Looking to go Solar, any advice on equipment?

TB Rich

Prominent Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2019
Messages
2,491
Reaction score
1,643
Points
672
Age
40
Location
Bournemouth
Just started to look into Solar, getting an idea of costs and what sort of equipment is out there. I'm hoping to get just enough knowledge to be able to flesh out a quality installer really, and on that front - I'm in Dorset (nr. Ringwood) if anyones got a good recommendation?

-From what I gather, I'd want at least 4 to 5kwh of panels?
Is there a 'best' brand for panels, or just accept what ever local installer is using/guaranteeing (what's typical, 10+ years)?

-My roof is south facing but has a hip section going into it facing E/W - this eats up a fair bit of space, so assume I'd need to probably compensate and use the higher/highest powered panels (400W ea?)

-Would like battery storage too I think, I don't have an EV (and will not!), but it seems to be a good idea to me? When the suns not out the battery picks up the slack before resorting to supply?
I note that Tesla Powerwall's look good, any others as good/better? And any noticeable problems mounting these outside?

-Inverter, honestly no idea what these are?
-And AC or DC coupled, yep no idea again!?

-Tarrifs, no idea what my provider offers, I'm with EON Next on SVR :(
However worth noting maybe that my principle aim for Solar is more about being able to be self-sufficient if energy rationing or worse happens. Of course cost savings are welcome but not primary goal.

TIA!
 
I was in the same position as you 8 weeks a go and am expecting my install shortly (demand for panels has delayed that though for several weeks.

Here's what I've learnt (and I've done a lot of research).

Go as big as you can afford, you'll use it, if not now then in the future.
Most panels are pretty good these days and you won't need to worry too much about brands.
Don't buy battery storage if you want a return on your investment quickly. Buy it because you want to use 90% of what you generate, it does make sense but isn't cheap, it'll likely double the cost of your install.
Inverter, this is what takes and converts the power from your PV to your home. You'll be offered a 3.68kw one but if you like using lots of power in your house all at once you'll need a bigger one and approval from your DNO.
Read up on AC, DC and hybrid battery systems, they all have their quirks, depends what you want them to do.

Do more research, watch a guy on YouTube called EV Puzzle, he's tried allsorts and his info was amazingly useful.
 
I was in the same position as you 8 weeks a go and am expecting my install shortly (demand for panels has delayed that though for several weeks.

Here's what I've learnt (and I've done a lot of research).

Go as big as you can afford, you'll use it, if not now then in the future.
Most panels are pretty good these days and you won't need to worry too much about brands.
Don't buy battery storage if you want a return on your investment quickly. Buy it because you want to use 90% of what you generate, it does make sense but isn't cheap, it'll likely double the cost of your install.
Inverter, this is what takes and converts the power from your PV to your home. You'll be offered a 3.68kw one but if you like using lots of power in your house all at once you'll need a bigger one and approval from your DNO.
Read up on AC, DC and hybrid battery systems, they all have their quirks, depends what you want them to do.

Do more research, watch a guy on YouTube called EV Puzzle, he's tried allsorts and his info was amazingly useful.
Thanks - will start to have a bit more of a Google, but it seems a total mind field as there's seemingly different pros/cons depending on the size of the system in use!

An inverter to allow south facing panels to run optimally and not get affected by E/W panels on the hip if I use them, seems a no-brainer.
But as for the AC vs DC coupling I'm still not sure, a Tesla Powerwall 2 I think is a full battery+inverter setup? AC coupled I think it is and as far as the web page videos suggest, does what I want it to by acting as energy storage buffer so you still have power if the grid is down.

I guess the process of getting installers round to quote and sound them out will be critical.....it just always feels such a lottery when looking for new tradesman :\

Cheers
 
As already mentioned, go as big as you can afford, you'll not regret it.

