PV- real world figures

18-09-2017 05:25PM

As long as the voltage is within spec and the inverter has current limiting it's fine.

PWM controllers and cheapo GTIs will not have input limiting protections which is catered for by 20% overhead on the array.

wexfordman2 · 19-09-2017 08:16AM

Saw this, thought it might be of interest, albeit it's in northern Ireland and they have a feed in tarrif I believe

http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/carbon-footprint/going-solar-part-5-our-pv-systems-actual-generation-figures-after-first-full-year.html

Based on last year's generation, he expects payback in under 6 years

rolion · 19-09-2017 11:46PM

wexfordman2 wrote: »

Saw this, thought it might be of interest, albeit it's in northern Ireland and they have a feed in tarrif I believe

http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/carbon-footprint/going-solar-part-5-our-pv-systems-actual-generation-figures-after-first-full-year.html

Based on last year's generation, he expects payback in under 6 years

Thanks for the link.

My plant has generated almost 4MWh, in one year / 12 months !
Does that measn ALL has been used by my towards my own benefit !??
No,some of it went FOC to supplier or wasted.

So,my ROI has been dealt with ... unless you have a system in place to monitor / alert / divert so to maximise return on the PVs generation,i consider any ROI to be compromised !

Effects · 02-10-2017 11:30PM

Got a call from an ESB engineer today. He was supposed to tell me which pole to connect for the house's new connection to but he wasn't actually sure.
Anyway, he said I'll just get a standard meter. Energia doesn't do smart meters or import/export meters. Any excess energy generated by the panels will just sit at the panels and won't go back to the grid.

rolion · 02-10-2017 11:36PM

Effects wrote: »

Got a call from an ESB engineer today. He was supposed to tell me which pole to connect for the house's new connection to but he wasn't actually sure.
Anyway, he said I'll just get a standard meter. Energia doesn't do smart meters or import/export meters. Any excess energy generated by the panels will just sit at the panels and won't go back to the grid.

Its not Energia that suplies and / or install the meters !
Is ESB all day...I'll pass you the numbers to call later.
Did you register the inverter with ESB by filling that form !?

Ask for at least a digital type and do not accept one with spinning wheel.

Any excess of PV electricity will be going directly in to Mr Grid, with zero pay back to you.

Have fun...

02-10-2017 11:42PM

Effects wrote: »

Any excess energy generated by the panels will just sit at the panels and won't go back to the grid.

An engineer said that? :rolleyes:

Unless the meter defies physics the counter just stops but the energy doesn't.

Effects · 04-10-2017 07:19AM

Yeah, I was a bit scepticle of some things he had to say. He was calling me to tell me which pole to duct to but then didn’t actully know somsaod he’d come back to me. Still waiting!

So I presume the import/export meter will cost more? Probably a good idea to have it if they bring in a feed in tariff at some stage.

04-10-2017 01:26PM

I wouldn't fit an export meter for what they charge for it to meter what you donate them. To each his own....

rolion · 04-10-2017 05:26PM

Effects wrote: »

Yeah, I was a bit scepticle of some things he had to say. He was calling me to tell me which pole to duct to but then didn’t actully know somsaod he’d come back to me. Still waiting!

So I presume the import/export meter will cost more? Probably a good idea to have it if they bring in a feed in tariff at some stage.

What kind of meter you have currently !?

There is not and neither will be FIT for small people like us...

Effects · 05-10-2017 01:02PM

No meter at the moment as it’s a new build.
So you don’t think there’ll ever be a FIT?
How can government be pushing renewables and energy saving yet not offer any help?

gally74 · 05-10-2017 01:07PM

Effects wrote: »

Got a call from an ESB engineer today. He was supposed to tell me which pole to connect for the house's new connection to but he wasn't actually sure.
Anyway, he said I'll just get a standard meter. Energia doesn't do smart meters or import/export meters. Any excess energy generated by the panels will just sit at the panels and won't go back to the grid.

that's not totally true, you can request a day / night or export meter if you want,

rolion · 05-10-2017 03:00PM

Effects wrote: »

No meter at the moment as it’s a new build.
So you don’t think there’ll ever be a FIT?
How can government be pushing renewables and energy saving yet not offer any help?

If is a new build then the buildeer has to get a meter for you !?
Get a digital on,same as mine in a prvious photo.

I dont think versus what will be ... is same diffrence more or less like my PV outputs today,from 4KW to 400W over couple of minutes !

The Guvernment is pushing !??? Really ,i just dont see it,where ?
SEAI are doing a great job in givng grants for a better home but no words to open again the FIT prohramme for PVs. Is between you ,your panels and your consumption pattern(s)...

Enjoy it

Effects · 05-10-2017 03:03PM

rolion wrote: »

If is a new build then the buildeer has to get a meter for you !?

Connections with utilities is up to me to look after. Builder puts in meter box and duct to pole.

rolion · 05-10-2017 03:09PM

If is a new build, i will go with an export / import meter.Future proof.
Is easy now to hide the cost now between so many expenses rather than later, when the same €400 it will look harder and heavy and lots of pain to change it !!!
But,that's me.

Effects · 05-10-2017 07:23PM

rolion wrote: »

Is easy now to hide the cost now between so many expenses rather than later.

If only it was that simple!
Engineer make a big mistake and I’m now struggling to cover the cost of drainage connection.

Gumbo · 06-10-2017 05:54PM

I have a 3kw system.
South facing in north dublin.

Between 10am and 1pm yesterday my house was off grid.
My system
Powered the house base load, washing machine cycle and also a full 200L cylinder of hot water.

