Domestic Solar PV Quotes 2020

East facing is fine. Even north facing can work if you can get solar PV panels cheap enough! What sort of roof do you have and what sort of setup are you considering?

Update,
System now installed since last Wednesday eve.
DIY job, did it as a project with my two sons over 4 days on and off.
3.7kw (12x 314 longi panels, 8 shed roof south facing , 4 gable shed west facing , vertical mounting)
3.6kw Solis hybrid inverter (import export meter that came with inverter is cheap effort)
IBoost diverter. (IBoost buddy on the way)
Solis WiFi dongle. (iPhone App isn’t great Though and a pity that they cant give the same display thats on front of inverter that is very good, (or is there an option somewhere ?))
All went straight forward enough, toughest bit was mounting panels on shed roof but once that was done cabling was easy enough.
Bit addictive looking at generation output every hour
IBoost is a very interesting gadget and very easy to install, got 7.3kwh diverted yesterday to fill tank with hot water as it was a lovely day and everyone outside in garden all day.
Largest output was yesterday 15kwh.
Wall mounted west facing panels are giving very good output as they catch the falling sun very well in the afternoon.
Was going to mount them on a frame at an angle but read a bit about vertical mounting in northern latitudes being quite good so went for it .
Not an expert and still learning from various posts on here but any questions (or tips) give me a shout.

mun1 wrote: »

Update,
System now installed since last Wednesday eve.
DIY job, did it as a project with my two sons over 4 days on and off.
3.7kw (12x 314 longi panels, 8 shed roof south facing , 4 gable shed west facing , vertical mounting)
3.6kw Solis hybrid inverter (import export meter that came with inverter is cheap effort)
IBoost diverter. (IBoost buddy on the way)
Solis WiFi dongle. (iPhone App isn’t great Though and a pity that they cant give the same display thats on front of inverter that is very good, (or is there an option somewhere ?))
All went straight forward enough, toughest bit was mounting panels on shed roof but once that was done cabling was easy enough.
Bit addictive looking at generation output every hour
IBoost is a very interesting gadget and very easy to install, got 7.3kwh diverted yesterday to fill tank with hot water as it was a lovely day and everyone outside in garden all day.
Largest output was yesterday 15kwh.
Wall mounted west facing panels are giving very good output as they catch the falling sun very well in the afternoon.
Was going to mount them on a frame at an angle but read a bit about vertical mounting in northern latitudes being quite good so went for it .
Not an expert and still learning from various posts on here but any questions (or tips) give me a shout.

Fair play! I know there are calculators / simulators out there somewhere, but what percentage output does a vertical west facing panel have compared to a west facing panel at a natural roof angle of say 30 degrees? Would it be in the order of 70-80%?

And would adding a single vertical west facing panel to a string of angled west facing panels be a good idea?

mun1 wrote: »

Update,
System now installed since last Wednesday eve.
DIY job, did it as a project with my two sons over 4 days on and off.
3.7kw (12x 314 longi panels, 8 shed roof south facing , 4 gable shed west facing , vertical mounting)
3.6kw Solis hybrid inverter (import export meter that came with inverter is cheap effort)
IBoost diverter. (IBoost buddy on the way)
Solis WiFi dongle. (iPhone App isn’t great Though and a pity that they cant give the same display thats on front of inverter that is very good, (or is there an option somewhere ?))
All went straight forward enough, toughest bit was mounting panels on shed roof but once that was done cabling was easy enough.
Bit addictive looking at generation output every hour
IBoost is a very interesting gadget and very easy to install, got 7.3kwh diverted yesterday to fill tank with hot water as it was a lovely day and everyone outside in garden all day.
Largest output was yesterday 15kwh.
Wall mounted west facing panels are giving very good output as they catch the falling sun very well in the afternoon.
Was going to mount them on a frame at an angle but read a bit about vertical mounting in northern latitudes being quite good so went for it .
Not an expert and still learning from various posts on here but any questions (or tips) give me a shout.