Definitely get a battery. If you're like most people you'll generate during the day, but use mostly in the evening. Not a huge problem in the summer, but the other 3 seasons of the year, you'll be pleased to be using your own power after the sun has set or is very low in the sky.

The biggest reason for a battery is the huge difference between the price of electricity and how much you are paid when you sell power back into the grid. If this ever changes batteries might be redundant.

As long as you aren't borrowing to pay for the panels, try not to think about the return on investment as the time to pay back the cost. It will probably be >10 years. Instead think about the interest you're earning on the money sitting in your bank (probably <1%) and compare that to the annual saving on power you'll make, which should be between 5% and 10%.

You'll learn to turn on high power devices one at time (i.e. don't run the washing machine, dishwasher and the oven at the same time) so you don't exceed the output of the inverter. Unless you've got a large family that you can't coordinate, 3kW output from the inverter should be enough to run most things one at time.

If you're like me or my neighbour with solar, you'll have a lot of fun trying to maximise the benefits. You'll be amazed how much more you notice the weather!
 
As already mentioned, go as big as you can afford, you'll not regret it.

Definitely get a battery. If you're like most people you'll generate during the day, but use mostly in the evening. Not a huge problem in the summer, but the other 3 seasons of the year, you'll be pleased to be using your own power after the sun has set or is very low in the sky.

The biggest reason for a battery is the huge difference between the price of electricity and how much you are paid when you sell power back into the grid. If this ever changes batteries might be redundant.

As long as you aren't borrowing to pay for the panels, try not to think about the return on investment as the time to pay back the cost. It will probably be >10 years. Instead think about the interest you're earning on the money sitting in your bank (probably <1%) and compare that to the annual saving on power you'll make, which should be between 5% and 10%.

You'll learn to turn on high power devices one at time (i.e. don't run the washing machine, dishwasher and the oven at the same time) so you don't exceed the output of the inverter. Unless you've got a large family that you can't coordinate, 3kW output from the inverter should be enough to run most things one at time.

If you're like me or my neighbour with solar, you'll have a lot of fun trying to maximise the benefits. You'll be amazed how much more you notice the weather!
Tbh my electricity is already nuts so the ROI probably woudn’t be long, and with another estimated 30% increase on the cap!! But no the primary goal is simply to have a level of self sufficiency (I’m probably a bit tin foil hatty at the mo but I don‘t like the way things are shaping up for energy globally!).

With the inverter, do you not need one that’s broadly sized to the panel output? So if I got 7kw total panel capabilities, the inverter would need to be around that? Or do you always have a 3kwh inverter and then the excess goes in to the battery?

Large uncoordinated family, no. Uncoordinated family who seemingly make it their active duty to do the opposite of everything I say, yes. :facepalm:
 
Tbh my electricity is already nuts so the ROI probably woudn’t be long, and with another estimated 30% increase on the cap!! But no the primary goal is simply to have a level of self sufficiency (I’m probably a bit tin foil hatty at the mo but I don‘t like the way things are shaping up for energy globally!).

With the inverter, do you not need one that’s broadly sized to the panel output? So if I got 7kw total panel capabilities, the inverter would need to be around that? Or do you always have a 3kwh inverter and then the excess goes in to the battery?

Large uncoordinated family, no. Uncoordinated family who seemingly make it their active duty to do the opposite of everything I say, yes. :facepalm:
I've only had my system since late January, but it appears the max output of the inverter should be based on your usage of electricity.

The panels and the battery are both DC (with my system) and the inverter converts power from either into 240V AC.

When you're generating more than you need, the excess goes into the battery until it is full, then it is exported to the grid (for an insultingly small payment).

If I try to use more power than the inverter can generate, I import from the grid even when I am generating solar and have charge in the battery.

I believe there are AC battery solutions (which I think just means the battery has its own inverter separate from the panels) but I have no experience of those.
 
