Solar Panels?

[Arnold Cunningham]

Jambo85 said:

I don’t want to piss on your chips, but do bear in mind that in a week’s time we’ll be in the sunniest half of the year…

No pissing at all. Totally get that. But still happy enough with it.

[Condi]

Jambo85 said:

I think Solis have an API that you can connect to, do you have some IT folk who could build a Power BI dashboard using that?

ETA some relevant resources:
https://solis-service.solisinverters.com/support/s...
https://github.com/fss/solis-inverter

I recently did the same with my SolarEdge inverter and here is what I built:

I wonder if someone on Fiverr could do that if you supplied them with the API details? The Solis app is really quite crap, nowhere near as good as other inverter makes which offer a little in home display.

On a related note, is it possible to read the amount being exported to the grid from a smart meter via an API, or even a day later? The Hugo app is fine for imported energy, but is there something similar for exported energy? I know Hugo doesn't use an API, but the idea is the same.

[Jambo85]

Condi said:

Jambo85 said:

I think Solis have an API that you can connect to, do you have some IT folk who could build a Power BI dashboard using that?

ETA some relevant resources:
https://solis-service.solisinverters.com/support/s...
https://github.com/fss/solis-inverter

I recently did the same with my SolarEdge inverter and here is what I built:

I wonder if someone on Fiverr could do that if you supplied them with the API details? The Solis app is really quite crap, nowhere near as good as other inverter makes which offer a little in home display.

On a related note, is it possible to read the amount being exported to the grid from a smart meter via an API, or even a day later? The Hugo app is fine for imported energy, but is there something similar for exported energy? I know Hugo doesn't use an API, but the idea is the same.

Yes I'm sure someone on Fiverr could knock that up in an afternoon - it took me longer but I went from zero knowledge of APIs and being fairly crap in Power BI to that over a few evenings. The Solar Edge API is very straightforward though, all URL based so Power BI will connect to it directly. The MyEnergi one was harder, partly because the documentation is non existent but also it uses digest authentication which then necessitated learning enough Python to handle that and sort out JSON data.

Smart meters - I'm not certain, this is on my list to figure out too. What I do know is that some energy suppliers have APIs, and you can get get your smart meter data indirectly via Octopus' API.

[Buzz84]

Jambo85 said:

Condi said:

Jambo85 said:

I think Solis have an API that you can connect to, do you have some IT folk who could build a Power BI dashboard using that?

ETA some relevant resources:
https://solis-service.solisinverters.com/support/s...
https://github.com/fss/solis-inverter

I recently did the same with my SolarEdge inverter and here is what I built:

I wonder if someone on Fiverr could do that if you supplied them with the API details? The Solis app is really quite crap, nowhere near as good as other inverter makes which offer a little in home display.

On a related note, is it possible to read the amount being exported to the grid from a smart meter via an API, or even a day later? The Hugo app is fine for imported energy, but is there something similar for exported energy? I know Hugo doesn't use an API, but the idea is the same.

Yes I'm sure someone on Fiverr could knock that up in an afternoon - it took me longer but I went from zero knowledge of APIs and being fairly crap in Power BI to that over a few evenings. The Solar Edge API is very straightforward though, all URL based so Power BI will connect to it directly. The MyEnergi one was harder, partly because the documentation is non existent but also it uses digest authentication which then necessitated learning enough Python to handle that and sort out JSON data.

Smart meters - I'm not certain, this is on my list to figure out too. What I do know is that some energy suppliers have APIs, and you can get get your smart meter data indirectly via Octopus' API.

Thank you Jambo, I have never heard of PowerBI but it seems like a really interesting, we have spreadsheets for tracking all sorts of data and that looks really clever how it can link them all and show the data. might have to look into it for various business uses too!

Unfortunately while we are a fairly big company production wise we operate with only a couple of dozen people so our IT is looked after by a 3rd party company (I tend to be the one that deals with most stuff we need then we call up when an admin is needed).

I am handy on a PC and am always willing to learn and try things so have requested API access and may have a look myself when things are a little quieter.
I you don't mind me asking, do you have any links to any applicable guide or info you used to get started on this?

If its appropriate in this post I can post up some pics and details of our system?

[Jambo85]

Buzz84 said:

Thank you Jambo, I have never heard of PowerBI but it seems like a really interesting, we have spreadsheets for tracking all sorts of data and that looks really clever how it can link them all and show the data. might have to look into it for various business uses too!

Unfortunately while we are a fairly big company production wise we operate with only a couple of dozen people so our IT is looked after by a 3rd party company (I tend to be the one that deals with most stuff we need then we call up when an admin is needed).

