DIY install

Have you not seen the semiconductor market in the last year. Prices don't always go down 😋

I like your optimistic attitude :-)

And yes, loading the battery up at night from mostly renewables is better for pocket and planet. I have been doing that for years. And the more electricity you consume in the house (with a fairly large PV install), the quicker the battery pays back for itself. But with some sort of FIT imminent, it is almost certain that if you have a battery installed by someone, without a subsidy (those are the 2 conditions I keep mentioning), that the battery will never pay for itself unless you are lucky that the whole system keeps working for the like of 30 years or so, I wouldn't bank on that...

Ouch. I have only provided a viewpoint that conflcits with your very stubborn (there is only one way) attitude. Its not needed in this forum - you ought to try and be a little more polite.

I linked to two posters who said they got a price on a Battery. I never claimed to have got the price myself. Check yourself they are both in this thread - and neither has returned with more info. Maybe it exists today, maybe it doesnt. It certainly will sooner or later.

I agree with the calmer and more circumspect @bullit_dodger - paying too much for anything will never pay back. But cycling an off-the-shelf 10Kw battery will be fine for my circumstances if the price is close to DIY (ie not triple).

Edited: Im going to give you the last word cuase i suspect thats all you really wanted.

Hi Pataman,

Did yangtzee solar organise the customs clearance or did you contact Cardinal Maritime yourself? I'm currently getting a quote off them to comapre to a quote from a here and i'm trying to get a full price together.

From memory €75 duty, approx €660 vat

Here's my Quote from them. I'm still fine tuning a few bits such as the panel type and wether i need the circuit breaker and i'll take out the tool kit too. I Think the guy i'm dealing with isn't too strong on ins and outs of the shipping so i'm asking a few questions on that too.

I would also need to add in a fireman switch and a hot water diverter too. If anyone has any thoughts I'd appreciate it.

You should ask for a flash test report for your order. No one ever does this. Each panel is checked and the output measured and recorded. The variation may affect your installation as all panels are not the same. Each panel can then be tested on site before installation. If you need to claim for a failed panel then you have the serial number and test report available. These panels are NOT MCS certified as claimed so maybe not fully honest manufacturer or just an "oversight".

The cables on the panels are very short! Normally 900mm minimum so you can connect panels in series but yours will not reach! If you are using parallel and series configuration will you have sufficient cable and connectors? You only have 50 metres of cable.

The panels of this size are very heavy if you installing on the roof. Minimum 2 man job once you get them up there.

Will the mounting hooks be suitable for your roof type? There are all sorts for different roof coverings and they are not interchangeable.

Have you actually designed the system? This is important. You will need the combiner box if connecting in parallel as the amps will be high and protection will be required. How many ways in the combiner. Where will you site this as possibly many cables required to be fed to it - it cannot go on the roof.

You will need isolaters , generation meter, CU breakers, inverter certification (for Ireland), monitoring equipment (included?), battery cabling, termination lugs, crimping tool, cable conduit/protection and fittings, etc. etc. I would properly design the system and get what you need now as the kit will be expensive here. Who will service the system if it goes off while you are away? It can happen and I suspect will need manual intervention.

Just my take on this and hope it is useful.

Can anyone give me an idea of how difficult it is to get installers when you're providing the panels and inverter?

I'm guessing most of them want you to buy the gear from them and so won't be too happy with DIY customers?

There was a crowd on FB offering to sub contract out the installation if you bought the parts.

Pm me if you want their details.

Do u or anyone else know where I can geta copy of that standard? Any place I look it seems to be hidden behind a paywall

Close but no cigar

I got them below normal retail price alright directly from the wholesaler. And I have got a lot of stuff from the likes of eBay over the years but finding stuff at good prices takes a lot of time too. The main worry I'd have about importing from China is non-compliance. Not so much for the panels, but for the inverter. You can bypass that if you go for well known brands and models as sold here in Ireland, like most of the Solis range

To compare your Chinese prices (including shipping, import duty and VAT), I would contact the two biggest Irish wholesalers, solartricity.ie and midsummer.ie and see what they can do for you. Getting a discount when buying stuff is the easiest money you will ever make in your life...