Solar for Beginners [ask your questions here]

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122728560#Comment_122728560

Whoops... Yep that's the link

Quazzie

Are there any brands of solar panels to avoid?

Also in certain brands of solar panels there are different sizes, 425W, 430W, 440W etc. Are there any particular sizes to avoid? Is there any differences or features to look out for other than just the size of each?

eefums

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122728576#Comment_122728576

That's great, thanks for that, an estimate of just over 6000kwH would be produced on a 6.8kWp system. That would cover approx half our electricity usage. and selling back to the grid during the summer when we over produce should about cover our standard energy costs save a few cents difference. Coupled with some night time storage during the winter at a lower rate I can now see the benefits of installation.

Grumpypants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122697139#Comment_122697139

I sure have 😀. That's my set up. Roll out weed blocker on grass that is relatively flat. Put stone on top of it. Place the tubs and put 3 cement blocks inside and that's it. No scaffolding etc. Guys started at 9 and we're done at 12. It was just the wiring up after that.

ECO_Mental

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122709171#Comment_122709171

I've done some analysis on this where I have a 6 kW inverter and decided to look into what if I put 8 kW of PV panels into my 6 kW inverter. I analysed a years worth of actual PV data down to 15min intervals and came up with the following….

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058345195/8kwp-pv-panels-into-a-6-kw-interter-an-analyis

steamdave

Using Solis Cloud. The default page when logging in is a Plant Overview in tabular form. How do I get to the graphics display? I've clicked on every available button but can't get out of the tabular display. Obviously very simple, but so am I!

Dave

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122741548#Comment_122741548

Which graphics? After you get to plant overview press Device and then press the long serial number opposite the plant name, is that where you want to see?

steamdave

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122741743#Comment_122741743

Got it. That's it. Many thanks!

Dave

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122742468#Comment_122742468

So you know, on that page the 3 dots on the top right is where you can control the inverter remotely if you emailed Solis to activate it. Only go there if you know what to do or you can mess up settings. I found the email addresses if you need them on another thread. Email and ask for remote settings to be enabled at one of these eu-service@solisinverters.com & europe-service@ginlong.com with your model and serial number and they will do the update remotely

marco_polo

Just through first storm since I got system installed, during more moderate to strong gusts there was a fairly audible rattling sound which I presume should not be hearing?

Seemed fine during the sustained wind speeds so I am guessing this would more likely to be cables clattering off the framing or something? I did get a recording from the attic but cannot attach to post.

While I was up there I noticed an almost complete miss of one rafter with a screw as well at the start of a row would the be of any concern or would there be plenty of enough redundancy overall. I realise it it probably very difficult hard to get every one bang on on a job like this.

bullit_dodger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122734856#Comment_122734856

Pretty neat that. I'd have chucked a few on the vertical wall of the shed, but I'm greedy.

bullit_dodger

Deleted…

Grumpypants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122743210#Comment_122743210

I think I'll expand a bit next year. I think I could squeeze in 6 more. At the very least add more batteries. 5kw is small. Would like to have 15.

mjatkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122607440#Comment_122607440

Guys,ok so latest install took place today, Solis inverter and Seplos 15Kwh battery no panels (appartment), great neat and tidy job by the guys, seems to be all working ok, discharge/charge all good, only thing the time is an hour out on the Solis Cloud even though set same as the other set up.

Have mailed Solis to take a look.

One thing for the guys that use Home Assistant, am I ok to add the second inverter as another integration, or can I add the new inverter to the existing? (I've not had chance to investigate yet.)

mossie

I am currently looking into getting solar as my electricity bill is high and I want to reduce it. I'm figuring what i save will pay for the cost over a few years. I have gotten 4 quotes so far and the price difference in quite large even between systems with similar specifications. Couple of points first:

1. My house faces between west and south west so I don't have uninterrupted sunlight all day.
2. I have a heat pump, 15 years old using a borehole.
3. My annual bill is over €3000.

Because of the orientation of the house I have had 4 different suggest layouts for the panels:

1. 24 panels split 12/12 back and front, with an 8kwh battery - priced at €13795 after the grant.
2. 18 panels all on front, 5kwh battery - €13447 after the grant.
3. 18 panels, split between front and rear probably 12/6, 5kwh battery - €8926 after grant.
4. 10 panels, split 6/4 - €7000

All except the last are using Jinko 440w panels. The second and third are almost identical i spec but there's over 4k in the difference price wise which is baffling. I know it's not possible to be sure without looking at the house but I presume I would need to put some panels to the rear to get the full benefit and that the majority should go to the front as it would get most sunlight? Given my bill is 18 panels a sensible number? Is a 5kwh battery suitable. The house is empty between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.

