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Solar panel cost

  • 05-04-2011 6:29pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5


    Solar panel cost
    Hi I'm wondering if anyone has any idea how much solar panels cost?
    Both the hot water and pv panels if possible....
    many thanks


«13

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,389 ✭✭✭Carlow52


    tmcs wrote: »
    Solar panel cost
    Hi I'm wondering if anyone has any idea how much solar panels cost?
    Both the hot water and pv panels if possible....
    many thanks

    euro [4,000 and 6,000] respectively.

    If you have access to the internet search for solar panels and PV panels


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 tmcs


    Carlow52 wrote: »
    euro [4,000 and 6,000] respectively.

    If you have access to the internet search for solar panels and PV panels

    Thanks
    Its hard to get prices on the net....
    any idea cost per sq meter....
    or how many kWh are you getting for that kind of money
    and I presume you'd get hot water most of the year for your €4000....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,163 ✭✭✭homer911


    tmcs wrote: »
    Thanks
    Its hard to get prices on the net....
    any idea cost per sq meter....
    or how many kWh are you getting for that kind of money
    and I presume you'd get hot water most of the year for your €4000....

    I think your question has been answered to the best of anyones ability on the internet. Your best course of action is to contact an installer and they will usually do a site survey and provide you with an estimate free of charge.

    As regards hot water - dont rely on it outside of April to September.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 tmcs


    homer911 wrote: »
    I think your question has been answered to the best of anyones ability on the internet. Your best course of action is to contact an installer and they will usually do a site survey and provide you with an estimate free of charge.

    As regards hot water - dont rely on it outside of April to September.

    Im sure theres plently of people out there that have had solar panels installed and would be able to give a far more accurate price then €4000 and €6000 (without any indication as how much power your getting for your 6 grand) and would save the hassel of getting three or four site surveys done from different companies.....

    but thanks for the input homer.....i'm extremely grateful you can speak for everybody on the internet.....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,163 ✭✭✭homer911


    If you ask a general question, you'll get a general answer

    Welcome to Boards! Specific questions and polite interaction will probably get a better response and make up for your lack of personal "leg work"


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 tmcs


    homer911 wrote: »
    If you ask a general question, you'll get a general answer

    Welcome to Boards! Specific questions and polite interaction will probably get a better response and make up for your lack of personal "leg work"

    You didnt give an answer of any real worth to the question....you simply suggested that everyone on the internet has answered the question to the best of their ability:

    "euro [4,000 and 6,000] respectively.

    If you have access to the internet search for solar panels and PV panels "

    .......dont get me wrong I appreciate your advice: "Your best course of action is to contact an installer and they will usually do a site survey and provide you with an estimate free of charge"....but this is something I had previously thought about.....

    ......now if every question on boards.ie was answered in a similar fashion, or the other great idea: "search the internet".....whats point in boards at all?

    Many thanks once again for this delightfully polite interaction:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭quentingargan


    It seems a shame to spoil the fun here and take this in a different direction, but it really depends whether you are just looking for panels to do a DIY install, or want a turnkey package. Usually for solar thermal, a package includes changing your cylinder for a better insulated one with two coils, either 200L or 300L depending on the number of people in the house, amount of hot water you need etc. If someone quotes you without asking those sort of questions, I'd say move on.

    There is a ban on mentioning brands or advertising generally, but I'll PM you a link to one site which publishes its prices. There are more.

    On solar PV, to be honest, the cost is still prohibitive for most households. I would only really recommend it for holiday homes needing to meet Part L compliance, or for off-grid use. That said, the price of the component parts has come down dramatically. You can buy modules in Ireland for about €1.70 per watt peak plus VAT. So a 240W panel will cost €493 incl VAT. If you want to grid connect these you will need an inverter. However, a 240W panel will usually produce about €35 worth of electricity per year. It is viable in the UK where a very generous feed-in tariff pays householders over three times the retail price of electricity for their output.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 canapat


    I am being quoted €9,800 less €2,400 subsidy and €1300 grant nett cost €6,400 for flat plate solar panels + new cylinder 200L + pump. We are just two people in a 4 bed detached house and just use average hot water. I was told I could get the whole lot done for €3,200 by a supplier of solar tubes. Am I being ripped off??


