Should have been having our panels fitted TODAY! Oh dear!! :o(

[liquidity]

Not to be a contrarian but... once the inverter and roof rails are installed you're more committed to completing the installation and quite reliant on the installer sourcing acceptable panels. I guess it depends on your level of faith that they will actually source the panels in the next few days. You might need to think about how you're going to get your FIT application submitted on time and keep in the back of your mind that the time/aggro/expense of hand delivering the FIT application to the likes of Good Energy might be necessary to ensure the application is received by 12 March.

If you can get the installer to put up the inverter and rails without needing any more cash from you then I view that as a good sign of their willingness to meet their commitments. Who paid for the scaffolding?

 

[finchy]

What a complete mess ! The government do share some blame but the its the PV company in the wrong here, there is no justification to do this illegally.

I hope Greg reads this to realise what a mess the industry is in ........the end customer are the victims of this !

 

[JulianC]

I doubt Greg cares. The nasty little numbskull is too busy securing his own future to care about that of our industry.

 

[whinmoor]

I think this highlights one of the major benefits of using an independent, local installer. It sounds like Mozzerr chose a larger outfit which has the funds to import its own panels but which has got into a mess when things go wrong. We don't do our own importing which means we can pick whatever's available from a multitude of possible suppliers. It doesn't mean we don't occasionally have problems but we do have flexibility with regards to components and contacts in the local area who can help us out if needed.

 

[Mozzerr]

Update: Apparently my actual panels are stuck in "X-ray" at customs but should be released "over the weekend". I should say that I do have some experience with that as an issue (in the IT biz) so I'm at least confident that I am now being kept in the picture.

The panels are: Suntellite ZDNY-250C60 in black. 32 off (16 on my install, 16 on dad's) - each going into an SMA 4000TL as 2x strings of 8, 8 going into input A and 8 going into input B - so I can monitor the relative performance of each string.

I'm aware that these are, shall we say, not the Rolls Royce of solar panels. But we are (were!) getting what I deemed to be quite a good deal, especially for the double-install. I have researched these panels myself and they seem decent performers. Furthermore, I have tended towards favouring the cost/performance "model" of the potential returns - as described elsewhere by FB. (I think) rather than going all out for "the best of the best" - which was certainly a consideration.

Who knows what will ultimately be the right decision! What a mine-field this PV industry is at the moment. I certainly do not envy you guys on the service provision end of the chain.

Again, many thanks to one and all.

 

[babba]

So if the panels are in the uk what about the inverter etc...and no phone call...I would hate to see their after sales care...phone REAL...

 

[whinmoor]

Update: Apparently my actual panels are stuck in "X-ray" at customs but should be released "over the weekend". I should say that I do have some experience with that as an issue (in the IT biz) so I'm at least confident that I am now being kept in the picture.

The panels are: Suntellite ZDNY-250C60 in black. 32 off (16 on my install, 16 on dad's) - each going into an SMA 4000TL as 2x strings of 8, 8 going into input A and 8 going into input B - so I can monitor the relative performance of each string.

I'm aware that these are, shall we say, not the Rolls Royce of solar panels. But we are (were!) getting what I deemed to be quite a good deal, especially for the double-install. I have researched these panels myself and they seem decent performers. Furthermore, I have tended towards favouring the cost/performance "model" of the potential returns - as described elsewhere by FB. (I think) rather than going all out for "the best of the best" - which was certainly a consideration.

Who knows what will ultimately be the right decision! What a mine-field this PV industry is at the moment. I certainly do not envy you guys on the service provision end of the chain.

Again, many thanks to one and all.

I just received a circular from a supplier:

In Stock on Wednesday
SUNTELLITE 250W BLACK FRAME MONO
CALL Gary 07910 389xxx or 07890 569xxx

I don't have any experience of this brand so can't really offer much advice but this could be the same batch you are waiting for?

 

[jerriais]

I hate to do this but I just get a sneaking suspicion when products are directly imported by one installer ... so I checked the MCS database and couldn't find Suntellite panels there.

I very much hope I'm mistaken for your sake, maybe they're listed under another manufacturer, but I would make it very clear to your installer that your panels have to be MCS certified otherwise there will be no FIT payments.

 

[whinmoor]

I hate to do this but I just get a sneaking suspicion when products are directly imported by one installer ... so I checked the MCS database and couldn't find Suntellite panels there.

I very much hope I'm mistaken for your sake, maybe they're listed under another manufacturer, but I would make it very clear to your installer that your panels have to be MCS certified otherwise there will be no FIT payments.

Don't panic. I think they must be listed under:

Solar Panel, Solar Cell, Solar Module Manufacturer,Supplier,Factory - Hangzhou Zhejiang University Sunny Energy Science and Technology Co.,Ltd

Hangzhou Zheijiang University Sunny Energy Science and Technology Co. Ltd

Hangzhou is actually the twin town of Leeds near where I am based.

 

[Mozzerr]

I almost had a heart-attack after reading Jerriais' post!

I must admit, I had not actually tried to reference any MCS database for approved panels. Just that the supplying company is MCS accredited and are members of REAL etc. I'm afraid I took it as given that the panels would be ok. I did go as far as checking the Suntellite web site plus a few recommendations from other local installs. I did notice that other MSC companies are supplying these panels too...

As for the price of 85p/w wholesale - yes that would about fit with what I am paying fully installed allowing for a reasonable mark-up and my admittedly draconian ideas of man day rates for the trades involved.

 

[jerriais]

Yes, I see them now, apologies for scaring anybody!

 

[moggy1968]

hmmn, yes, thanks for posting wholesale prices on a public forum!!

 

[Mozzerr]

Yes, I did wonder if someone might comment about that... But then, I wouldn't get too upset about it... after all you can buy these panels on Ebay from (presumably) wholesalers for the same price! Really!!

 

[MorganPVI]

Good luck with getting the panels in time, if they are in the X-ray queue you may be waiting a lonnnnnnnnnnng time.
Perhaps you need a plan B.

ebay!!! :rotfl:

 

[Osbo]

You can register with wholesalers like Segen without providing any acreditation so I wouldn't get too up tight about pricing information at that level.