I am handy on a PC and am always willing to learn and try things so have requested API access and may have a look myself when things are a little quieter.
I you don't mind me asking, do you have any links to any applicable guide or info you used to get started on this?

If its appropriate in this post I can post up some pics and details of our system?

Glad it helps - happy to help further but a separate thread may be appropriate? Plenty of developers on here (I am not one) who could give pointers too I am sure. I mostly just used the SolarEdge documentation initially. The other tip I'd offer is to download Insomnia, use that to build and test your API queries so you're know they're right. Prototyping this stuff in Power BI is painful!

And yes, Power BI is great for business use, though it's a steep learning curve that most people are resistant to when they know excel inside out!

[Gareth79]

Current project is to have some nice configurable gauges on 240x240 smartwatch displays, driven directly from ESPHome (which syncs to Home Assistant):

[OutInTheShed]

Gareth79 said:

Current project is to have some nice configurable gauges on 240x240 smartwatch displays, driven directly from ESPHome (which syncs to Home Assistant):

That's very neat, where did you get the displays please?

[steve_pierson]

i am looking into getting a diy small solar system installed onto my office log cabin, its connected to the main house consumer unit by armoured cable and the cabin has its own small consumer unit in

i would want battery storage and the ability to feed back into the grid

in the next six months i will be having a 6kw system fitted to the house with both battery and grid feed back.

i have approx 3x2 m of roof space on the cabin so i dont think i will get more than 4 panels on there. can anyone recommend me a system? all the once i seem to find only have a invertor that you can plug a 13amp plug into, i want to be able to hard wire it into the cabin consumer unit. this side of the roof is in the sun all day.

can anyone recommend a system please?

[Arnold Cunningham]

Jambo85 said:

Power BI is great for business use, though it's a steep learning curve that most people are resistant to when they know excel inside out!

Welcome to my world. lol

[Jambo85]

steve_pierson said:

i am looking into getting a diy small solar system installed onto my office log cabin, its connected to the main house consumer unit by armoured cable and the cabin has its own small consumer unit in

i would want battery storage and the ability to feed back into the grid

in the next six months i will be having a 6kw system fitted to the house with both battery and grid feed back.

i have approx 3x2 m of roof space on the cabin so i dont think i will get more than 4 panels on there. can anyone recommend me a system? all the once i seem to find only have a invertor that you can plug a 13amp plug into, i want to be able to hard wire it into the cabin consumer unit. this side of the roof is in the sun all day.

can anyone recommend a system please?

Without wishing to be completely obnoxious, if you're not sure out how to convert something from a 13A plug to hardwired, DIYing this might not be for you?

The reason they supply them like this is that (subject to interpretation), this can then fall outside Part P and is thus DIYable, whereas hardwiring into your CU does not.

I have a similar requirement for a very small system and I think the Ensys microinverters look to be the way to go.

[Condi]

steve_pierson said:

can anyone recommend a system please?

Why do you want battery storage in the shed? Seems a bit overkill if you have battery storage on the house system.

As far as inverters go, 4 400w panels is 1600w, something like this is a 1.6Kw grid tie inverter which needs hardwiring https://midsummerwholesale.co.uk/buy/solis-inverte...

AFAIK you can't feed back into the grid under a "DIY" install. The install needs to be registered by a qualified and registered person. You might find someone willing to connect up a system if you do the donkey work.

[Arnold Cunningham]

Jambo85 said:

Without wishing to be completely obnoxious, if you're not sure out how to convert something from a 13A plug to hardwired, DIYing this might not be for you?

I 2nd this. Be safe. It IS possible and often easy to DIY this, stuff, but you MUST make sure you know enough to do it all safely and know what you are "legally" allowed to do, vs what you might do that's a bit shady but not really a problem, vs definataly don't do. And as Jamno notes, this is the type of question that'd I'd see as a bit of an "Oof" moment. There's enough volts & amps in these systems that they could give you a heck of a bite if you get it wrong.

[steve_pierson]

Arnold Cunningham said:

I 2nd this. Be safe. It IS possible and often easy to DIY this, stuff, but you MUST make sure you know enough to do it all safely and know what you are "legally" allowed to do, vs what you might do that's a bit shady but not really a problem, vs definataly don't do. And as Jamno notes, this is the type of question that'd I'd see as a bit of an "Oof" moment. There's enough volts & amps in these systems that they could give you a heck of a bite if you get it wrong.

i am a qualified 66kv high voltage engineer so i think i will be ok on the diy side, i just wasnt sure on the technical/legal side of the solar install. so i do appreciate the head up of the feeding into the grid info.

that does make the search a lot easier as i can just look into the battery supply route.