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,454 ✭✭✭mink_man


    I think hot water solar panels aren't worth it, they operate well during summer but in winter when you also need the hot water you'll need an extra heating source. also if you have an electric shower you don't get use of of it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,262 ✭✭✭✭Joey the lips


    a typical system costs around 4700 and with the grant you get around 1700 back so that nets back to 3000. for this you get

    30 tubes
    twin coil cylinder
    controller
    fitting,

    I dont know much about the pv panels.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭quentingargan


    canapat wrote: »
    I am being quoted €9,800 ....Am I being ripped off??

    Eh, thankfully not any more;)

    There are a few sharks out there with a heavy sell... Q


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 423 ✭✭ccsolar


    Hi
    Yes you are and I think we could guess who the company is, they have caught a few people but thankfully you got away.

    Cc


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 canapat


    Thanks folks for all your advice. Don't think I'll be buying anytime soon


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    A friend in Tipp has a hot water panel system installed; it cost her €4,000, but about half of that was paid - through the Concerto grants which her locality applied for, not an SEAI grant, I think.

    Hot water through the summer isn't to be sniffed at; it means you don't have your immersion switched on for dishwashing or baths for several months of the year.

    I'd be very interested in photovoltaic (PV) panels for electricity, though. Anything that cuts down our use of other people's nukes, imported fossil fuel and our precious boglands' turf has to be good.

    I'm told that Sanyo panels are by far the best, and that the company has a new, smaller and more efficient 250-watt panel just issued or issuing. (This comes from the greenlivingforum.net Power and Lighting forum.)


  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    mink_man wrote: »
    I think hot water solar panels aren't worth it, they operate well during summer but in winter when you also need the hot water you'll need an extra heating source. also if you have an electric shower you don't get use of of it.
    :eek:

    Nobody ever said SHP will give you give 100% of your hot water, but this does not mean they are not worth installing. SHWP's are probable the first renewable energy options people should consider.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 263 ✭✭Foleyart


    We put in a solar panel this year and I must say that so far it has been brilliant. Turned off the w pellet burner 2 months ago and had to use the immersion maybe twice since then. No great sunshine in all that time but the little we had was sufficient to heat our DHW. I would love to get in some pv panels. Had been thinking of a wind turbine, ideal site, but we are in an SAC area and would probably have problems with planning. ( 9 years waiting for planning for the hse.) So don't fancy going down that route again. Definitely recommend solar for DHW though.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 118 ✭✭Amateurish


    Foleyart wrote: »
    We put in a solar panel this year and I must say that so far it has been brilliant. Turned off the w pellet burner 2 months ago and had to use the immersion maybe twice since then. No great sunshine in all that time but the little we had was sufficient to heat our DHW. I would love to get in some pv panels. Had been thinking of a wind turbine, ideal site, but we are in an SAC area and would probably have problems with planning. ( 9 years waiting for planning for the hse.) So don't fancy going down that route again. Definitely recommend solar for DHW though.
    Great to hear its a success for you but be aware that you might want to run the immersion occasionally to kill legionella bacteria, particularly if you use a shower off the hot water cylinder.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Foleyart, where are you, and what company did you get to do the work? Was it dear? What kind of house do you have - how many storeys, and what size? Are you running radiators off the solar or just shower and dishwashing water?

    Good tip on the Legionnaire's, Amateurish.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 263 ✭✭Foleyart


    The house is in Connemara, 2 storey, with half roof on first floor, upstairs inset to steel frame, sitting room and office. The collector is on the first floor roof south facing. The cost was about 3.5G. We already had a 300 litre tank with twin coils. No rads, underfloor heating from wood pellet burner. I could probably send you a pm with the company name if needed. They are in the midlands and also service the wp boiler.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Foleyart wrote: »
    The house is in Connemara, 2 storey, with half roof on first floor, upstairs inset to steel frame, sitting room and office. The collector is on the first floor rooI could probably send you a pm with the company name if needed. They are in the midlands and also service the wp boiler.

    That would be good, for future reference - thank you; not spending anything right now!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,674 ✭✭✭makeorbrake


    It is viable in the UK where a very generous feed-in tariff pays householders over three times the retail price of electricity for their output.

    It's a shame that we are not progressive enough to pursue that here. Just after watching dragons den - which featured this company. IF those figures stand up to interrogation, then it would be a no-brainer.

    Has there even been any consideration of such a scheme in Ireland?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Only trouble with that model - where the company puts in the panels and you pay them back - is that it may cause hassle if you sell your house.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,674 ✭✭✭makeorbrake


    Only trouble with that model - where the company puts in the panels and you pay them back - is that it may cause hassle if you sell your house.
    Didn't see any mention of payment on the drip?

