Hi,
It was suggested to me yesterday that I post on here for quotes for a PV Array. A couple of folks have contacted me but as I had put "South" in the event they may be too far away.
Info I think you need is as follows:
Property pretty much south facing,hipped and gabled but I think there is plenty of room for a neat oblong install on one roof. No idea of the pitch.
3 storey house, I think you may be able to get height to avoid tree shade
No scaffold needed? Access would be from a flat roof which would need boards to protect it (we have a scaffold tower on site, but you would need to bring your own scaffold boards).
Rosemary clay tiles.
It is a must that the installation raises the house into bracket D for the FIT. I have run a guestimate through the EST website and they conclude that a 1kw system and some more loft installation (we will do) would bring us into D. But a lot of there questions we cant give yes/no answers to and the assessment all seems VERY arbitrary.
If you want to pm your direct email I will send latitude/longitude and photo of the area envisaged.
Please say whose panels,inverters, monitors you will suppy so we can compare like for like with other companies.
Not sure if this helps but I do have products in mind which people might like to comment on,
Sanyo/Panasonic panels seem to have the best efficiency
Geo Chorus monitor
Not sure about inverters, but most companies seem to offer the Samil 4000, or more expensively the SMA Sunny boy?
It's not all about efficiency. It's as much about power output relative to the cost. I'd have no problem with an array of "old technology" polycrystalline panels made in China if they priced competitively against the Sanyo/Panasonic on a total generation:total cost basis.
Panasonic (Sanyo) panels are very expensive but don't deliver much additional performance except in very hot sunny climates (e.g. Mediterranean) where their superior temperature coefficient comes into play (hot, sunny, in the UK?). You'd probably be adding 25-30% to the total cost of a 3-4kW system but only gaining about 5-10% electricity generation.
Their main advantage is that they are smaller for the same power output (about 80% the size of a similar-wattage panel).
I found that the saving from installing Chinese panels instead of Japanese would allow me to save enough money to completely replace all the panels once during the lifetime of the system (although the panels came with a 20-odd-year insurance-backed warranty). And if I did replace the panels the chances are that technology would have improved (just like mobile phones get smaller and more powerful for little difference in cost).
Not sure about inverters, but most companies seem to offer the Samil 4000, or more expensively the SMA Sunny boy?
I opted for the opposite strategy: Chinese panels with European inverter, on the grounds that panels are relatively simple with no moving parts (the Chinese can surely get that right?) whereas the inverter has moving parts in the form of a cooling fan, and has an on-board computer which analyses and optimises the power flows.
Why not make a couple of screenshot captures from google maps and post the pictures on this topic?
It'll allow a lot more input and discussion as to the pro's and con's of how to get the best from your roof.
(I'm not an installer by the way - just someone who is enthusiastic about renewables)
Thanks, I have no idea what relative parts/panels cost and not anti far east manufacturers. All good points. Perhaps I shouldnt have stated what I fancied. Anybody who wants to quote probably uses what they feel works best as a complete assembly.
I wouldn't post a photo of your property on here as you'll get too many differing opinions. You'll get some good quotes and designs from people on here by PM and e-mail.
If the other installers haven't mentioned it then I'd advise getting Hookstop rosemary clay replacement tiles as they reduce tile breakage to almost none. One of the key considerations when installing on rosemary clay tiles.
If space isn't an issue they don't pay out for Panasonic / Sanyo. I prefer solar limpets to hook stop option personally. Samil have proven to be efficient and reliable over the last year.
Hookstop are very good, we'll have the "jump up and down trying to break the tiles" stand thingy at the show in Oct if anyone is there and fancies a go!
Hookstop are very good, we'll have the "jump up and down trying to break the tiles" stand thingy at the show in Oct if anyone is there and fancies a go!
Thanks again for all the advice. I wouldnt have known to ask about what fixings will be used below the rails. I have purchased some spare tiles as I dont expect the installers to float over the roof when they install.
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