What to ask before having solar panels installed

[JohnD]

I make a point of using the tumble dryer on sunny days, I have no other appliances that use significant power for more than ten minutes at a time, such as kettle, toaster, dishwasher, washing machine.

When there is a sunny winter day, I use a fan heater.

You can get a device to divert excess electricity to an immersion heater, but it costs around £250 plus fitting, and if you have a gas boiler, the cost of HW is so low that you will never recoup it.

 

[Murdochcat]

You can get a device to divert excess electricity to an immersion heater, but it costs around £250 plus fitting, and if you have a gas boiler, the cost of HW is so low that you will never recoup it.

But if you want to help reduce emissions getting free hot water from your solar does make sense.

It’s not just about saving money imho

 

[JohnD]

But if you want to help reduce emissions getting free hot water from your solar does make sense.

It’s not just about saving money imho

During the summer only, and on about half the summer days.

What I don't use goes ihto the grid, and saves somebody else's emissions.

 

[accelerator]

Presumably if it's a free system, it's not necessarily an advanced system. For instance, do you get batteries with it for energy storage?

Who pays for future maintenance when it's needed?

You will also need space for the equipment involved, e.g. the inverter.

 

[5oysterman2]

I've got it, it probably saves me a few hundred a year, and I get hundreds for the electricity I sell.

The payments I think are lower now.

You won't save much, because it makes most electricity on sunny summer days, when you don't need much electricity.

In winter you will be lucky to make more than your light bulbs use, and only in daylight.

But if it's free, it will be profitable for you.

Don't lease or rent your panels, you will be bound by a contract that might last 20 years.

The woman from the council said we could sell it back to the grid but would need a smart meter(which we don't have at the moment)

Is this correct?

I don't fully understand how it all works either. If the sun is shining, does it mean all my electric is free & how does it work out when to send electric to the grid?

Ref the panels, that's one of my questions i will ask.

 

[JohnD]

Good point. My inverter is in the garage, easily accessible. Some people have it in the loft and have to climb up a ladder. More effort, especially if you plan to live into old age.

 

[5oysterman2]

Presumably if it's a free system, it's not necessarily an advanced system. For instance, do you get batteries with it for energy storage?

Who pays for future maintenance when it's needed?

You will also need space for the equipment involved, e.g. the inverter.

As far as i am aware no batteries for storage.
Maintenance is a question i will ask.

 

[Murdochcat]

During the summer only, and on about half the summer days.

What I don't use goes ihto the grid, and saves somebody else's emissions.

Wrong as usual .

Just switch on your empathy chips and join the real world.

Because somebody else has ideas, it doesn’t mean you are correct

 

[JohnD]

I don't fully understand how it all works either. If the sun is shining, does it mean all my electric is free & how does it work out when to send electric to the grid?

If the panels are generating 2kW, and you plug in a 3kW kettle, your house will only draw 1kW from the grid*
When you turn the kettle off, the house will send 2kW into the grid. That all happens automatically.


*local network, actually, but you know what I mean

 

[JohnD]

Wrong as usual .

Just switch on your empathy chips and join the real world.

Because somebody else has ideas, it doesn’t mean you are correct

I'm delighted that you are willing to pay £250 of your own money for a device that is no use to you.

Well done.

 

[5oysterman2]

Good point. My inverter is in the garage, easily accessible. Some people have it in the loft and have to climb up a ladder. More effort, especially if you plan to live into old age.

How much noise does the inverter make? Not very much room in the loft, i can't get in there myself

 

[5oysterman2]

If the panels are generating 2kW, and you plug in a 3kW kettle, your house will only draw 1kW from the grid*
When you turn the kettle off, the house will send 2kW into the grid. That all happens automatically.


*local network, actually, but you know what I mean

I'm with you now. I take it the more panels they install the more they will generate?

 

[JohnD]

How much noise does the inverter make? Not very much room in the loft, i can't get in there myself

Almost silent. Mine has a cooling fan that starts if it get warm. This is probably only on warm sunny days.

Mine is about two foot high by 18 inch wide by 6 inch thick, screwed to the wall near the electricity meter and consumer unit.

 

[JohnD]

I'm with you now. I take it the more panels they install the more they will generate?

Yes, I think I heard that the average installation is between three and four Kw nominal output.

Depends how big your roof is.

Actual output depends how sunny it is.

Efficiency is higher when cold.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The woman from the council said we could sell it back to the grid but would need a smart meter(which we don't have at the moment)

Is this correct?

You, or whoever finances the system, can make money from any surplus power, exported back to the grid - but a smart meter is an essential part of that.

I don't fully understand how it all works either. If the sun is shining, does it mean all my electric is free & how does it work out when to send electric to the grid?

Whether free or not, depends on how much is being generated by the panels, compared to how much you are needing to use. If you are using more than the panels are generating, that comes from the grid, and you pay for that portion.

Storage, might help - batteries, charged when you have surplus, then used when more power is needed, but batteries are expensive.