    In any event, the key elements in the uk seem to be the fact that they have facilitated feed-in into the grid, have guaranteed feed-in rates until 2035 - and rates are healthy (not to mention tax-free).

    Pretty frustrating when you look at it. Given that we are skint right now, steps like this don't cost us - it's just well thought out. It's a win-win for the individual, for the country (more employment in this sector) and is a small (but significant) step towards energy security.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    Didn't see any mention of payment on the drip?

    In any event, the key elements in the uk seem to be the fact that they have facilitated feed-in into the grid, have guaranteed feed-in rates until 2035 - and rates are healthy (not to mention tax-free).

    Pretty frustrating when you look at it. Given that we are skint right now, steps like this don't cost us - it's just well thought out. It's a win-win for the individual, for the country (more employment in this sector) and is a small (but significant) step towards energy security.

    Sounds like a good deal then - I must have misread the page. Time for a group of Irish electricians to get together and hassle the government to set the same 'FIT' (feed-in tariff) system up here.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,674 ✭✭✭makeorbrake


    Sounds like a good deal then - I must have misread the page. Time for a group of Irish electricians to get together and hassle the government to set the same 'FIT' (feed-in tariff) system up here.
    Presumably the stumbling block would be the ESB......:mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭quentingargan


    I'm afraid I go out on a limb here compared to others in the microgeneration industry. I think the feed in tariffs in the UK are way too high. It has spawned inflation in the industry, and also came accompanies by MCS accreditation requirements which are expensive ulitmately for the end user.

    Do we really want or need a scheme in Ireland that gives householders 45c per Kw hr for electricity exported, then sells it to the house next door for 1/3rd of that price? We can get electricity from mega-wind for less than a fifth of what they are paying microgenerators in the UK.

    I would agree that microgeneration should be subsidised, but not to the extent that it is in the UK, where companies are tripping over each other to install free solar PVs on your roof so they can avail of the ultra generous feed-in tariffs. To my mind, a feed in tariff of 20 to 25c guaranteed with indexation for far longer than 5 years (the current limit in Ireland) would provide a target for the industry to work towards.


  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    Do we really want or need a scheme in Ireland that gives householders 45c per Kw hr for electricity exported, then sells it to the house next door for 1/3rd of that price? We can get electricity from mega-wind for less than a fifth of what they are paying microgenerators in the UK.
    well said, i'd like to see more co-ops and investor schemes for wind and wave projects, which as you said above are far more effeicent and have a much better EROEI than domestic PV generation.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,674 ✭✭✭makeorbrake


    To my mind, a feed in tariff of 20 to 25c guaranteed with indexation for far longer than 5 years (the current limit in Ireland) would provide a target for the industry to work towards.
    I have not been keeping uptodate with this. Is it now possible to feed-in to the grid via domestic installation in Ireland? If so, what are the tariff's? Agree that 5 years is not long enough. They should be able to see that people need to be secure in the knowledge that they can at the very least achieve sufficient pay-back.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭quentingargan


    I have not been keeping uptodate with this. Is it now possible to feed-in to the grid via domestic installation in Ireland? If so, what are the tariff's? Agree that 5 years is not long enough. They should be able to see that people need to be secure in the knowledge that they can at the very least achieve sufficient pay-back.
    Current feed in tariff with ESB only, and only to householders (not to business) is 9c per Kw Hr. There is a top up of 10c per Kw Hr for the first 3,000 units exported per year for the first five years. No guarantees after that.

    Which is a problem....


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1 handyhand


    ccsolar wrote: »
    Hi
    Yes you are and I think we could guess who the company is, they have caught a few people but thankfully you got away.

