Mitigation of risk - from a customer perspective

[series530]

Series530. I am sure you know this already but the Enecsys inverters are fitted under the panels so they will have to be removed again.

Mine are, indeed going to be fitted under the panel. The only thing to be aware of is the fact that there will be a roof in between. Mine are actually going to be installed inside the roof ... so no need to remove the panels (or the roof) so as to fit them ;=)

 

[Scooby]

Thanks, all. Hopefully the reply to my email to E-ON will be 'affirmative', and then I'll have that as written proof rather than a word over the phone.

For my in-law's install - hopefully to be carried out in a week's time by the same peeps on here who did mine :icon6: - I shall be recommending to her special delivery as Page and others suggest.

Cheers.

 

[Scooby]

Update: At their max time limit of 5 days, I finally had an email reply from E-ON. It said 'Sorry you haven't heard from us - please phone this number: 0845 301 4928'

I phoned, had a message warning of high call volumes and a suggestion that I email them...

Just as a deep sigh was leaving my mouth, it was then quickly answered by a very pleasant and efficient lady who promptly confirmed that they'd received my application on the 3rd Oct, which was the Monday following the Friday it was posted - so all good.

This is apparently the 'first' stage of the process and I should soon be receiving a letter asking for proof of purchase and proof of ID. Fair enough.

A point about 'Recorded Delivery' form the Royal Mail; a month after I'd sent the letter, I logged onto their tracking service and entered the code. Answer? "We've got your package!" Not what I wanted to hear - either it wasn't signed for, or its delivery wasn't recorded at all. Not helpful.

I'd strongly urge guaranteed next day special delivery as mentioned above - don't allow anything to muck up the application process.

 

[series530]

Update: At their max time limit of 5 days, I finally had an email reply from E-ON. It said 'Sorry you haven't heard from us - please phone this number: 0845 301 4928'

I phoned, had a message warning of high call volumes and a suggestion that I email them...

Just as a deep sigh was leaving my mouth, it was then quickly answered by a very pleasant and efficient lady who promptly confirmed that they'd received my application on the 3rd Oct, which was the Monday following the Friday it was posted - so all good.

This is apparently the 'first' stage of the process and I should soon be receiving a letter asking for proof of purchase and proof of ID. Fair enough.

A point about 'Recorded Delivery' form the Royal Mail; a month after I'd sent the letter, I logged onto their tracking service and entered the code. Answer? "We've got your package!" Not what I wanted to hear - either it wasn't signed for, or its delivery wasn't recorded at all. Not helpful.

I'd strongly urge guaranteed next day special delivery as mentioned above - don't allow anything to muck up the application process.

Hi Scooby,

well, after a long haul and quite a few bitten finger nails, our micro inverters were delivered and installed yesterday and we went live.

This morning I scanned all of the documents and sent them to Atlantic (SSE in another name). I also sent the same documents (including MCS certificate, proof of payment, account ownership {proof of id} and the covering form) by Royal Mail special delivery. £5.95 is a lot of money for sending a few sheets of currently worthless paper. It's amazing, especially given the December 12th issue, how much those bits of paper are worth in the long run!

I will give it until Tuesday and will the phone Atlantic just to be sure that the paperwork is migrating through their system.

 

[Scooby]

Good stuff, Series.

Did you chose the micro-inverters because of a shading problem?

 

[series530]

It all started because of partial shading first thing in the morning from a neighbours chimney and aerial. A shading analysis suggested that this would be and issue. Since fitting the panels I have noticed that with a low sun angle we get some shading from one of our chimneys as well.

So, yes, the micros were there partially for shading but also for MPPT per panel - my theory being that we could maximise the pay back over the life of the FIT.

Time will tell.

 

[Scooby]

Cheers for that. It's a big learning curve.

I have shading issues too, but decided to go for a split (left and right) system and a twin-input inverter to save costs, and as recommended by the installer. Pleased so far.

 

[series530]

The picture in my avatar shows the shading creeping up from my chimney.

My plan, once we have some decent weather, is to try to properly characterise the effects of shading and offer some concrete explanations - somewhat easier to assess given the ability to measure panel output individually as offered my micro inversion.