free and the client gaining the generated electricity only (normal stuff) unfortunately the client is quite savy! (Even built his own heat pump from scratch and uses HIS river as the heat source!. Heats his entire house 700sq ft + for 3.5Kw!!!) So he looked into the financial benefits of paying for a system.

We surveyed six weeks ago and after being given the go ahead last week second surveyed today and signed contracts. Bonus job for early next year and our biggest to date for PV.

So to all those "Free system providers" ha ha! But better luck next time!

Just thought I'd gloat a bit!! Might as well when I can!

 

[telectrix]

Nice One!

 

[SolarCity]

Great stuff, Mark

Let them do our advertising for us. We always use the "Free Solar Panels" installers as an example to reinforce the fact that the deal real is THAT good when we speak to our customers.

Let us know how it goes with the 10kWp system. Have you installed a G59 installation before? It'd be interesting if you could share with us your process and the costs involved.

 

[Markc]

I was waiting for the G59 to come up. After speaking to our DNO before quoting for the works its not under G59. (and I have it in writing too!)

10Kwp is actually 10,260Kwp (54 x 190wt) or 3 x 3420Kwp systems, one per phase so under 4Kwp and under 16amps per phase. All going on the roof of one barn with 3 phase supply.

I contacted EDF weeks ago regarding what was needed for G59 regarding this job but kept it under my hat until I had something in writting to confirm it. I got the number of our regional SSEG manager for EDF who suggested to me about splitting it over the 3 phases rather than in one. He then sent EDF's guidance and a letter which stated there are no pre inspections needed on systems of 4Kw or less as long as the system is balanced over the three phases. Ok so it needs 3 inverters etc but the cost of the feasibility study vastly out weights the costs of the additional items.

 

[SolarCity]

Ah, that sounds about right. We haven't worked on a 3 phase system yet so hadn't considered that this would negate the problems associated with going above a 4kWp system.

 

[Markc]

Ah, that sounds about right. We haven't worked on a 3 phase system yet so hadn't considered that this would negate the problems associated with going above a 4kWp system.

Worth knowing but better check with your DNO if you're not under EDF. Can't see why EDF would do it and not the others but still worth a call before rather than after.

 

[Markc]

By the way, Should of seen my supplier Area Rep face when I ordered 54 Panels! And what a discount I got as well!

 

[bigbob1]

Mark mate it's all under G83/1, you can install upto 16A per phase anywhere in England, i'm just gutted the bloke didn't build another 2 barns so that it was 30kw system for ya! the DNO would of wanted money to upgrade there incomer if it had been single phase. I've scrapped a couple of big systems because the DNO wanted £18k plus too upgrade the mains, you pay or no permission , customers soon lose intrest in the big 1's. The guys not gonna get his 41.3p a unit generated though over 10kw, unless he has 3 meters ??!! 1 per phase best get the meters changed quickly

 

[SolarCity]

Couple of questions for installers that have done 3 phase systems before:

1: Does a three phase system use 3 seperate generation meters? Or can it get away with a 3 phase meter?

2: Does it matter if inverters have different size strings?

For example, a 40 panel system would have two strings of 13 panels and one string of 14. Does this matter? I've been using an online system designer and it flags this up as a problem when "configuring inverters". Why should this be?

3: How do you go about monitoring the performance if you use 3 seperate inverters?

Thanks in advance

 

[bigbob1]

firstly the fits is relevant to each meter, even if you have a 3 phase meter you can only claim 1 fits, 1 mewp number. So firstly get 3 1 phase meters on the 3 phase head, 3 mewp numbers 3 fits! this gets you around the g59/1 eng rec which is totally at the DNO's discretion, and basicly if he thinks he doesn't want to pay for local upgrades he'll make you pay! then just treat each meter as 1 installation as you normally would, but make each installation the same, and <16A each. so for instance 17x3 moser baer 230Wp panels = 11.73kWp with 3 Diehl 3800s inverters 3 generation meters and 3 fits at 41.3p!!! and the meters will cost nothing to get changed from 1 3line meter to 3 single line meters!! when you say monitor performance what exactly do you mean? the generation meters give you a figure and each inverter will give you a figure. Also 17 moser baers is 1 string! with diehl 3800s!! i have found this is the best performance system that you can get without buying hybrid panels.