    Cc
    I recently had one of these cowboy "consultant" operators call to my house to carry out a survey and give me a quote. The timeline was as follows:
    Insists on meeting my wife AND I together at the house. Arranged for 11am.
    Starts with the "offers to select our house as the demo one for the area" and says " what he has to offer us is a nobrainer in terms of his value for money to us". With folder in hand he goes through the "education stage" of the survey about solar energy. Asks intermittently are we genuinely interested in availing of this great offer? If not he has another call at 3pm in the area where that house will be the lucky one instead of our house.
    Surveys the house and takes out a calculator. Opens with a quote for 9,660 euro. (3 solar panels, 300lt tank, plus the other normal components). Takes 3 reductions of 5% each off this figure for allowing him to put up a sign for his company at our premises, for allowing him to select our house for the job and for some other such reason which I now forget.
    Then deducts 1,500 as a once off offer but only if we accept on the spot to bring the final quote to 6,782 or thereabouts. The time now is about 12 noon.
    I look at my wife and notice that she has lost all interest at this stage because she has seen through his smokescreen (she operated a business herself). I then said to him that we needed time to think on his offer. He insists offer must be accepted now to avail of all the deductions otherwise 9660 sum will apply.
    He reminds us about his 3pm call where this great offer will go to another house in the area. At this stage my wife leaves. I say to him that I will contact him at 2pm with a final answer. He then asks me to tick the "Reject" box on his sheet with this quotation. I say I am not yet rejecting his offer but he insists I am by not accepting there and then. That was the final straw. I ticked the reject box but wrote beside it "will confirm my final decision by 2pm". He left and headed for his 3pm call I presume.
    So that was my experience with him. I wish I could name the company but I gather it will feature in a forthcoming consumer radio programme shortly on "selling techniques" in the marketplace.
    Since then I have established that there are 2 such companies operating with these high-handed sales/marketing strategies. It is well known within the industry at this stage. I have received several quotes since from reutable companies and they are all within the 4500-5000 range (no silly deductions, etc.). So obviously my initial "consultant" with his 9660 quote was some cowboy. I also gather that his likes operate on a strict "no sell - no fee" basis so that if he does not collect a 50% deposit on the day he receives absolutely nothing for his call from the company he sells for. So obviously when he does sell he is in line for some whack of a fee.
    SO WATCH OUT FOR THIS TYPE OF OPERATOR SELLING <SNIP>


    Mod edit: Do not post anything remotely resembling the company name.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭quentingargan


    We can't name companies for legal reasons, but we do need to put the word out that there are a few companies in the industry who use a heavy sales technique to sell over-priced systems.

    If someone demands a decision on the spot, there is a reason - they fear that during a cooling off period you'll get some hard information that will change your mind (and they are dead right about that).

    The deposit is usually roughly the amount you are being suckered by, so changing your mind for an equivalent system from someone else is not worth the bother, and you will be threatened with legal action for breach of contract. That's why you both have to be there - you both signed the contract.

    The Consumer agencies can do nothing. If someone cold calls, you are legally entitled to a cooling off period. But the way this system works is that they send you a leaflet, you respond, inviting them to call. So your statutory rights to a cooling off period are forfeited.

    We have assisted in several of these cases. In each case, the company ultimately refunded the deposit. One such case was two aged women living together who used very little hot water.

    Those of us who work in this sector are pretty sick of seeing these companies gobble up market share while damaging the reputation of the industry. We would love to see an exposee of this sales technique, but I fear that it will be a plague on all our houses. So these guys get the upside of their sales technique, and we all suffer the downside when it is exposed. :mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37 jj58


    solar thermal prices
    € 4000 for 20 tubes 200l cylinder supply and fit
    € 4800 for 30 tubes 300l cylinder supply and fit
    most people now are not eliigiable for the seai grant, mainly because they would have to oversize their solar panels, eg a house size of 200m2 would need about 50 tubes and a 500l hot water tank, madness and there might only be two people in the house,
    i think its seai s way of not having to pay out for grants

    from what i have heard of pv solar there is a 25-20 year pay back if any?/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 423 ✭✭ccsolar


    Hi JJ58
    Here is a guide to comply with the SEAI Grant
    170-200 sqm House - 1700KWH - 40 tubes -300 ltr tank output 1769kwh
    201-250 sqm House - 1850KWH - 50 Tubes-300 Ltr tank output 1945 kwh
    250 + sqm Hopuse - 2000KWH - 60 Tubes-300+litre tank output 2077kwh
    The average price range for the above systems should be around €4200 - €4800
    The problem with the larger houses is with the over size of the collector but this can be sorted with a well installed heat dumping system .

    Cc


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37 jj58


    cc solar you seem to know what your talking about but
    kingspan done up them for me on that deap software and i m sure there not wrong and there one of the most efficent
    recently a 310 m2 house was 100 tubes to comply with regs
    105 m2 = 30 tubes
    150 m2 =40 tubes


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 423 ✭✭ccsolar


    Hi JJ58

    Once you go over a 250 sqm house you only need to produce 2000kwh.
    If the house was 310 sqm the requirement is still only 2000kwh.