I'm awaiting a couple of more quotes and I would welcome any suggestions for installers in North Cork area.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122753302#Comment_122753302

Enter each orientation into the below calculator for a fairly accurate estimate on generation and use the solar calculator tool to see about the cost of the system.

https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/tools.html

http://davidhunt.ie/solar/

tommythecat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122753302#Comment_122753302

The third one has no battery, the second does. Not saying the battery should cost the difference though!

mossie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122753679#Comment_122753679

Both have a battery included.

tommythecat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122753829#Comment_122753829

Ok. That's not what you have in your post though.

mossie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122753883#Comment_122753883

Sorry, fixed that.

ECO_Mental

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122753302#Comment_122753302

My advice is to put as much PV as you possbly can on the roof dont worry about the dual aspect having them facing West will mean you get longer production into the evening when you will be at home. You have the oppertunity now to get a grant and also not pay VAT on your insatll so you need to maximise this oppertunity….

If your elec bill is around €3000 you are a high user you dont say you have an EV and that would seem high if you dont have an EV. You do though have a heat pump that is 15 years old so might not be as efficent but it is a ground source which is good. How much kWh is your annual bill

Firstly you need to make sure you are on the right energy tarriff if you have a smart meter then uplaod your yearly consumption to https://www.energypal.ie/ and this will find the best tarrif for you.

To get the best out of your PV and the best out of smart Tarriffs then you have to have a battery these days..BUT you have to get a big enough battery 15kWh minium I would say but possibly 30 kWh but done right with the right Smart tarriff people on here are getting amazing reductions in bills…even credit on their bills during the summer..

A good option would be maxamise your solar now and then get a DIY battery later, you can get a 15 kWh battery for around €2000. MAKE sure though you get a hybrid inveter as this will allow you then to retrofit the DIY batteries later.

I see one of the options is 10.5 kWp of PV panels, I presume the inveter size they are proposing is a 6kW, if its over this then it can be more expensive to get a NC7 application. but if the string sizes are 5kWp each then it might be over the limit for the invereter. My Solis inveter which is 6kWh can only manage 4kW max per string..

graememk

The newer inverters can handle higher KW of panels too, Vs the ones we got a few years ago.

mossie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122756798#Comment_122756798

Great info, thanks. I'm not sure off hand what my annual KwH usage would be. I need to dig out bills and do my sums. No EV yet. I'm not sure about the last part, I'll have to check the quote again.

mossie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122757130#Comment_122757130

Approx Annual Usage 4700 Day / 3400 Night. Last bills were (under) estimated and I know my final figures were probably a bit higher than that but I cannot locate my final bill I'm guessing 5000/4000, maybe a bit higher.

Edit: Actually since I got the smart meter in mid March I'm running around 750kW monthly on average so that's consistent with the figures above but would expect my usage to be higher for the winter months.

ECO_Mental

My total Consumption is 18,000 kWh/year but Im importing about 15,000 kWh after PV (8000 kWh/year without the EV) a year and my elec bills should be hopefuly (just changed supplier two weeks ago) just over or around €2000/year if I manage to shift enough into the EV tarrif (currently 70% in this rate) and I have no battery. You are paying €3000 and using a lot less than I am you need to look at your energy tarriff first.

Download your HDF file form ESB networks or your provider and whack it into energypal

mossie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122757528#Comment_122757528

I've done that and it appears i am on the best tariff (Yuno). I've only been on this since March, I'm basing my cost on the previous supplier (Electric Irl).

mossie

I had an installer yesterday saying I should put my panels on the ground - I have plenty space - as they would face south and I would have all 18 panels available all the time. Talking to someone today he said I may need planning permission for this. I can't contact the installer today so maybe someone could enlighten me if this is the case?

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122768371#Comment_122768371

Did you also see this thread?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058375253/the-ground-mount-tubs-thread

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122768371#Comment_122768371

Haven't went back to the complete source, but as far as I know it's correct :

So generally you don't need planning for a ground mount. There is no limit for solar on a roof either.

You do not need planning permission for freestanding solar panels as long as:

the solar panels are less than 2 metres above ground

the private open space to the rear or side of the house is not reduced to less than 25 square metres

mossie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122768502#Comment_122768502

Yes, but doesn't really answer my question