I'd enquire from a few different installers in your area. There are so many factors to think about with installing solar that you might get a difference of opinion or different advice from them, so it's worth getting an exact bearing for your roof, take pictures with measurements, and provide details of possible shading particularly when the sun is low in the sky during the colder half of the year. The inverter, isolation switches, meters and batteries all need to be sited so the complexity of installation and where cable runs go require consideration. That alone may be invasive/disuptive so worth thinking about if you will incur additional costs here. With this information most installers should be able to give you a quote without performing a site survey, together with estimated annual generation. Of course they will still need to come to provide a comprehensive survey later.

You mention that your electricity use is high. Often this is about balancing supply and demand, so is there anything you can do on the demand side?

Panel efficiency is key. Think about the weather and how it plays its part and less about the peak sunshine days we have which will be far less often, meaning that average daily generation and sunny spells, a battery will be great asset to have. Seriously looking forward to the day ours finally arrives!
 
I'd enquire from a few different installers in your area. There are so many factors to think about with installing solar that you might get a difference of opinion or different advice from them, so it's worth getting an exact bearing for your roof, take pictures with measurements, and provide details of possible shading particularly when the sun is low in the sky during the colder half of the year. The inverter, isolation switches, meters and batteries all need to be sited so the complexity of installation and where cable runs go require consideration. That alone may be invasive/disuptive so worth thinking about if you will incur additional costs here. With this information most installers should be able to give you a quote without performing a site survey, together with estimated annual generation. Of course they will still need to come to provide a comprehensive survey later.

You mention that your electricity use is high. Often this is about balancing supply and demand, so is there anything you can do on the demand side?

Panel efficiency is key. Think about the weather and how it plays its part and less about the peak sunshine days we have which will be far less often, meaning that average daily generation and sunny spells, a battery will be great asset to have. Seriously looking forward to the day ours finally arrives!
Thanks and yeah I think a battery’s a must - I’ll be in a position to get some installers round in a few weeks.

I’m not sure why my elec’s so high, well it’s £285pcm for combined elec/gas - I assume that’s high as the Martin Lewis videos I was watching about rates the other day, he said the UK average was £1900 a year which is £158pcm.
I’ve added some smart plugs to a few things, banned anyone from using the 2000w towel rad (though my daughter left it on the other day for 13hours!). I need to pop a meter reading in actually and see how the last months usage has been with these changes, might help a few quid but I’m not expecting miracles. Tbh working from home and hating being cold…that’s my biggest issue (so it could be gas but I have a feeling without checking that I’m around 50/50 on cost of each).
 
Firstly, watch out for dodgy installers. A friend of mine had panels and batteries fitted and then found the installer did not do the appropriate clearance through the DNO despite spending £14k for everything!

You will need to look at the spec of the inverter to see how many panels you can instal over its capacity. Most allow for some excess but they do vary, you don' want to blow your inverter on that rare sunny day! Inverters also have a minimum voltage to start up, normally 120-150v so as long you have at least 5-6 panels you should be fine.

You can purchase panels in the high 300w region for less than £200. I just got some 390w panels for a £153 each. Delivery is expensive though, you pay the same for one panel or 30!

Some hybrid inverters can provide full capacity to the home/grid plus extra to the battery. For others, the capacity of the inverter is the capacity for everything. Therefore, a 3.6kw hybrid can deliver a 3.6kw to your home and still charge you batteries at a good rate keeping it cheaper and simple (easier DNO process).

Batteries have a max discharge rate so again its good to check or high demand items such as kettles, hair dryers etc could still pull from the grid even if the batteries are full.

Check out the Tigo optimisers that can help with shading and where panels face different directions.

I DIY'd my solar and saved a fortune. I don't have batteries for now but will be installing a second solar string this weekend.
 
Last edited:
A tip for you is that not all panels are the same. Even if they are rated the same, one can produce more than the other. They have different efficiencies. Typically 19 to 22% efficiency for mono crystal
 
Firstly, watch out for dodgy installers. A friend of mine had panels and batteries fitted and then found the installer did not do the appropriate clearance through the DNO despite spending £14k for everything!

