Please help!!

[Wiggers]

A 19x 210w panel all schuco system with rail kit, inverter, meter, isolators etc would cost around £10,500+vat. You would have to have one of these guys in to fit it thoe. Unfortunatly we only supply pv to trade account holders. For a true cost a survey will need to be carried out. If you need a local installer use the mcs website it has a list. Ask to see jobs done in your area and talk to the home owners. We have found smaller contractors offer a better service and you are not paying for a hot shot salesman full of BS. To most, Pv is new, most installers will be long standing sparks that have set up a separate company just to do renewables. A new company does not mean an inexperienced installer. Good luck.

 

[mmccx]

That is rediculously cheap for that size system, what the price per watt peak and what inverter are you using? or is that supply cost only? not including installation in which case thats quote expensive

 

[Wiggers]

Hi, it is retail price supply only and it concerns me that you state that this is a high price. What would you expect to pay for Schuco and from where.(reply private) We are a Schuco approved stockist. This is a complete retail priced 3.99kw kit. 19x210w panels, Hooks, rails, clamps, SMA inverter, energy meter, isolators and cable.

 

[dr.dmac]

I've just completed a one month search for 4kw and the cheapest fitted cost including VAT was around the £14,000. Some just under, some over. A more sophisticated set-up were in the £16-17k. I did not have a quote greater than £17.

 

[Steve_1]

Hi Guys,

Info so far is extremely helpfull and certainly the Sanyo is looking good.

Just had a company come round to offer a quote.

They will only use Schott and have advised that in their opinion they are the best on the market, and certainly feel that what he was saying gave us confidence in them.

Been going over thirty years and specializing solar panels for decades, so seem to know what they are talking about.

They also will only use Mastevolt invertors.

They would be using 16 230w panels generating approx 3.62kw. They said it is advisable not to go to close to the limit of 3.99kw, because if the panels over produce and generate 4 plus kw then the tarriff would drop to the commercial rate.

Your thoughts on the above would be appreciated.

I did ask him if their was a unit on the market that could regulate the supply to the invertor that would stop the over production and therefore regulate the volume, and he wasnt too sure, is there anything on the market, because then we could have 17 units, still be under 4kw but produce that bit more energy.

He quoted £17,400 incl VAT incl all in incl dealing with all paper work, surveys etc. Is that a good price???

 

[mmccx]

Hi Guys,

Info so far is extremely helpfull and certainly the Sanyo is looking good.

Just had a company come round to offer a quote.

They will only use Schott and have advised that in their opinion they are the best on the market, and certainly feel that what he was saying gave us confidence in them.

Been going over thirty years and specializing solar panels for decades, so seem to know what they are talking about.

They also will only use Mastevolt invertors.

They would be using 16 230w panels generating approx 3.62kw. They said it is advisable not to go to close to the limit of 3.99kw, because if the panels over produce and generate 4 plus kw then the tarriff would drop to the commercial rate.

Your thoughts on the above would be appreciated.

I did ask him if their was a unit on the market that could regulate the supply to the invertor that would stop the over production and therefore regulate the volume, and he wasnt too sure, is there anything on the market, because then we could have 17 units, still be under 4kw but produce that bit more energy.

He quoted £17,400 incl VAT incl all in incl dealing with all paper work, surveys etc. Is that a good price???

Just a quick warning about the bold part! when the system is MCS registered you have to specify the system Size in kWp. this is worked out by multiplying the number of modules by the rated Wp of each module. so even if it was 3.99kWp it would be registered as under 4kWp and you will always remain in that FIT bracket regardless of whether the modules actually generate a little more than 4kWp (this would only ever happen on very rare occasions and maybe for a few hours or on maybe 2 or 3 days a year). (that comment suggests he is talking out of his arse)

In regards to him saying he has specialised in PV for decades sounds a bit weird to me (I may be wrong and he may be being truthful), but ask him if he knows who the original accreditation body is (BRE), and also see if he knows what the old equivilent of FIT's is (ROC's) that will tell you if he really is being truthful

I think you would be better using Sharp NU-235 or similar, this would give you 3.76kWp.

Not to sure on the pricing but it seems a little high to me for this size system. I would have though somewhere closer to 16k would be more accurate but maybe someone else will have a better idea

 

[dr.dmac]

Hi Guys,

Info so far is extremely helpfull and certainly the Sanyo is looking good.

Just had a company come round to offer a quote.

