Whodunnit ?

[SolarCity]

Check this link out:-
Energy Group - Transition Tunbridge Wells

even local authorities not immune to it

I don't think that is a British install.

 

[SRE]

Check this link out:-
Energy Group - Transition Tunbridge Wells

Is that supposed to be an example of good practice in a transition town or an example of how not to do it????? Surely it can't be the former .....

 

[TedM]

I don't think that is a British install.

Correct - it is in California.

 

[Eco Deal]

heres one we did in bonnie scotland early last year
the house was on a golf course so I hope no golf balls hit the Panels !!

 

[dansk]

I come accros this all time when quoting, so much so im bored of it, customers being told by other firms they can fit on more than i suggest even when ive beem to site and done a roof measure.

i wonder if im the one in the wrong? maybe i cant measure? or my tape measure is elastic?

Ithink the real reason is a marketing ploy, sell the system on something unrealistic, then once they have signed they turn around on the day and say "sorry sir/madam we can only fit x amount of panels on" by which time its too late to back out.

 

[JulianC]

Ithink the real reason is a marketing ploy, sell the system on something unrealistic, then once they have signed they turn around on the day and say "sorry sir/madam we can only fit x amount of panels on" by which time its too late to back out.

That is spot on. We won a job before last year's deadline for 13 panels. Competitor quoted for 16. We explained to the customer how that was impossible and fortunately he believed us. He was in absolutely no doubt when he later went and measured up for himself, once we had the scaffolding up. Happened again this week- customer been quoted for 15 panels and 'can we beat the price'. Yes we can. We're only quoting for 12 panels though ;-)

 

[solarsavings]

I don't blame the customer.

Why not? some are just greedy gits that want what mr jones is getting and if you cant give it to them they will find someone that can.

 

[SRE]

Or someone who has saved all their lives and because of the bankers is now getting a rubbish interest rate while the bankers still manage to get massive bonuses! Just cos I have 2 systems on doesn't make me a greedy git - I'm providing for my future.

 

[Gavin A]

I come accros this all time when quoting, so much so im bored of it, customers being told by other firms they can fit on more than i suggest even when ive beem to site and done a roof measure.

i wonder if im the one in the wrong? maybe i cant measure? or my tape measure is elastic?

Ithink the real reason is a marketing ploy, sell the system on something unrealistic, then once they have signed they turn around on the day and say "sorry sir/madam we can only fit x amount of panels on" by which time its too late to back out.

we come across this a fair amount too - probably from the same companies, part of the reason we produce 3d models of each house showing the arrays on them so the customer can clearly see what we're proposing to install.

Annoyingly, we had one potential customer where a certain award winning company had quoted twice for systems that simply wouldn't fit on their roof. We even went to the trouble of producing a plan showing clearly that it couldn't fit, yet they went with the other company anyway because it was award winning. Personally it'd raise serious questions to me if a company produced 2 quotes in a row that wouldn't fit on the roof, not that I'm bitter or owt.

The worst example though was one where the other companies double glazing salesman had obviously measured the length of the roof, missed the fact that it was a hipped roof, and quoted for a full 4kWp system on that one roof face... we got that job with an installation that would actually fit.

 

[SolarCity]

Why not? some are just greedy gits that want what mr jones is getting and if you cant give it to them they will find someone that can.

The customer wants the system that he thinks will work best. Is he really to blame if he chooses the company that promises more?

 

[fiardor]

are the ones on the side definately PV, not thermal, they look a different size, or is it just an illusion? the overhang is way too much on the ones on the side. Not sure whats going on with those on the garage, a bit bizzare!

The ones on the front, well, I would have thought the two vertical ones could have gone horizontal but it's hard to say. IN fact the left hand vertical looks as though 2 horizontals would have fitted.

If your refering also to the scattering of panels, maybe the customer insisted. I quoted on a job a while back, 11 panels in 2 rows, but the customer insisted he wanted 16. I explained where those would have to go and the consequences of that re shading etc but he wanted them so we did it. The shading on the bottom right is less problematic than it may look and the system is performing very well but I wasn't too pleased with the visual appearance, but he was delighted! The inverter by the way went in his music room, complete with conduit etc. I showed him lots of piccies of what to expect, but thats what he wanted and again, he's delighted. He did say he would get it boxed in!
At the end of the day you can advise, but it's the customers choice!

View attachment 10497View attachment 10498 Anyone else brave enough to put there worst jobs on here!!!

Hey Moggs?

Did you bond the array to the MET or an earth rod? LOL

 

[moggy1968]

metal drainpipemg_smile:

 

[fiardor]

Phew thats ok then pmsl

 

[Chris Nunn]

Never a dull moment here in the SDC office, we put together the following over a coffee break. Note this is not intended as accurate simulation as we did not fully survey the site but we hope it illustrates what is possible with PV*SOL 3D design. The advantage of simulating such a challenging set of roofs in 3D is that the results of various module positioning and potential return on investment can be easily quantified. If anyone wants some more screenshots from this simulation, let us know.


Basic layout created in 3D. Now possible to position viewpoint anywhere in the space and to set the sun’s position to any date..


Shading from the soil stack causing surprising high shading frequency.

 

[SolarCity]

Out of interest, how did you put the windows in? I know how to put the roof windows in but didn't know you could show the actual windows in the walls.

How did you do the sheltered porch area too? And I thought I knew PV Sol Expert like the back of my hand.....