Do you think the optimizers made a difference ?
They can do , if you have shading on the panels. Remember that the panels will behave in some respects as a single unit. So if you half cover a panel (say a chimney casts a shadow), then the production of the whole array is reduced even though only 1 panel might be shaded. It's to do with the internal resistance changing on that panel, but someone more knowledgable than I can clarify if needed.
Optimizers allow each panel (or sometimes people pair two panels onto one optimizer) to work in isolation. So yeah, if you have shading issues, trees, chimney stack you might want to investigate further, but if you've an unobstructed view of the sun don't think you need them.
Absolutely but remember not everywhere needs them.
It took a while to figure out they would help.
Thanks,
I dont think my setup (currently in dreamland) will get much shade if any so I doubt it would be worth it.
Mine was in dreamland 6 weeks ago, and should be going live this week.
Even a small'ish system will yield nice 10-15% return on investment, and you have the satisfaction that it's doing the right thing to reduce your carbon footprint.
Ha,
I've been dreaming a while but just finishing up a few other jobs including doubling my hot water storage with a new stainless tank .
I'd be happy if I can keep the water ticking over via an eddie and look at a battery shortly down the line.
Only invest after a time with the system. Learn how to use it and then make changes if necessary.
Going with option A version 2. (The Enniskillen provider highly recommended here.)
Added 2 panels and dropped the Eddi.
TBH if other providers are watching - the reason i picked him was no-nonsense - highly regarded and he explained i would not get the "payback" on the extra panels (i was thinking that from reading this thread but confirmed). We also agreed the Eddi was a waste since i burn oil only - no "immersion" at the moment. I could always add that later in a future retrofit... but my oil burner is only 10 years old and in great nick - very well maintained.
Good development with the eddi. I didn't get one from the SAAS crowd. Can retrofit if needed once I get the immersion wired in.
Regarding optimizers
I don't think so really when the sun hits them, but put as much as a tennis ball in front of one panel in a string, and the whole output right across the string is kyboshed.
So if you have any shading on any panel, either get a micro-inverter or an optimizer for it
Jesus what a day.
I've been a bold boy. I requested a quote from the active solar company. 😂.
What can I say? I was bored 😁
Nice one, post it up when it comes in.
Will do. Probably go no higher than what I have 3.24kw
If you get them to quote a battery, guessing 14k after grant.
Robbing costs.
Anyone else want to pitch in a guess 🤔
When I had a ‘salesman’ out last week, he said I’d need to have a smart meter installed in order to get Solar PV…….
I guess for the FIT when it comes you’d probably need a smart meter, but if just installing a system with battery, and thus potentially not feeding into the grid, do you really need to get a smart meter?
currently have a Day/night meter and wish to keep it, potentially charging the battery at night in winter to use during the day when it gets dark at 4pm and there wasn’t enough excess PV to charge the battery.
Hi
Would appreciate any recommendations for an installers covering Limerick area that have been found good.
I tried Energia’s partner as listed on their website promised to quote etc but never did even after a number of phone calls
Thanks
I know a family locally who were very happy with the install from that company, but don't know how much they paid!! I also asked about a quote but when the compnay said my wife must be there for the sales pitch I told them to forget it!!
You do NOT need a smart meter. Keep your day/night meter. I charge at night rate 4 months of the year. And stay away from that salesman.
Oh I’m already done with them…. They want €10k for a 3kW system with 2.4kWh battery.
the crowd in Enniskillen will give me 4kW & 4.8kWh battery for the same price…
(and that crowd wanted €13k for what Enniskillen will give me for €10k)
Would appreciate if anyone could pm me the name of a Saas solar installer ( if there is one aside from the main supplier discussed here.
Only 1 we know of
BTW - that sounds high for "the crowd in Enniskillen" .....
we should come up with an "in house" name for them that doesn't break the naming of business forum rule. :-)
Have the actual quote now from Enniskillen;
14 JA Solar 340W panels giving me a 4.7kW system
6kW Solis hybrid invertor
5kWh Puredrive battery
Eddie Water diverter
€10,500
but here's the catch... they'll discount me the grant up front, so I'll only pay them €7,500 total, and when applying for the grant, I just put in their bank details, so they'll get the grant back from SEAI in however many weeks it takes!! and I'm not waiting a couple of weeks to get the grant money back, and thus not paying the full €10,500 up front...
They'll also bring an extra 3 panels along with them in the event they can put them up somewhere to increase the overall size of the system. (I do have a west facing kitchenette extension that would fit 2 panels on, so depending on how the lads get on on the day, I could be up to a 5.78kW system!!).
I want to put together a list of companies from each province, that have been recommended here.
As a lot of people know at this stage I have my supplier that I'm happy to promote for the Leinster area.
ONLY PMs Please, send on a few company's from other provinces. I think Ulster is covered tbf.
This might help some looking for a supplier in Connacht and Munster.
It can take more than two weeks to get the grant. Also if you get selected for an SEAI inspection and something needs to be rectified its not your headache anymore. I would much prefer paying the net amount than the full amount and get the grant. Would be worth a few hundred bucks to me.
That looks like a pretty good deal. You may get cheaper - but if so, it would be very marginal and you may be going with "John Wayne" installers ie. cowboys :-)
Very dependent on your usage profile (how many units per day, when in the day you use stuff), and many have different views here, but I'd probably go for a bigger battery if you can afford it. Feed-in-tarrifs are somewhat of a running joke I think, and the bigger battery storage will pay for itself in 7-10 years - but even the one you have is pretty good for 90% of households.
Paid similar price for 4.65 kWp, 5kW inverter, 5.7kWh battery and eddie when i bought my system from company in Galway. Doing the grant that way means the onus is entirely on them to do it right and get it sorted.
With the extra panels just be aware if the kitchenette is a different orientation to where all the panels are fitted you may need to fit optimizers on all panels on 1 string plus these two extra panels. even if you have the 14 panels one 1 string, 2 panels may not enough for a string to operate.
And one panel with as much as a tennis ball of shading on it, if connected to a main string, will kill the output of that entire string.
Always consider the full 12 months picture rather than just the 3 or 4 months of summer.
The Dr knows only too well what happens in Nov to Feb with a bit of shading on his garage roof
Not to drift too far off the topic of quotes, but why does output collapse with some shading on just one small area?
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