new 3kw system is it worth having it fitted

[FB.]

would you have them on the front of your home

I suppose it depends a bit on the house design as to how good (or bad) it would look.

I'd have them reluctantly - but the Mrs would say absolutely no. Since women make the decisions on which "nest" <house> they want to live in, I'd listen to a woman's opinion if I wanted to re-sell the house later at a good price.

I'd prefer them on the back, or perhaps split across both front and back if it can be made to look better than front only.

 

[trev]

Oh come on, how often do you look at the roof?

 

[sedgy34]

Just had a look on software SE per annum £898
6yr payback 3.5kw


I think when the cheques come through you won't be bothered that they are on the front roof

 

[davetherave1979]

Sales man called back £6800.00 for 16 panels system fitted will get me about £1000.00 a year but we have decided not to fit them on the front of the house will not look nice as we have a hiped roof and nice clay tiles.

We can fit about 8 panels on the side hip roof which is a SW facing roof sales man said it would take to long for the pay back from this so we will have to give up on the idea unless the price of the systems drop a lot he said it will be about 5k to 5500 for the 8 panels but says it is a waste of money with the pay back to long.

With regards to the sun it is at the back of our house from about 11 30 am all day we have a steep roof about 40 degres I cant see how the sun would reach the panels at the front of the house as it is in the side of the house all day but the sales man said it will due to the rays he couldnt explain it as we asked him.

 

[FB.]

With regards to the sun it is at the back of our house from about 11 30 am all day we have a steep roof about 40 degres I cant see how the sun would reach the panels at the front of the house as it is in the side of the house all day but the sales man said it will due to the rays he couldnt explain it as we asked him.

Maybe the salesman can't use a compass properly, or there was some magnetic interference - take a look at where the sun is at various times of day.

Or use google maps to view your house roof:
Google Maps

Or put your postcode into the following solar estimation tool and when you get to the map view of your roof, crank the arrow round until it points in the right direction:
Solar Energy Calculator / Solar panels (PV) / Generate your own energy / Home (United Kingdom) - Energy Saving Trust

.

 

[FB.]

My panels face ESE. The sun is opposite the panels around 8am (9am British Summer Time).

South-facing panels will have the sun straight at them around noon (or 1pm in British summer time).
SouthEast has the sun facing them around 9am (10am BST).
SouthWest has sun facing them around 3pm (4pm BST).
East has sun facing them around 6am (7am BST).
West has sun facing them around 6pm (7pm BST)

 

[FB.]

Alternatively, use a watch.

Lay the watch on a flat surface.

Turn the watch so that the hour hand points towards the sun.

In Grenwich Mean Time (British Winter time) South will be halfway between the hour hand and the number 12 on the watch.

In British Summer time, South will be halfway between the hour hand and the number 1 on the watch.

 

[SRE]

If you're installer doesn't want to install 2kwp on your SW roof ask another installer to quote for you. The payback is still good just not as good as a 4kwp. If you were installing 1kwp I could understand it. Last year our customers were delighted with a 12 - 13 year payback for a much bigger capital expenditure, solar is still a great investment. Have you been quoted for black panels on the front they look loads better than silver frames.

Not quite sure where £1k a year comes from with a 3.4kwp system, we have 4kwp and work from home consciously using as much free electric as possible and we reduced our fuel bills by about 28 - 30% (£140 ish). We struggle to match generation and consumption effectively on hot days. A smaller system generates less and so you have a better chance of matching generation and consumption.

 

[Solluva]

..... or should I not bother alltogether

Not the place to ask such a question and expect an unbiased answer!

 

[jerriais]

To be honest your salesman isn't filling me with confidence, I get the feeling he's just after a sale with as many panels on the roof as possible. I'd definitely advise getting one of the regular forum posters out to have a look, we're also happy to do that for free if you're in the SE or thereabouts. If you pick a good company to quote you'll soon see the difference between those that know their stuff and those that just employ commission-only sales reps.

 

[davetherave1979]

If i fitted 8 panels on a SW roof as thats all I can fit on it 1.96kw what percentage of electricity will that produce as its in the SW position. And say it cost me 5k how long will my return be say at 21p thanks

 

[Worcester]

It's not diffucutl to calculate - takes about 5 minutes, unless he wants to make something up. pm me an I'll send you our calculation sheet that you can do yourself

 

[yftam168]

Around 10 years.

 

[davetherave1979]

Thats 2 long

 

[pww]

2Kw (8 x 250w panels) will pay back in around 9years, 8 at a push using cheapest panels/inverter. If you get anyone saying less, check the assumptions on their estimates.