    I have uploaded the new SEAI Compliance calculator for you.
    It is simple to use if you have all the details of the solar panels you are installing

    Cc


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭quentingargan


    jj58 wrote: »
    cc solar you seem to know what your talking about but
    kingspan done up them for me on that deap software and i m sure there not wrong and there one of the most efficent
    recently a 310 m2 house was 100 tubes to comply with regs
    105 m2 = 30 tubes
    150 m2 =40 tubes
    Hi JJ. Trying to meet Part L with solar thermal just doesn't make sense with a house over about 200m2. If you want to use solar, you would be better off using a combination of solar thermal and solar PV. That way you can get the amount of hot water you actually need without putting in a ludicrous system. You can then produce electricity which you can use or export. The hardware cost for the PV side isn't that much.

    But this only makes sense of you are trying to meet Part L. It doesn't quite make financial sense yet, though PV is getting close enough.

    If you PM me your location, roof pitch, roof orientation I can put together some suggestions as to how you could meet part L with a combined system.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37 jj58


    I have used it in a multi energy tank' heats central heating water' hot water goes through a coil time it comes out the tank its hot' eco combi 3 tank, google it' brilliant system if u have solid fuel'' oil is 3rd choice heating source' you can use heat pump on this tank'. Works well with underfloor heating' no wasted hot water, use what you need


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 Jvk


    Ive just had someone Call from a certain company based in duleek co.meath. After spending 2 hrs with me doing the hard sal, exactly as handy hand quoted above (word for word)he quoted figures of €8100 but by becoming a demo home we'd save 2k. I initally told him I'd need time to think about it, he insisted i woud loose the discount & insisted there is a legal cooling off period of 7 days so I gave him a deposit using my cc of €1500.
    Have I been duped ?? I now realise the system is nearly double the price quoted anywhere else ? After my wife inviting him into our home what are our rights, he promised me on a number of occasions there was a coolong off period in which time if I decided not to I would get all my money back ? - HELP ?????


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 Jvk


    By the way only I signed the contract !


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 590 ✭✭✭maddragon


    I did a BER survey in a house in Kinsale where the elderly tenant had fallen for the hard sell. He had paid €7000 approx for 30 tubes a cylinder and a shower. The house had no insulation and electrical storage heaters. I nearly cried for the poor auld soul. The rating went from an F to an F. For that money he could have put in a condensing boiler with rads and heating controls, a stove and insulated the attic with change to bring the missus on holidays. The rating would have been a C2. I'm all for solar but these cowboys disgust me.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭quentingargan


    Jvk wrote: »
    I initally told him I'd need time to think about it, he insisted i woud loose the discount & insisted there is a legal cooling off period of 7 days so I gave him a deposit using my cc of €1500.

    My understanding is that if you invited them to visit you, then the cooling off period doesn't apply. That is a key part of the trick operated by these companies. You get a leaflet, you call them up, an effectively you invite them into your home, so it isn't a cold call. The consumer protections only apply to cold calls.

    I don't know if you can cancel the credit card payment at this stage?? If you can, I would do so on the basis that you were duped by being assured that a cooling off applies.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 Jvk


    maddragon wrote: »
    I did a BER survey in a house in Kinsale where the elderly tenant had fallen for the hard sell. He had paid €7000 approx for 30 tubes a cylinder and a shower. The house had no insulation and electrical storage heaters. I nearly cried for the poor auld soul. The rating went from an F to an F. For that money he could have put in a condensing boiler with rads and heating controls, a stove and insulated the attic with change to bring the missus on holidays. The rating would have been a C2. I'm all for solar but these cowboys disgust me.

    I too am living in Cork city, im guessing it was the same cowboys, I can't believe I've been so stupid, I knew it didn't make sense that he wouldn't wait until Monday for my answer, but when he told me there was a 7 day cooling off period I thought what the hell, I've nothing to loose.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 Jvk


    My understanding is that if you invited them to visit you, then the cooling off period doesn't apply. That is a key part of the trick operated by these companies. You get a leaflet, you call them up, an effectively you invite them into your home, so it isn't a cold call. The consumer protections only apply to cold calls.

    I don't know if you can cancel the credit card payment at this stage?? If you can, I would do so on the basis that you were duped by being assured that a cooling off applies.

    Thanks quentingargan, I will ring my credit card company in the morning. Not sure they will be able to do anything, I'm sure it's only going to be my word against his, though I did have my wife present who didn't sign the contract.
    I notice your from Bantry, my home town !


