Solar Panels?

[Up_North]

SoliD said:

Look at what the max power an inverter can pull from the battery, I have the Gen 1 5kw Givenergy so can only charge and discharge at 2.6kwh maximum. Realistically this causes me to pay when boiling the kettle and thats about it, which is pennies per week when being used first thing or late at night once the sun has gone down. The Gen 2 offers 3.6kwh charge and discharge.

This is a good point. The discharge rate of both the battery and inverter need to be considered and you’ll be restricted by whichever is the lowest. We’re getting the GivEnergy Gen2 which, as you said has a higher discharge but annoyingly it also has a higher startup voltage which means I have to be careful about how we configure the panels onto the MPPTs as we do have some shading in the morning.

[SoliD]

OldSkoolRS said:

Thanks; something for me to look out for then.

We rarely boil a kettle as we have a Nespresso machine (not sure what that draws though, but at least it only boils what it needs). I know some despise them, but I prefer it to instant and can't be done with making it from ground beans, etc. It'll be interesting to see what the smart meter shows once it's connected up.

old one here its not insignificant as I've told the wife she can't use that and the frother together in the morning.

[OldSkoolRS]

Up_North said:

...annoyingly it also has a higher startup voltage which means I have to be careful about how we configure the panels onto the MPPTs as we do have some shading in the morning.

You've lost me there; isn't that something the installer does or am I being hopelessly naive? Not that we have any shading luckily, on a South East facing roof.

Our Nespresso is a more recent one, but my wife does tend to use the frother at the same time. I just use cold milk and I'm the main coffee drinker anyway, so I probably won't dare attempt to impose such restrictions on her one cup a day.

[g40steve]

VEIGHT said:

Apologies if been done to death but do we have a list of recommended companies people have used to supply and install or anyone had some good experiences?
Looking to fit on business premises in Herts / Essex.
TIA

I went with a nationwide company, So Energy Solar.
Find their site, follow instructions & await initial quote, if happy £99 for site survey refunded if you go ahead.
Very happy with the team that fitted my system over two days & looking like a smart move.
Search my posts for my system but £9.6 quoted earlier this year.

[eldar]

I'm thinking of getting an EV, and I think getting solar may make sense.

I note that you can use the EV as a battery, they can supply 240v upto 3000w according to the blurb.

So, is it possible to use the EV as a battery, assuming you have 'spare' charge?

[satans worm]

eldar said:

I'm thinking of getting an EV, and I think getting solar may make sense.

I note that you can use the EV as a battery, they can supply 240v upto 3000w according to the blurb.

So, is it possible to use the EV as a battery, assuming you have 'spare' charge?

It is, as long as the vehicle you buy has 2 way ability, so def check that out as the older ones do not

i think is use is better for power outage than using the low cost over night charge in the night and supplying the house in the day as your car wont be there, for most purposes.

Im looking at doing exactly that, currently the wife has an eGolf that does not allow 2 way charging, so looking to see how the new Fiska turns out, ...

[VEIGHT]

g40steve said:

VEIGHT said:

Apologies if been done to death but do we have a list of recommended companies people have used to supply and install or anyone had some good experiences?
Looking to fit on business premises in Herts / Essex.
TIA

I went with a nationwide company, So Energy Solar.
Find their site, follow instructions & await initial quote, if happy £99 for site survey refunded if you go ahead.
Very happy with the team that fitted my system over two days & looking like a smart move.
Search my posts for my system but £9.6 quoted earlier this year.

Thanks have contacted!

[TriumphStag3.0V8]

satans worm said:

eldar said:

I'm thinking of getting an EV, and I think getting solar may make sense.

I note that you can use the EV as a battery, they can supply 240v upto 3000w according to the blurb.

So, is it possible to use the EV as a battery, assuming you have 'spare' charge?

It is, as long as the vehicle you buy has 2 way ability, so def check that out as the older ones do not

i think is use is better for power outage than using the low cost over night charge in the night and supplying the house in the day as your car wont be there, for most purposes.

Im looking at doing exactly that, currently the wife has an eGolf that does not allow 2 way charging, so looking to see how the new Fiska turns out, ...

Indeed. I know of one friend who has a new (leased) EV and free charging at work as a perk.... he charges his car fully each day at work and then powers his house off it at night and then recharges it at work next day. Git!