I only had my divertor fitted on Wednesday so still beginning to track the Use.

10-10-2017 01:12AM

This is what electrically off the grid looks like:

This is what exporting to the grid looks like:

Sorry for being pedantic.

freddyuk · 18-10-2017 07:30PM

I have just wired up 12 old rolls batts which were off a job. Used a cheap inverter and was off grid during 10 hours of power cuts. Had heating, Internet (until their power failed!) lights, freezer, fridge freezer, TV, so we're cosy. Not a proper install just Jerry rigged but worked like a dream. Wife is convinced it is worth getting the proper kit now so will be going with grid backed system to begin with and find a supplier that does not charge for low users. Spare solar will then charge batteries not be given away free until we have surplus.

18-10-2017 08:05PM

I haven't had a power cut for 6 years. I always laugh when sparkies try to convince me conventional power is more reliable than renewables.

Nice find on the Rolls.

a148pro · 20-10-2017 08:39PM

kceire wrote: »

I have a 3kw system.
South facing in north dublin.

Between 10am and 1pm yesterday my house was off grid.
My system
Powered the house base load, washing machine cycle and also a full 200L cylinder of hot water.

I only had my divertor fitted on Wednesday so still beginning to track the Use.

Interested to hear more updates on this Kc as considering similar

rolion · 20-10-2017 08:53PM

a148pro wrote: »

Interested to hear more updates on this Kc as considering similar

Nice,congrats for the instalaltion and as well,for planing in do it so.
I hate breaking the god news or ...dont shoot the messenger... please.

In order to get fully return from a PV system,you wil need a nice & constant generating curve of electriciy.
Please see below reports and guess which one will power whole house more efficient (assuming that the applciances are "smart" enough to take advantage of the surplus) !

a148pro · 20-10-2017 09:33PM

I don't follow rolion

Gumbo · 21-10-2017 12:26AM

a148pro wrote: »

Interested to hear more updates on this Kc as considering similar

Hi, pretty much all week I’ve come home to a full tank of hot water.
I start the washing machine every morning, put the dish washer on delay when required and head to work.

The only day I hadn’t got a tank of hot water was yesterday as I had the carpenter in the house finishing door hanging and wardrobes so I assume his power tools and transformers zapped up most of the juice.

A point to note is that even if I don’t have a dull tank, I have a 200L modern cylinder so there’s enough to shower both of us and the 2 kids get hosed down too.

a148pro · 21-10-2017 12:30AM

Thanks KC - and how high on your cylinder is the immersion going in to heat it all?

freddyuk · 21-10-2017 06:28AM

Sir Liamalot wrote: »

This is what electrically off the grid looks like:

This is what exporting to the grid looks like:

Sorry for being pedantic.

Those are Aquion stacks right? I cant see clearly but 25 stacks would be way more than the average Off Grid house would need. FYI they are back in business after Chapter 11 protection last year.

Gumbo · 21-10-2017 08:23AM

a148pro wrote: »

Thanks KC - and how high on your cylinder is the immersion going in to heat it all?

Don’t understand the question?
It’s a standard fitting that’s inserted into the top of the cylinder.

a148pro · 21-10-2017 10:53AM

kceire wrote: »

Don’t understand the question?
It’s a standard fitting that’s inserted into the top of the cylinder.

Sorry - and it still heats the full cylinder? I'm getting 300l odd cylinder, don't want a situation where there is a lot of solar energy on a given day but the immersion only heats the top of the cylinder before clicking off

Edit: I see you've replied on the other thread! I'll just speak to the plumber and make sure it'll do what I want

21-10-2017 11:11AM

freddyuk wrote: »

Those are Aquion stacks right? I cant see clearly but 25 stacks would be way more than the average Off Grid house would need. FYI they are back in business after Chapter 11 protection last year.

Yeah I think they are. It's just an image I pulled from tinternet for intents and purposes I was hoping to demonstrate the difference in hardware mass for one school compared to thuther. Wouldn't know a whole lot about those cells Freddy I'm still getting great results from FLA, I've had no good reason to try an alternative.

freddyuk · 21-10-2017 11:19AM

a148pro wrote: »

Sorry - and it still heats the full cylinder? I'm getting 300l odd cylinder, don't want a situation where there is a lot of solar energy on a given day but the immersion only heats the top of the cylinder before clicking off

Edit: I see you've replied on the other thread! I'll just speak to the plumber and make sure it'll do what I want

The immersion top fitting will never heat the cylinder 100%. You can get a 36" element but you will have really hot water at the top and much cooler at the bottom. Another issue is some immersions will switch off at 60-70c for safety reasons but if you have solar this is useless so you need to crank it up to 80c and fit a mixer valve to protect from scalding. You may have scaling issues if the water is hard.
A small digital thermometer with sensor can be fitted to measure the cylinder temperature low down so you know how much hot you really have stored. Pennies on Fleabay.
Better option is 2 x horizontal immersions then you can switch from top to bottom with solar diversion.

unkel · 21-10-2017 02:08PM

freddyuk wrote: »

The immersion top fitting will never heat the cylinder 100%. You can get a 36" element but you will have really hot water at the top and much cooler at the bottom. Another issue is some immersions will switch off at 60-70c for safety reasons but if you have solar this is useless so you need to crank it up to 80c and fit a mixer valve to protect from scalding. You may have scaling issues if the water is hard.

Technically you are correct, but people should be careful with this advice. You can't just up the temp of the water in the cylinder to 80C. First of all, most cylinders can't take that and secondly, if they can, you can only do so with soft water (you do mention this)

PV- real world figures

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