You will need to look at the spec of the inverter to see how many panels you can instal over its capacity. Most allow for some excess but they do vary, you don' want to blow your inverter on that rare sunny day! Inverters also have a minimum voltage to start up, normally 120-150v so as long you have at least 5-6 panels you should be fine.

You can purchase panels in the high 300w region for less than £200. I just got some 390w panels for a £153 each. Delivery is expensive though, you pay the same for one panel of 30!

Some hybrid inverters can provide full capacity to the home/grid plus extra to the battery. For others, the capacity of the inverter is the capacity for everything. Therefore, a 3.6kw hybrid can deliver a 3.6kw to you home and still charge you batteries at a good rate keeping it cheaper and simple (easier DNO process).

Batteries have a max discharge rate so again its good to check or high demand items such as kettles, hair dryers etc could still pull from the grid even if the batteries are full.

Check out the Tigo optimisers that can help with shading and where panels face different directions.

I DIY'd my solar and saved a fortune. I don't have batteries for now but will be installing a second solar string this weekend.
That's very useful thanks. I don't think I want to go down the diy route because I will end up in my usual cycle of forever researching and never buying! But I think I have a handle on the questions I need to be asking of installers now - hopefully to mitigate finding the dodgy ones!
 
That's very useful thanks. I don't think I want to go down the diy route because I will end up in my usual cycle of forever researching and never buying! But I think I have a handle on the questions I need to be asking of installers now - hopefully to mitigate finding the dodgy ones!
Whether you DIY or not, you still have to research anyway so you know you won't be ripped off.
 
Whether you DIY or not, you still have to research anyway so you know you won't be ripped off.
exactly the point of this thread, not suggesting I'd go in blind.
 
Firstly, watch out for dodgy installers. A friend of mine had panels and batteries fitted and then found the installer did not do the appropriate clearance through the DNO despite spending £14k for everything!

You will need to look at the spec of the inverter to see how many panels you can instal over its capacity. Most allow for some excess but they do vary, you don' want to blow your inverter on that rare sunny day! Inverters also have a minimum voltage to start up, normally 120-150v so as long you have at least 5-6 panels you should be fine.

You can purchase panels in the high 300w region for less than £200. I just got some 390w panels for a £153 each. Delivery is expensive though, you pay the same for one panel or 30!

Some hybrid inverters can provide full capacity to the home/grid plus extra to the battery. For others, the capacity of the inverter is the capacity for everything. Therefore, a 3.6kw hybrid can deliver a 3.6kw to your home and still charge you batteries at a good rate keeping it cheaper and simple (easier DNO process).

Batteries have a max discharge rate so again its good to check or high demand items such as kettles, hair dryers etc could still pull from the grid even if the batteries are full.

Check out the Tigo optimisers that can help with shading and where panels face different directions.

I DIY'd my solar and saved a fortune. I don't have batteries for now but will be installing a second solar string this weekend.

Any more information on your DIY route?
 
We can help you if you DIY. There's nothing stopping you using the same or similar equipment as paying for someone else to source the equipment and installing.
How do you go about installing the panels, feels like an accident waiting to happen?! Would you have to hire scaffold or a cherry picker? And then for hooking up the electricity, with the sort of voltage and amperage involved, tbh I don't fancy going anywhere near it!!!
 
What would you like to know?

We can help you if you DIY. There's nothing stopping you using the same or similar equipment as paying for someone else to source the equipment and installing.

So to start do you have any recommendations of suppliers, I was looking at this site as a potential but some recommendations would be great: Select Solar - The Solar Power Specialists in Essex and throughout the UK

What is your roof type (assuming you roof mounted) (Tiles / slate) - what mounting system did you go with?
 
Are you looking for an off grid system?