[gazapc]

steve_pierson said:

i am looking into getting a diy small solar system installed onto my office log cabin, its connected to the main house consumer unit by armoured cable and the cabin has its own small consumer unit in

i would want battery storage and the ability to feed back into the grid

in the next six months i will be having a 6kw system fitted to the house with both battery and grid feed back.

i have approx 3x2 m of roof space on the cabin so i dont think i will get more than 4 panels on there. can anyone recommend me a system? all the once i seem to find only have a invertor that you can plug a 13amp plug into, i want to be able to hard wire it into the cabin consumer unit. this side of the roof is in the sun all day.

can anyone recommend a system please?

What benefits will have two completely separate systems bring over say installing a bigger battery in the house?

Is there a reason why you couldn't get the installer of your 6 kW system to do the office roof at the same time?

3 x 2m is a small area. Will be two panels at maximum, three smaller panels (probably not 400+ Watts each) if you are willing for the panels to overlap the roof edge slightly.

[Arnold Cunningham]

steve_pierson said:

i am a qualified 66kv high voltage engineer so i think i will be ok on the diy side, i just wasnt sure on the technical/legal side of the solar install. so i do appreciate the head up of the feeding into the grid info.

that does make the search a lot easier as i can just look into the battery supply route.

No worries. "We" are just making sure you're safe - you never know who you're talking to on the internet!
Too many people having a go at something without the right knowledge and then hurting themselves, as you'll be well aware.
Apologies if it looked like I was being patronising.

Because I'm interested, I had a read up of the building regs : https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...
And the answer isn't clear to me, at least.

[Gareth79]

OutInTheShed said:

Gareth79 said:

Current project is to have some nice configurable gauges on 240x240 smartwatch displays, driven directly from ESPHome (which syncs to Home Assistant):

That's very neat, where did you get the displays please?

AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004069703494.h...

[OutInTheShed]

Gareth79 said:

AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004069703494.h...

Thank You!

[pingu393]

We had a Powerwall installed yesterday morning. Just using solar on two dull days and a night, we've not used any grid power yet (24 hours).

If we get the battery full and we start exporting, how much tax will we have to pay?

I know that you don't usually pay tax, but our exported power will be significantly more than our imported power.

[pingu393]

pingu393 said:

We had a Powerwall installed yesterday morning. Just using solar on two dull days and a night, we've not used any grid power yet (24 hours).

If we get the battery full and we start exporting, how much tax will we have to pay?

I know that you don't usually pay tax, but our exported power will be significantly more than our imported power.

I contacted Octopus and they believe that as long as "exported" is less than "consumed" there won't be a problem, irrespective of how little is "imported".

[C70R]

C70R said:

C70R said:

Gazzab said:

C70R said:

Does anyone have any recommendations for companies to get quotes from? I'm in rural North Norfolk, and having tried my energy supplier (Octopus), it seems they don't cover my area.

Is it wise to contact a local specialist, or get a national company to come and quote? Or both?

This place was recommended on another ph thread.
https://impact-services.co.uk/
They are Norwich I think ??

Thank you

Thanks again for this. I have someone coming out in a couple of weeks to do the initial survey. So far they've been pretty painless to deal with.

Continuing the thread. The chaps from Impact (one of whom was from the family who own the company) came out on Friday and did the survey. They were really professional, and very pleasant to deal with. Bit heavy on the sales patter, but never pushy.

Disappointingly, and something I hadn't expected, was that we couldn't have panels installed on the main roof of the house because it was slate. I feel like this could have been pointed out before their visit based on the photos I sent, but such is life.

The house is effectively T-shaped, with the T lying in perfect North-South orientation. The 'leg' of the T is a more modern two-storey extension to the rear/South (East/West pitched roof), so we decided they would put together a quote based on installing here (terracotta tiles). In total they sized up space for 13 panels, and estimated that with minimal tree coverage I should get decent returns. Through looking at our usage (we're on Octopus Go), they estimated two batteries would be sufficient to meet our needs.

I'm waiting on the full quote to land today, but having seen the survey report already I wanted to sense-check some numbers. They estimated that those 13 panels on the rear two-storey extension would be able to produce up to 4000Kwh, which felt like a lot to me for an install on an East/West roof.

Does anyone have a comparable installation they could use to sense-check those numbers?

Edited by C70R on Monday 27th March 12:58