Although he does have to pay for his own electricity at weekends :-)

[Up_North]

eldar said:

I'm thinking of getting an EV, and I think getting solar may make sense.

I note that you can use the EV as a battery, they can supply 240v upto 3000w according to the blurb.

So, is it possible to use the EV as a battery, assuming you have 'spare' charge?

If the EV has V2L (Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Genesis GV60, Honda E and maybe some others) then yes, you can run an extensions lead into your house and power things, but you’ll have to use extension leads plugged into extension leads to power things in different rooms.

[egor110]

OldSkoolRS said:

SoliD said:

Look at what the max power an inverter can pull from the battery, I have the Gen 1 5kw Givenergy so can only charge and discharge at 2.6kwh maximum. Realistically this causes me to pay when boiling the kettle and thats about it, which is pennies per week when being used first thing or late at night once the sun has gone down. The Gen 2 offers 3.6kwh charge and discharge.

Thanks; something for me to look out for then.

We rarely boil a kettle as we have a Nespresso machine (not sure what that draws though, but at least it only boils what it needs). I know some despise them, but I prefer it to instant and can't be done with making it from ground beans, etc. It'll be interesting to see what the smart meter shows once it's connected up.

Surely a kettle only boils what it needs ?

Just put in a mugs worth of water and it'll heat quicker than half filling it .

[OldSkoolRS]

egor110 said:

Surely a kettle only boils what it needs ?

Just put in a mugs worth of water and it'll heat quicker than half filling it .

I do that on the rare occasion I make an instant coffee, though not everyone seems to be able to do that with our kettle.

[NMNeil]

egor110 said:

Surely a kettle only boils what it needs ?

Just put in a mugs worth of water and it'll heat quicker than half filling it .

That's what microwaves are for, 1.5Kw for 1 minute you just used 25 watts of power

[Biggy Stardust]

NMNeil said:

That's what microwaves are for, 1.5Kw for 1 minute you just used 25 watts of power

No- you used 1500 watts of power, but for 1 minute.

[g40steve]

VEIGHT said:

Thanks have contacted!

Leigh or Sebastian are top guys to deal with, mention Steve from LE12 & they might have the referral scheme I mentioned to them months ago up and running

[TriumphStag3.0V8]

Biggy Stardust said:

NMNeil said:

That's what microwaves are for, 1.5Kw for 1 minute you just used 25 watts of power

No- you used 1500 watts of power, but for 1 minute.

Technically he used 25wh.

By drawing 1500w for 1 minute.

Which at the new price cap would have cost him about 1.5p

[Enut]

First time poster on this thread.

We have date for fitting our solar panels next month.

16 panel system (6.2 KWH) with 12.8 KW storage (4 batteries), EPS system, 6 optimisers, bird protection (we have a large local pigeon/dove colony), including all scaffolding and fitting.

Cost is £13K.

I know some will say we could have got it cheaper but after over 2 years of getting messed around and let down by other suppliers, I'm just glad it's going to get installed.

Given the soaring cost of electricity and the fact that I have pond pumps and UV's running 24/7 I think it will be a long term winner.

[NMNeil]

TriumphStag3.0V8 said:

Technically he used 25wh.

By drawing 1500w for 1 minute.

Which at the new price cap would have cost him about 1.5p

I'm on solar so it costs me bugger all.

[TriumphStag3.0V8]

Enut said:

First time poster on this thread.

We have date for fitting our solar panels next month.

16 panel system (6.2 KWH) with 12.8 KW storage (4 batteries), EPS system, 6 optimisers, bird protection (we have a large local pigeon/dove colony), including all scaffolding and fitting.

Cost is £13K.

I know some will say we could have got it cheaper but after over 2 years of getting messed around and let down by other suppliers, I'm just glad it's going to get installed.

Given the soaring cost of electricity and the fact that I have pond pumps and UV's running 24/7 I think it will be a long term winner.

That actually seems like a pretty good price

[Biggy Stardust]

TriumphStag3.0V8 said:

Technically he used 25wh.

By drawing 1500w for 1 minute.

Which at the new price cap would have cost him about 1.5p

I completely agree with you but that's not what he said.

[NMNeil]

Biggy Stardust said:

NMNeil said:

That's what microwaves are for, 1.5Kw for 1 minute you just used 25 watts of power

No- you used 1500 watts of power, but for 1 minute.

Missed the 'h', it should have been kWh, just like the way it's sold.