Maybe start off with a small system or use an installer for the panels to be on the safe side.

Ive never used or looked into installers so don't know any I'm afraid. We have everything powered by solar until we can afford a larger inverter and more bigger batteries.

All our panels are in the garden mounted on DIY frames so no need to worry about climbing and fitting onto the roof and no need to tell the insurance company (which may increase the house insurance) or worry about panels falling off.

What are you running?
 
Are you looking for an off grid system?

Maybe start off with a small system or use an installer for the panels to be on the safe side.

Ive never used or looked into installers so don't know any I'm afraid. We have everything powered by solar until we can afford a larger inverter and more bigger batteries.

All our panels are in the garden mounted on DIY frames so no need to worry about climbing and fitting onto the roof and no need to tell the insurance company (which may increase the house insurance) or worry about panels falling off.

What are you running?

That’s good to know, so assume trenching and armoured run to house. Have thought of that too and might be an option but long cable run.
Sorry I think my message came across wrong, not looking for installers but suppliers for pannels etc. that you used.


If I can get some idea of reputable sources my aim is to diy as much as possible, for example installing the mounting system, any trenching, mounting pannels etc. with the electric connection side handled by a professional.

Any pit falls to avoid?
 
We have only used 3 suppliers of panels. Renogy, Eco worthy and craig solar. You can buy direct from all three. There are many others and some are very good but expensive. We buy of renogy ebay store as its cheaper but craig solar is cheaper direct from their website rather than ebay/amazon.

Generally the bigger the panel the more watts for your pound, typically from £1-£.1.20 per watt to 60-65p per watt.

Renogy are better value for smaller panels, craig solar better for larger panels and eco worthy in between.

The larger the panel the more flex they tend to be.

I would avoid the cheap connectors and better to use too thick than too think cables. Fuse everything for peace of mind.
 
We have only used 3 suppliers of panels. Renogy, Eco worthy and craig solar. You can buy direct from all three. There are many others and some are very good but expensive. We buy of renogy ebay store as its cheaper but craig solar is cheaper direct from their website rather than ebay/amazon.

Generally the bigger the panel the more watts for your pound, typically from £1-£.1.20 per watt to 60-65p per watt.

Renogy are better value for smaller panels, craig solar better for larger panels and eco worthy in between.

The larger the panel the more flex they tend to be.

I would avoid the cheap connectors and better to use too thick than too think cables. Fuse everything for peace of mind.

What is your current output?
 
What is your current output?
Varies on the sun and how long we have the panels out for.

On a sunny day we can charge a 100ah battery in about 3 hours from a 200 watt panel...on a cloudy day we only get 4 to 8 watts per panel and it's only enough to charge our mobile phones.. About half a watt to keep the batteries topped up and 2-3 watts per mobile phone.

On cloudy days we have to partially rely on mains power. We have a solar generator/power station for backup..it will run a laptop and wifi router all day and charge all our phones no problems.
 
Anyone here gone for a small solar system?
My baseline load during the daytimes is about 250w and almost all of the bulk of my electricity demand is in the evening (cooking) and overnight (car charging) so having a sizeable solar installation doesn't make sense in my situation since it will almost all be exported to the grid and pay a measly rate, over the lifetime of the system I'd possibly break even.

I was considering a small system of maybe 2 panels to meet my baseline load. Anyone here gone for the same approach?
 
I'd advise against it. The panel's performance at peak is not achieved all year round, but it depends on how much you want to be able to cover your nominal load all year round. Mine's about the same load, possibly slightly more, and on a cloudy winter's day the 4kW system barely covers this, indeed if it's thick cloud and dark it definitely won't. Having said that, a 1kW system probably would suffice to cover you most of the time. You may want to consider a small battery storage system instead and charge it off-peak. That's more controllable and dependable power and will probably pay for itself much faster.
 

The latest video from AVForums

Is 4K Blu-ray Worth It?
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Back
Top Bottom