unkel wrote: » I wouldn't bother with any of that Northumberland. As air already said, someone won a case against the planning board for having the front of her house plastered with panels without planning permission The precedent is set, no one needs any planning permission any more for any PV installs. It will no longer be enforced.
reklamos wrote: » I assume 615 is a typo and should be 315Watt. Would you have space for 20panels as it does not seem that you do? I would also go for less but higher wattage ones. I'm not sure on ESB part here but because they would be spread over multiple directions you would never get to 6kWh. SEAI grant could be a show stopper if you plan apply for it. The location of the inverter depends on the ambient temperature. I have mine installed in the attic that is insulated and facing south. The inverter itself is passive cooled and in July it was getting hot. I could barely hold my hand on the radiator for more than few seconds. The internal monitoring was going close to 70 degrees and that was too hot for me. I have installed 2 fans temperature controlled fans that spin up once it goes above 38 and now the temp rarely goes above 40. I'm not convinced about shed as it does not really solve the problem. The temperature would fluctuate there even more and humidity would be higher.
AidenL wrote: » What kind of fans did you use and do they have a supply from outside or are you just passing attic temp air over them?
reklamos wrote: » When inverter is put in place the radiator is against the wall and there is very little air movement in insulated attic. I used 2x12V PC fans with temperature probes. Probes were attached to radiators. I created shrouds so the air is pushed through radiators on the back of inverter. See chart attached over last 24hours.
AidenL wrote: » Could I install twenty 615 watt panels, with a 5kw ? It would put me a little over the ESB allowance, but is that within margin of error, or is it a total nono? Finally, a big question for me - one installer has said no issues fitting in the attic, no heat or fire issues. Another installer has said he would much prefer to install in my steeltech shed, citing more space, less heat issues and better for the inverter. Hes quoting around 1000 euros more, but he would have trenching, armoured cable and so on included. Its around 2m from the side gable of my house. He taken for fireproof board as a backing wall for the equipment and so on. Any opinions on this, safety, worth the additional cost, etc? Attic is insulated, but it still gets cold in winter and hot in summer though. To be fair, so does the shed, same , or approximately the same temp extremes in all honesty, the shed not heated, so would run to freezing and below in winter, which I believe has an effect on batteries not charging and not discharging. Id appreciate thoughts on pros and cons on the tow locations please?
quentingargan wrote: » Just to tidy up some earlier questions, you need to check the MPPT voltage range of the inverter. Solis Hybrid for example is 150 to 500v. If you put four panels on one string, it won't work. You also need to ensure that the sum of Voc of panels is less than 600V, even at -20 degrees, so max 12 panels. Lastly, the 5kw inverter has max DC power per string at 3kw. So only 9x315 on each string. If you want to put up 20 or 22 panels, the balance must go onto an additional 1kw inverter (which ususually has a starting voltage of 60V and can work with 2 or 3 panels) The system will work OK in a loft, but if the inverter overheats, it will de-rate, reducing production during that time. I also expect it will reduce the life-span of capacitors etc within the inverter. Batteries on the other hand, don't like being too cold, so they will de-rate on frosty mornings in a shed. Also, you need reliable data connection from your meter cabinet to the hybrid inverter. That can be done with CAT5, but worth bearing in mind...
joujoujou wrote: » Hello everybody. Long time lurker, first time poster here. What say you, good or bad?
AidenL wrote: » Thanks again. I think looking at what you say then, it would be simpler to stick with 18 panels max then. And attic ok, rather than the shed. It maybe a shorter inverter lifespan. But the battery will do worse in the shed. I wonder which is the lesser of two evils? I think the extra effort for 20 or 22 is definitely heading to diminishing returns. You lost me with the reference to 12 panels max though, could you elaborate on that for me please?
quentingargan wrote: » The inverter will have two strings. In terms of voltage per string, 12 panels is the max. HOWEVER there is also in the data sheet a limit of 3kw per string, so in fact the max is 9 per string. Yes - 18 panels makes sense unless you have very high consumption, or want to max out, but that will allow 3 more panels, will require a 1kw mini inverter and another DC isolator, and another fire fighter safety switch, so those 3 panels will be more expensive per panel.
tech wrote: » im not able to get €3800 grant as power was turned on Sep 2011
KCross wrote: » Did you get confirmation of that? Dont assume it. The grant is tied to your MPRN and the date that ESB Networks have on file for your MPRN is the date that is used not a notional date of when you moved in. I got grant approval (didnt draw it down yet though) and my power was turned on in 2011 as well. Talk to SEAI and get confirmation.
KCross wrote: » Not configurable on the Leaf menus.
Mr Q wrote: » Has anyone with solar PV installed linked it with a heat pump? I have a heat pump that the manufacturer has two versions of an add on that will turn it on for heating or hot water when an excess of power is available from solar. Like a diverter but not directly into the heating element. One version connects the inverter directly to the heat pump and the other uses a CT clamp to measure the excess. But I don't know anyone with this setup and would be very interested in this setup if i knew it worked well. Hopefully someone here will have or know someone with similar and have a view
Northumberland wrote: » I think I must be the only one in Ireland!
Northumberland wrote: » Yes, I have been told something like that as well, but never as high as 6kW, that would make it useless for all Irish domestic customers, because the max you can legally export to the grid is 6kW! I am getting the total run around, from my installer to UNIPIPES from UNIPIPES to NIBE Sweden, with whom I have been in touch with. None of them seem to know what to do, apart from blame the other!
Mr Q wrote: » I have the same set up as you two but never purchased an EME after reading some of the issues with it on here. I did have a different issue with using the unit to cool in the summer and when i rang Unipipe they told me i would need all sorts of additional items to get it working. Contacted a NIBE UK support guy and he told me what to do and I had it working in minutes at no cost. So I don't have mush faith in our Irish distributor on certain areas to do with the heat pump.
tech wrote: » can anyone give a rough guide of cost of hardware for a a 4KW system no battery and divertor to immersion ? thanks
KCross wrote: » A 3.6kWp system with no diverter and no battery is just under €3k from solartricity. Diverters are about €400 or so depending on model.
garo wrote: » Does that cost include all the isolators and cabling? I *think* you should be able to get that sort of a system for under 5k installed. Maybe less but depends on how straightforward your install is - if scaffolding is needed etc. - and you will need to shop around. Unkel here did a self-install so a good person to ask.
garo wrote: » Sep predicted: 355kWh Actual: 350.9
rolion wrote: » With the grant so handy, i just don't see the reason why you will go diy route these days, unless you are completely passionate about it.
Mr Q wrote: » There are lots of people who are interested in installing PV that would not qualify for the grant though.
reni10 wrote: » So is there anywhere supplying and installing a system like that including diverter for about €4000 after the grant? Everywhere I have seen is about €8000 including a battery and after the grant which seems ridiculously expensive! If you know somewhere doing it for €4k then please PM me.
