Are PV Panels any good?

Carrickbeg

Installed 12 pv panels on my new build. Not living in house yet. Reason I went with them was to pass BER as I was poorly advise by a 'heating expert' to go with gas central heating over a heat pump.
Anyways, any tradesman (electrician, plumber...) working on site has told me how useless they are...but I am where I am now...I was planning using them for free hot water and free electricity...yes I watched the immersun video on youtube and was convinced they were right for me!

Gumbo

Carrickbeg wrote: »

Installed 12 pv panels on my new build. Not living in house yet. Reason I went with them was to pass BER as I was poorly advise by a 'heating expert' to go with gas central heating over a heat pump.
Anyways, any tradesman (electrician, plumber...) working on site has told me how useless they are...but I am where I am now...I was planning using them for free hot water and free electricity...yes I watched the immersun video on youtube and was convinced they were right for me!

At times they are brilliant, and at other times, they are not (you need the panels to be creating power).

If I was you, I would be installing a battery so that the panels can store the power during the day while you are in work, and then the house can be powered from the battery at night when home.

So far today, i've only generated 2.2kwh of power. I have a 3 kw system (10 panels)

Carrickbeg

kceire wrote: »

At times they are brilliant, and at other times, they are not (you need the panels to be creating power).

If I was you, I would be installing a battery so that the panels can store the power during the day while you are in work, and then the house can be powered from the battery at night when home.

So far today, i've only generated 2.2kwh of power. I have a 3 kw system (10 panels)

The battery would require further investment for a system I'm already regretting. Do u get any hot water from them?

Gumbo

Carrickbeg wrote: »

The battery would require further investment for a system I'm already regretting. Do u get any hot water from them?

Yes. I’ve gotten all my hot water needs since April from them. Ive has to boost the water using my gas boiler twice in that time.

I’ve generated 9kwh today and still generating.
I’ve also filled my 200L hot water cylinder today again from the panels.

Calahonda52

kceire wrote: »

Yes. I’ve gotten all my hot water needs since April from them. Ive has to boost the water using my gas boiler twice in that time.

I’ve generated 9kwh today and still generating.
I’ve also filled my 200L hot water cylinder today again from the panels.

All from PV?

Calahonda52

Carrickbeg wrote: »

1:Installed 12 pv panels on my new build. Not living in house yet.
2:Reason I went with them was to pass BER as I was poorly advise by a 'heating expert' to go with gas central heating over a heat pump.

3: Anyways, any tradesman (electrician, plumber...) working on site has told me how useless they are...but I am where I am now...
4: I was planning using them for free hot water and free electricity...yes I watched the immersun video on youtube and was convinced they were right for me!

1: it is what it is, as you acknowledge in 3, so learn how to maximise the value.
2: what is your basis for this opinion?
3: trademen who more than likely know SFA, or less about them.
3a: because of your current disposition, their mis-informed observations suit your victim narrative so you are not receptive to any other opinions.
4: if 12 panels did this why do you thing the entire country would not have them on their roofs and we would reduce our energy related balance of payments deficit by 50%

Gumbo

Calahonda52 wrote: »

All from PV?

Yes. I have the immersion divertor.

Gumbo

So far today I’ve generated 6.5kwh
My tank is full again as the Eddie h it tells you when it has reached max temp (set by the immersion unit).

Admittedly now, it would not have been emptied from yesterday so in essence it was just topping it up today but it’s there for use now for showers and kids baths later.

Carrickbeg

kceire wrote: »

So far today I’ve generated 6.5kwh
My tank is full again as the Eddie h it tells you when it has reached max temp (set by the immersion unit).

Admittedly now, it would not have been emptied from yesterday so in essence it was just topping it up today but it’s there for use now for showers and kids baths later.

Just out of interest...why did u go for PV panels over evacuated tubes?

Gumbo

Carrickbeg wrote: »

Just out of interest...why did u go for PV panels over evacuated tubes?

2 different systems.
I wanted the option of generating power as well as hot water. Evacuated tubes are purely solar thermal and have much more moving parts and serviceable items that are not in the PV systems.

Carrickbeg

Pv panels connected. No water in cylinder yet. Will answer my own question in the next 12months.

Carrickbeg

My 3.2kw PV system is producing about 1kw per day at the moment. Does anyone else have a similar system?

Gumbo

Carrickbeg wrote: »

My 3.2kw PV system is producing about 1kw per day at the moment. Does anyone else have a similar system?

Mine made 7.5kwh yesterday.
Its been quite a dull few weeks though.

Can you monitor your generation as I assume you mean 1kwh rather than 1kw?

Carrickbeg

kceire wrote: »

Mine made 7.5kwh yesterday.
Its been quite a dull few weeks though.

Can you monitor your generation as I assume you mean 1kwh rather than 1kw?

Yeah 1kwh I think...20cent or so on the immersun unit...mine should surely be around the 7kwh too so?
Do u have the immersun?

Gumbo

Carrickbeg wrote: »

Yeah 1kwh I think...20cent or so on the immersun unit...mine should surely be around the 7kwh too so?
Do u have the immersun?

What size is your system?

Ive a 3kw System with eddi Divertor which is similar to the immersun.

Carrickbeg

kceire wrote: »

What size is your system?

Ive a 3kw System with eddi Divertor which is similar to the immersun.

12 panels. 3.18kw.

Gumbo

Carrickbeg wrote: »

12 panels. 3.18kw.

Depending on location, yes, you should have generated more than 1kwh.
Are you sure that's not the figure that went to the immersion as opposed to the generated figure?

2.5kwh went to my immersion yesterday to fully heat the 200L tank.

Carrickbeg

kceire wrote: »

Depending on location, yes, you should have generated more than 1kwh.
Are you sure that's not the figure that went to the immersion as opposed to the generated figure?

2.5kwh went to my immersion yesterday to fully heat the 200L tank.

Not sure to be honest but I don't see a figure for how much is being generated. I have a cat 5 going to inverter but no internet in house yet.

Gumbo

Carrickbeg wrote: »

Not sure to be honest but I don't see a figure for how much is being generated. I have a cat 5 going to inverter but no internet in house yet.

OK then, so your figures may be off.
Maybe wait until you are set up properly and observe.

Carrickbeg

3.1kwh sent to the hot water tank today. Plus we were at home all day so dishwasher, washing machine etc going throughout the day. That seems pretty good to me for early February...

Gumbo

Carrickbeg wrote: »

3.1kwh sent to the hot water tank today. Plus we were at home all day so dishwasher, washing machine etc going throughout the day. That seems pretty good to me for early February...

Was a good day today alright.
9.5kwh generated.
Full tank of hot water (200L cylinder) diverted through Eddi.