Fair play lovely job. Would you mind me contacting u as bro in law is sparks and I used to be chippy was hoping to self install also. Is it worth it as have had mixed quotes from guys locally in louth. Thanks

Hi Unkel,

I've had a few more quotes, and gotten better prices now.
I've had conflicting advice from different installers though, and now I'm more confused.

Firstly the battery, some are recommending I get one, others are not because the payback is too long. Is there a general consensus on whether the batteries are worth it?

Secondly, I've been given different advice on the amount of panels. Some are recommending that I put up as many as I can fit on the roof, which will be about 12, others are saying go for less, as I wouldn't use all of the energy they generate, and so I'd just end up giving it to the grid for free, even with a battery. Some are recommending a 2 - 2.5 KW system, others are saying go as high as 4 KW.

My intention is to purchase an electric car next year, so I'd like to have enough panels to charge that.

With a new build house A-rated seai deem heat pumps renewable :rolleyes:

as all heating and water are currently relying on electricity, how cost effeictive would it to be to install PV? no grant is available with new builds. Is it worth while.

I was for all renewable up until recently until I watched this documentary

https:// www . youtube.com /watch?v=Zk11vI-7czE

Michael Moore Presents: Planet of the Humans | Full Documentary | Directed by Jeff Gibbs


its mostly based on the united states :

Michael Moore presents Planet of the Humans, a documentary that dares to say what no one else will this Earth Day — that we are losing the battle to stop climate change on planet earth because we are following leaders who have taken us down the wrong road — selling out the green movement to wealthy interests and corporate America. This film is the wake-up call to the reality we are afraid to face: that in the midst of a human-caused extinction event, the environmental movement’s answer is to push for techno-fixes and band-aids. It's too little, too late.

would love to hear other users views on this.

apoligoes if this is the wrong tread for this type of discussion

Arrant nonsense. My 4.8kWp system has produced 160kWh of electricity in the first six days of this month. I have exported about a third of that. Renewables are only going to get cheaper compared to fossil fuels. Anyway not the right thread for this discussion.

Back on topic: Are solar install companies still quoting during the lockdown? I assume any work is suspended for now. What do people think this means for quotes once the lock-down is lifted? Companies going bust, reduction in competition and an increase in prices? Or a reduction in prices to try and make up lost volume?

Just wondering if anyone following this thread has experience of the Hone system. The company, Honeworld, claims to use nanotechnology to improve energy capture from daylight (as opposed to direct sun). I see the word “nanotechnology” and for some reason it makes me think “snake oil” but maybe it is a real thing in solar panels. I heard their system was installed in some hospital in Belfast (which I am trying to find out more about). Any truth in their big claims re the efficiency of their panels?

Snake oil!

Yes, shading is a huge issue. If you have any panels that can not 100% avoid shade, you will need to connect optimizers to those panels. Not the end of the world, I bought one recently for about GBP30 shipped

ActingDanClark wrote: »

Hello all, dip into this thread regularly. Got recommendation from a couple of posters to the last thread back in the day but I suspect from posts here that I dodged a bullet not signing up!
Anyone here that'd recommend a company based on personal experience and satisfaction with the whole process?
By pm presumably- it'd be appreciated!
( Question- my most suitable roof is bisected by the chimney stack- is this shading a huge issue?)

Same here. PMs appreciated.

Looking to get moving on this over the next few months

OnLooker wrote: »

Same here. PMs appreciated.

Looking to get moving on this over the next few months

PM please with appreciated

For all of those planning to go down the PV road, everyone will tell you

1. Install as many panels as you can fit on your roof

2. If adding panels to roof areas pointing in different directions, make sure they are on separate strings

3. Avoid areas where panels could be shaded - or else install Optimizers on any which may end up being shaded.

4. Batteries are currently considered uneconomic to install with a system, unless you can get some for free or at a knock down price.

5. Self install can be economical. You only need an electrician to sign off the initial ESB NC-6 Form

Surely the greens will get grants upped etc?