They will only use Schott and have advised that in their opinion they are the best on the market, and certainly feel that what he was saying gave us confidence in them.

Been going over thirty years and specializing solar panels for decades, so seem to know what they are talking about.

They also will only use Mastevolt invertors.

They would be using 16 230w panels generating approx 3.62kw. They said it is advisable not to go to close to the limit of 3.99kw, because if the panels over produce and generate 4 plus kw then the tarriff would drop to the commercial rate.

Your thoughts on the above would be appreciated.

I did ask him if their was a unit on the market that could regulate the supply to the invertor that would stop the over production and therefore regulate the volume, and he wasnt too sure, is there anything on the market, because then we could have 17 units, still be under 4kw but produce that bit more energy.

He quoted £17,400 incl VAT incl all in incl dealing with all paper work, surveys etc. Is that a good price???

Steve,

For what it's worth, I've just had 4 quotes for 3.995kw. The lowest was £14 and the highest was £16,250. All prices including vat and fitting. All MCS accredited. Your quote seems a little on the high side.

 

[mmccx]

just checked the module efficiency, its only 13.7, is pretty low compared to Sharp around 14.6 and romag 14.2ish i believe, they are also massive for the amount of Wp you get from them, a romag 235 is 1640 x 994 and a sharp 235 isnt much smaller, so as for "best modules on the market" sounds like a bit of salesmans speil to me

 

[MCS Renewables]

The module and efficiency on the Sanyo is far better at 18% on the new 250 range and 17.3% on the 240 range.

However to be fair Schott are actually the strongest modules on the market having a 50mm frame and tested to 5400pa whereas the other MCS panels are only tested to 2400 pa. They are also the best modules for ground mounting or harsher areas as they are better protected for amonia and the like.

 

[Steve_1]

Talking to the guy we saw, he also said the modules they supply (Schott) are in the process of being tested for long term efficiency, in Germany. The test has been going for 24 years and they have droppoed to I think he said 93%.

Now they are as all panels I understand only guaranteeing to max efficiency of 80%, but the logic being that the less they drop over the FIT's period, they will produce more energy which if the energy company was to check the efficiancy in say 5 to 10 years or longer, as the customer your are safer in being paid the higher percentage rather than take the risk of a lesser "non tested over time" panel, and finding in say 5, 10, 20 years that the panels are performing in the 80% bracket rather than 90% bracket!!

 

[MorganPVI]

Sounds like your installer was at the Segen confrance, Schott did a very good and interesting presentation, some panels they offer a 30 yr guarantee, lininer - not stepped!

The Schott 235w panel is the same price as a brand new 245w Sharp, but if your looking for long term guarantees then Schott is #1. Not too sure on a mastervolt inverter, if your looking long term SMA is probably better guareantee wise.

For the price you've been quoted, I'd expect Sanyo panels and an alternative inverter - unless your site is complex and difficult to work on.

 

[mmccx]

Sharp 245Wp modules aren't mcs accredited yet

 

[SRE]

Sounds like your installer was at the Segen confrance, Schott did a very good and interesting presentation, some panels they offer a 30 yr guarantee, lininer - not stepped!

The Schott 235w panel is the same price as a brand new 245w Sharp, but if your looking for long term guarantees then Schott is #1. Not too sure on a mastervolt inverter, if your looking long term SMA is probably better guareantee wise.

For the price you've been quoted, I'd expect Sanyo panels and an alternative inverter - unless your site is complex and difficult to work on.

OMG the Schott guy bored the pants off me! I wanted to know about the amonia tests and it was skirted round.

Steve, £17k is more like a Sanyo and Fronius/SMA price. I like Sanyo but I'm not sure if I could justify the upfront cost even though I know that over 25 years it would be worth it. If I had more cash I'd definitley go for Sanyo. We mostly install Sharp because we're not in a particularly affluent part of the country and our customers are pretty loyal to the UK economy and want to buy as British as possible. Sharp panels have been going for over 45 years the same as schott and you may want to balance the longer guarantee of performance against a higher original performance. 58% of panels currently being installed in the Uk are Sharp - until today that is!!

 

[oslosolar]

Hi dudes first time reply long time reader
why is everyone obsessed with these brands according to Sma sunny design software Philadelphia M60 250 are number 1 with LDK and HHV 295wp in 2nd and 3rd sanyo are 14th on that list sharp 24th
Whats the score?

 

[SolarCity]

Based on yield? I doubt it very much.