Upscaling the solar generation on our property 2

[openspaceman]

Not wishing to directly hijack the other thread:

Here are the picture of my current set up, showing one panel slightly shaded at middayish and the 3.9m x 2.1m flat roof that has an unshaded view south from about 10:00 onward and earlier in summer when the sun is above the neighbouring house.

Apart from the extra winter generation I wish to be able to operate islanded in a power cut so if I can understand how to programe it without interfering with my FIT payments for the remaining 15 years I and thinking of a sunnysynk inverter.

[nowty]

Ahaaaaa, a picture paints a thousand words.

I would stick the panels as an extension of the existing roofline across over to the flat roof area, it will look ok and no one will care. Very debatable if the 200mm rule would actually be enforced in your case.

Just get rid of those aerial's.

[openspaceman]

Ahaaaaa, a picture paints a thousand words.

I would stick the panels as an extension of the existing roofline across over to the flat roof area, it will look ok and no one will care. Very debatable if the 200mm rule would actually be enforced in your case.

Just get rid of those aerial's.

Only access is over that parapet as there is a conservatory under the other side.

I know it's usually better just to add more panels than to try and orient them south but from the energy saving trust site it suggests I would get 2700kWh form my existing panels, which is a bit less than the 3MWh they achieve. That's about 0.75MWh per installed peak kW.

The figure for the SSE orientation they predict at 830Wh per installed peak kW which is 10% better plus easier to install.

My enquiry to the planning department went in last week so they are aware of plans.

Not that it would matter as worst case I would have to take them down after a couple of years of arguing.

[openspaceman]

I have a roofer coming tomorrow to quote for redoing the flat roof, it was last done 30 years ago, maybe we can fit some extra insulation as well as provide a firm surface for the panel mounts.

I cannot decide whether to mount directly onto the flat roof or to carry two beams across on substantial joist hangers attached to the masonry/brickwork.

I have looked at the sma planning pdf Nowty pointed me to and attach a relevant picture from it and a hand scribbled graphic of what I have currently. As I am not concerned about automatic switching (SMA says it takes several seconds anyway) I'd go for a manual changeover. So it you look at the pictures it seems to me that the sunny island could take the place of my growatt inverter except for the problem that the growatt battery is not on the approved list of the sunny island.

You will see I also have two 2.5 metre porches with a tiled length of 1.9 metres on which I could mount panels but the RHS will be shaded by a mulberry in winter.

The original installer will be having a look in a few weeks.

[nowty]

I have looked at the sma planning pdf Nowty pointed me to and attach a relevant picture from it and a hand scribbled graphic of what I have currently. As I am not concerned about automatic switching (SMA says it takes several seconds anyway) I'd go for a manual changeover. So it you look at the pictures it seems to me that the sunny island could take the place of my growatt inverter except for the problem that the growatt battery is not on the approved list of the sunny island.

You'd also need to replace your original solar inverter with an SMA Sunny Boy inverter as its unlikely to work with frequency shift throttling in OffGrid mode.

[openspaceman]

Thanks

I did notice the ramping down of output with increased frequency but the significance was lost on me.

There is still the issue of the battery not being approved but this will be a discussion point with the electrician when he comes.

[openspaceman]

The roofer says the flat roof is in good condition so does not need re laying. He says not to rest the structure for the panels directly on to the roof.

This latter point is probably for the best as the panel's frame can be mounted on the parapet and attached to the party wall. That way minimises shading other than from the party wall early in the morning. I have room for a string of 4 1 metre by 2 metre panels.

If I mount them flat and no part is higher than 200mm above the parapet it should be permitted development, I can mount them at 45 degrees in such a way that they can be laid flat in the event of objections.

Today I cleared the roof and mounted the TV aerial on the chimney stack.

Wide angle image from the ladder




Nowty's recent posting on the thread about DC charging and what is allowed have now completely confused me, so I remain undecided how to proceed.

[openspaceman]

I ordered 1.5kW of panels just in case they get in short supply following today's announcement. Just have to figure out how to parallel another battery in and which charger to use,

[Joeboy]

I ordered 1.5kW of panels just in case they get in short supply following today's announcement. Just have to figure out how to parallel another battery in and which charger to use,

Have a look at Victron charge controllers. Very nice indeed. Bimble solar are a decent site with good info. Would help if you filled in your sig so we know what you have. Minds not what I once hoped...

[openspaceman]

I will look at the charger. As the panels will have an open circuit voltage of ~150V I'm thinking of running DC from the roof down and along about 50ft to the charger next to the battery, which tops out at ~53V. Can the charger just splice in to the DC cables between the growatt inverter and battery and the BMS control both the charge from the fit system via the growatt inverter and DC from the new panels and charger or is it more complicated than that?

Let's see if the sig works