Really Need Some advise Urgently

[Rockingit]

Personally, I would NOT pay anything today, write up a list of your concerns and put to the installer, tell him that you will pay him 50% of balance on condition of his acceptance in writing to correct the errors with a 50% retainer for a further week after his claimed correction. If he disputes your concerns then tell him you are witholding all monies until you have had an independent inspection done.

 

[Dave-geo]

Are the inverters still installed on loft chipboard? Is that ok? Thought it needed to be a fireproof backboard?

 

[Somecamel]

Reagrds to the inverters cutting out for 15 mins at a time, possibly an over voltage problem? Are you in the sticks or a built up area?

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Personally, I would NOT pay anything today, write up a list of your concerns and put to the installer, tell him that you will pay him 50% of balance on condition of his acceptance in writing to correct the errors with a 50% retainer for a further week after his claimed correction. If he disputes your concerns then tell him you are witholding all monies until you have had an independent inspection done.

Thats more like it. Sounds an awful awful job. Don't be bullied into anything at the moment you hold the cards (cash). Gut tells me if you cough up you'll never see them again!!!

 

[Rockingit]

Gut tells me if you cough up you'll never see them again!!!

Me too!!

 

[finchy]

yep how many installs have I seen using chipboard it should be fire checked board....

report them to REAL and MCS ...need to kick out the cowboys !

 

[SolarCity]

My advice is to make a list of issues you have and then phone them up and explain your concern. If they start playing up then explain that you are going to contact MCS and REAL to ask their advice. Then take it from there.

 

[yellowvanman]

He is not allowed to withold certification pending payment. Contact MCS and REAL if he does for advice on what to do.

Whilst he cannot withhold certification he can withhold a receipt that shows ownership which is needed for the FIT application.

 

[crazygraham]

Well thanks everyone for the advice on this.
I am only just home from work and it is now pitch dark so I can't get a proper photo to post for all to see.

I have also had some good communication with the ones involved as a result of an email that I had sent to him on Sunday. He has come clean with the second hand inverter and that the panels are not correct he has said that due to personal circumstances my installation suffered and that it is now his highest priorty to rectify the errors that are on my system. So I am hoping that it should be sorted I hope.
I have also told him that as a result of what has happened I have lost trust in him and set out how the job will progress and how the payments will be made and when. So I have told him I will work out how much I owe him for the equipment less the two inverters and £500 so all but £2500 will be paid to him he will then use the screen in the second hand inverter to replace the faulty one and supply one new inverter to replace the second hand one. All Certs will be issued asap so the grant can be received and once it is the last £2500 will be paid to him and by doing this it give me a safety net knowing that he can't try and mess with or delay the grant.
Also when the inverters are sorted he will also remove all the panels of the front of the house and adjust the rails to there lowest setting that allows the array to sit completely level.

So I have to say that I'm very happy with this news as I have been worried sick incase he would not admit to his errors but he has and seems keen to put it all right including removing it inverters from my RCD.

As far as the fire board is this a big problem should I look fir this to be done or should it be ok ?

 

[whinmoor]

Are the inverters in the loft? If so, you could go up there with your camera and we can give our views on the electrical work? Same with any work he's done near your fuse-box.

 

[crazygraham]

Ok I will get a snap of the area where the inverters are installed.
It will prob be in about an hour as just about to get the kids to bed and if I go anywhere near them b4 that I will have a devorce to sort out as well lol

 

[moggy1968]

it's a mute point about the fireboard.
There is rather mixed views on this.

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Whilst he cannot withhold certification he can withhold a receipt that shows ownership which is needed for the FIT application.

my last 3 installs only needed the contract

 

[crazygraham]

Reagrds to the inverters cutting out for 15 mins at a time, possibly an over voltage problem? Are you in the sticks or a built up area?

In a built up area mate though there isno shading at all.
The voltage seems to sit in and around 180v +/- 5% and I guess thatsabout rite for two strings of six I know the open boltage is 37.3 and I think under load it dropes to 30.3 so I guess that the 180v is bang on. Also see the way I have two strings I will get double the amps but half the voltage is that better than having all the panels on one string and having a higher voltage with less amps?

 

[crazygraham]

here is the installation in the loft as you can see it dose look ok but it was only after i had stoped them and explaned that it had to be neat and tidy as to start it was just being banged up .

 

[screwdriver]

I suppose the 2nd ac isolator is there somewhere???? DC isolators could be classed as being a little close to the top of the inverters and so may cause a little bit of airflow restriction, doubt if it would be that bad on an east/west roof though. Gen meter by inverters has never really been our preferred location, especially if the client is elderly and can't climb into the loft every quarter to read the thing!