Newbie

[Steve_rutland]

Go for it.

 

[sparkless]

"DIY" is that our trade to you?


arrogant

 

[Steve_rutland]

No. I'm DIY with help from the experts. People like you....well not you obviously as you pay everyone to do everything for you and expect everyone else to do the same. A company near me has agreed to do the work on my install that makes it SAFE which is the important thing. This isn't affecting you in Birmingham so I don't know why you're getting yourself all worked up!

 

[Earthstore]

Sorry chaps, you both have a point but that is enough.

 

[Gavin A]

If you want to have a go at electro mechanical engineering, fill your boots pal! Some of us resent being quoted stupid money, ie £11,000 for something I can partially do myself and then have checked by an expert, for £4000. I guess you're the sort of guy that only buys a new car just in case some unqualified person has changed the oil! To fully answer your question, I did fit my fire, then I had a qualified person come in and do the pipe work to it do I knew it was safe.

if you're an electrical mechanical engineer, then IMO this would mean that you ought to be reasonably competent to carry out the work you've described, then get someone experienced in this field to just commission it - though be prepared for additional costs if you have ballsed something up that needs to be sorted out to get it to the proper standards.

I've done similar for others that I've judged to be competent on a couple of occasions, but tbh I don't really like it as there are techniques we've perfected over the years for eg ensuring the brackets and framework doesn't either knock against the tiles, raise the tiles up, ensuring the rails and panels are all plumb level etc. and it'd be a right pain in the backside to find this has been done wrong and the entire array has to come off so we can correct it.

Both jobs I can remember doing in this way, there were issues with that we had to rectify, or the extra guy helping actually slowed our lads down because of them having to explain why we did things a certain way, instead of just getting on and doing it - not too serious, but it made me quite wary of working in this way in future even if they ought to be competent.

It takes a 3 man team about a day to carry out most installs, sometimes 2 including commissioning and scaf in winter if it's more complex - this isn't a particularly large staffing cost, and is probably offset by the vat being charged at 5% vs 20% for the equipment alone, so I doubt it's worth it unless you're vat registered.

eta - when confronted by this situation now, I usually just offer to do it at our trade rate if I view them as being trade customers, and allow them to assist with moving panels around for us on the ground etc if they want to help out. Even if it's just a one off job, this approach tends to lead to further referrals anyway, as people in a trade tend to spread the word about good workmanship and helpful attitudes etc.

 

[Steve_rutland]

I, once again, have to agree with you Earthstore.

 

[Steve_rutland]

I know most installers wouldn't do what I'm asking and I'm ok with that. I have roofed many houses in my time and feel that I am competent enough to fit the kit I have. I know I have to pay for the right people to do the right work on my property and I have no problem with this. All I am doing is trying to do as much as i can reasonably do and still be safe. Fully safe. This forum has been very forth coming in helping me achieve this and I thank those that are helping me make this possible.

 

[sparkless]

here's an added expense for your install that you missed

Installing and Testing Domestic Photovoltaic Systems qualification, training course | City & Guilds

 

[Steve_rutland]

Night all.

 

[sparkless]

make sure you turn that Gas Fire off before you go up to bed.
it may not have been correctly installed

 

[Gavin A]

I know most installers wouldn't do what I'm asking and I'm ok with that. I have roofed many houses in my time and feel that I am competent enough to fit the kit I have. I know I have to pay for the right people to do the right work on my property and I have no problem with this. All I am doing is trying to do as much as i can reasonably do and still be safe. Fully safe. This forum has been very forth coming in helping me achieve this and I thank those that are helping me make this possible.

fair play, I'm just giving you the benefit of my experience of working in this way, though it's probably too late anyway as IIRC you've already bought the kit so the VAT savings are a moot point now.

I'm sure you'll do a much better job than a fair proportion of supposedly qualified installers anyway. Good luck with it.

 

[jason121]

thats the problem nowadays being tradesmen. I can do it myself . thats why part p came out. The only winner out of this is the customer. The guy commissioning it is a fool. it will be his name on the mcs certificate for 50 quid. I agree with sparkless.

 

[Steve_rutland]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It is costing considerably more than £50 though and as a tradesman, that is his choice.

 

[Vegelen]

People become good at what they do from practice, repetition and making mistakes.
Experienced solar companies can sometimes know of better ways of designing / installing a system than a laymen would.
They can buy solar equipment at 5% in preference to 20% VAT.
They'll know the best places to buy quality solar hardware from at trade prices.
They will have gained experience which will help them pair inverters and panels to maximise output. There can be lots of pre and post installation paperwork to maintain compliance with various regulations.
If we want lots of experienced, trained installers in the future, we have to keep them in employment to sustain them.
There is nothing wrong with customers educating themselves, trying to work out what panels they'd like with which inverters etc.
Installation of solar systems typically work best on domestic properties with 3 people, 2 roofers and a spark collaborating to get things done.
Focus on finding a good installer, tell them what you'd like, listen to their advice and then let them get on with it.
If things go wrong they'll be liable for fixing their own mistakes.
If you do something wrong, you'll be liable for re scaffolding, or for falling off your own roof because you took one short cut too many.

 

[michael0766]

Mr Rutland

I think you have been giving some very sound advice pity your not inclined to take it, I hope people don 't enter your given trade and undermine it.

Best regards