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭quentingargan


    Jvk wrote: »
    Thanks quentingargan, I will ring my credit card company in the morning. Not sure they will be able to do anything, I'm sure it's only going to be my word against his, though I did have my wife present who didn't sign the contract.
    I notice your from Bantry, my home town !
    The Consumer Authority of Ireland may be able to support you in this. The companies engaged in this business have come to their attention before... many times...

    Personally, I would take the line that credit card companies shouldn't be giving facilities to this type of operation. You may not be their first caller either.

    We had a similar OAP situation by the way. A nephew had the persistence to embarass / harass the company into giving them a refund.

    Will toast your health next time I'm in Ma Murphys :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 Jvk


    The Consumer Authority of Ireland may be able to support you in this. The companies engaged in this business have come to their attention before... many times...

    Personally, I would take the line that credit card companies shouldn't be giving facilities to this type of operation. You may not be their first caller either.

    We had a similar OAP situation by the way. A nephew had the persistence to embarass / harass the company into giving them a refund.

    Will toast your health next time I'm in Ma Murphys :p

    I'll try the CC company, if needs be ill go on the airwaves and offer the €1500 to a charity if the company refunds it - it's not that I can afford to but I'll be damned if these crooks will get a ecnt off me.

    I tell Bill to stand ya a pint !


  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 280 ✭✭engineermike


    That kind of sales / pressure is what is destroying the business for genuine companies. Some of those prices (the higher ones) are just out of this world.
    The prices on solar have come right down, yet this solar 'season' was very quite.
    It reminds me also of the uPVC sales game years ago in the UK.
    Ringing a manager when there in your house to authorize a discount, like it brings some sort of urgency to the sale ?. Its a joke.
    Here is sample price 2012 for solar -

    Description - *** 30 Tube Single Panel Kit
    Cost €2,300 + VAT (€2,829 @ 23% -supply only)
    Occupancy (Normal Consumption) 3-4 people
    Hot Water Consumption 150 -200 Ltr/day
    Collector Orientation / Angle South / 45 deg.
    Estimated Yearly Solar Contribution 55-60 %
    The Kit Includes - 30 tube panel (***) & mounting rail kit, solar controller
    dual line pump station, 24L expansion vessel, brackets &fittings
    20L Glycol
    1 x ***** twin coil open vented cylinder
    (250 or 300 L Stainless)
    Includes 3 KW immersion
    The Kit excludes Pipe work from attic to cylinder
    Estimated installation cost €1100 - €1400 + Vat at 13.5%
    Grant Entitlements YES

    Depending on location and site specifics that price can come down to 3800 if its straight forward install.
    mike f


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 Jvk


    I agree Engineermike, I got quoted stupid money for what appears to the untrained eye at least a simple enough job, maybe the hotpress is a little tight on space around the cylinder but 2 inroof panels, 1x200L cooper cylinder, think he mentioned an expansion tank was over €8000 list, after a very generous discount, €6300. God knows how many people they caught. The guy that called here was arrogant and very intimidating. I'm not aware of the quality of work they do but nearky 2k over the odds is ridiculous.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 carnotcycle


    Cannot believe those prices and aggressive sales pitch. By way of reference i have purchased the following a month ago for a self build in Co. Carlow;

    400L s/s thermal store
    60 collector tubes
    Mounting frame
    Heat transfer fluid
    Pumping station and controller
    10m of double s/s pipe insulated with armaflex
    Expansion tank and a couple of vent slates etc.

    Total €4200

    Carpenter fitted frame €150 and I ran the pipes.
    Plumber to fill system and commission €400

    Predicted annual yield - 2413 kWh/annum
    approx. 60% of annual demand (according to PHPP)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 338 ✭✭jocotty


    [QUOTE=. By way of reference i have purchased the following a month ago for a self build in Co. Carlow;


    [/QUOTE]


    can i ask, what size house was that for?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 carnotcycle


    can i ask, what size house was that for?

    The treated floor area is 225m2, its a storey and a half with five occupants and relatively good spec. throughout; i.e. walls U = 0.14, ceiling 0.11, floor 0.14, windows 0.9. Rads throughout, no underfloor. A high efficiency wood burning stove is used to charge the thermal store these days (the solar contribution is minimal). It runs for about 4-5 hours most evenings. The stored heat energy is then used in the upstairs bedroom zone during the night if called for by the stat. Controlling and monitoring both the solar system and the wood burner using a Steca TR A503 TTR controller.


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