Got there at last!

Don't keep it to yourself - we want to see it
AE-NMidlands
Posts: 1815
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 6:10 pm

Got there at last!

#1

Post by AE-NMidlands »

Octopus have fitted 11 west-facing panels (unfortunately top RH corner is just too close to the roof hip to fit the 12th apparently).
3.6 kW Givenergy inverter and 9.5 kWhr battery.
Image
The chimney is reflected in the panels but it will also shade them a bit, 3 equalisers are supposed to have been fitted...
I think our Polish sparky learnt his English in Wigan (eh Nowty?)

Image
2.0 kW/4.62 MWhr pa in Ripples, 4.5 kWp W-facing pv, 9.5 kWhr batt
30 solar thermal tubes, 2MWhr pa in Stockport, plus Congleton and Kinlochbervie Hydros,
Most travel by bike, walking or bus/train. Veg, fruit - and Bees!
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 7106
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Got there at last!

#2

Post by Joeboy »

AE-NMidlands wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 12:04 pm Octopus have fitted 11 west-facing panels (unfortunately top RH corner is just too close to the roof hip to fit the 12th apparently).
3.6 kW Givenergy inverter and 9.5 kWhr battery.
Image
The chimney is reflected in the panels but it will also shade them a bit, 3 equalisers are supposed to have been fitted...
I think our Polish sparky learnt his English in Wigan (eh Nowty?)

Image
Exciting times. Prepare to be glued to the readout. :xl:
16.6kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 11MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
dan_b
Posts: 1860
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2021 10:16 am
Location: SW London

Re: Got there at last!

#3

Post by dan_b »

Nice - enjoy spending hours watching the generation display over the coming weeks/months/years!

That chimney will give you shading, but better that than not having panels at all - does it have some sort of optimisers to deal with the variance in output?
Tesla Model 3 Performance
Oversees an 11kWp solar array at work
AE-NMidlands
Posts: 1815
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 6:10 pm

Re: Got there at last!

#4

Post by AE-NMidlands »

We already are... currently generating 204W compared with 282W consumption.
Should be onto Octopus flux tariff soon, then we shan't be running with the battery so low (it did a test full charge and has drifted down since then, topped itself up a little bit from surplus pv yesterday pm.)
Sorry, I meant to say there are apparently 3 optimisers down the panels closest to the chimney. I was told it's wired in a single string.
Fun, and SWMBO is onside, bliss!
2.0 kW/4.62 MWhr pa in Ripples, 4.5 kWp W-facing pv, 9.5 kWhr batt
30 solar thermal tubes, 2MWhr pa in Stockport, plus Congleton and Kinlochbervie Hydros,
Most travel by bike, walking or bus/train. Veg, fruit - and Bees!
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 7106
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Got there at last!

#5

Post by Joeboy »

AE-NMidlands wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 12:56 pm We already are... currently generating 204W compared with 282W consumption.
Should be onto Octopus flux tariff soon, then we shan't be running with the battery so low (it did a test full charge and has drifted down since then, topped itself up a little bit from surplus pv yesterday pm.)
Sorry, I meant to say there are apparently 3 optimisers down the panels closest to the chimney. I was told it's wired in a single string.
Fun, and SWMBO is onside, bliss!
Have you done the power vampire checks throughout the house recently?
16.6kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 11MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
AE-NMidlands
Posts: 1815
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 6:10 pm

Re: Got there at last!

#6

Post by AE-NMidlands »

Joeboy wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 1:00 pm Have you done the power vampire checks throughout the house recently?
What, again? ;)
Last done probably about 6 months ago when I was seriously thinking about this purchase. How does 100 to 400 W sound for background load (compared to other people's?) I am surprised how much it varies, but that could be things like the fridge and 2 freezers and central heating pump running together or not running.
My appliance / local consumption meter (from elsewhere) is on loan at the moment, I went round with it again not many years ago but will have another go when I get it back.

My memory of what things consumed was that my prime suspects (3 oldish radios which lose their tuning presets of they are disconnected for more than an hour) and the BT home hub all turned out to have single-figure Watt consumption (radios on standby.) I haven't measured our recently-acquired Manhatten box, but that might be going back if they can't mend it - again!
There is a TV aerial signal amplifier in the loft, that will have to move now as the panels have completely screened the signal... it may just be re-positioned to the other end of the house, but when I fit it there will be a plug and socket so that I can measure its consumption too.

The solar tube and the GCH programmers are always on, of course, plus the circulation pumps intermittently...
What else lives plugged in that I have forgotten? Ah, The outside light, on an IR sensor...
2.0 kW/4.62 MWhr pa in Ripples, 4.5 kWp W-facing pv, 9.5 kWhr batt
30 solar thermal tubes, 2MWhr pa in Stockport, plus Congleton and Kinlochbervie Hydros,
Most travel by bike, walking or bus/train. Veg, fruit - and Bees!
User avatar
nowty
Posts: 5137
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 2:36 pm
Location: South Coast

Re: Got there at last!

#7

Post by nowty »

Finally, :surrender: and nicely done with batteries too. :mrgreen:

And optimisers. :praise:
15.2kW PV > 100MWh generated
Ripple 6.6kW Wind + 4.5kW PV > 19MWh generated
5 Other RE Coop's
105kWh EV storage
60kWh Home battery storage
40kWh Thermal storage
GSHP + A2A HP's
Rain water use > 490 m3
AE-NMidlands
Posts: 1815
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 6:10 pm

Re: Got there at last!

#8

Post by AE-NMidlands »

nowty wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 2:55 pm Finally, :surrender: and nicely done with batteries too. :mrgreen:
And optimisers. :praise:
Did you spot why our sparky might have learnt his english somewhere near Wigan?
2.0 kW/4.62 MWhr pa in Ripples, 4.5 kWp W-facing pv, 9.5 kWhr batt
30 solar thermal tubes, 2MWhr pa in Stockport, plus Congleton and Kinlochbervie Hydros,
Most travel by bike, walking or bus/train. Veg, fruit - and Bees!
User avatar
nowty
Posts: 5137
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 2:36 pm
Location: South Coast

Re: Got there at last!

#9

Post by nowty »

AE-NMidlands wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 3:14 pm
nowty wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 2:55 pm Finally, :surrender: and nicely done with batteries too. :mrgreen:
And optimisers. :praise:
Did you spot why our sparky might have learnt his english somewhere near Wigan?
No, :?:

Please enlighten me.

EDIT - Did he write Spur instead of Spare on the consumer unit blank ?
15.2kW PV > 100MWh generated
Ripple 6.6kW Wind + 4.5kW PV > 19MWh generated
5 Other RE Coop's
105kWh EV storage
60kWh Home battery storage
40kWh Thermal storage
GSHP + A2A HP's
Rain water use > 490 m3
AE-NMidlands
Posts: 1815
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 6:10 pm

Re: Got there at last!

#10

Post by AE-NMidlands »

nowty wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 5:21 pm
AE-NMidlands wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 3:14 pm
nowty wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 2:55 pm Finally, :surrender: and nicely done with batteries too. :mrgreen:
And optimisers. :praise:
Did you spot why our sparky might have learnt his english somewhere near Wigan?
No, :?:
Please enlighten me.
EDIT - Did he write Spur instead of Spare on the consumer unit blank ?
He did! Having worked with a few proud Wiganers I am usd to that pronunciation...
Happy days!
A
2.0 kW/4.62 MWhr pa in Ripples, 4.5 kWp W-facing pv, 9.5 kWhr batt
30 solar thermal tubes, 2MWhr pa in Stockport, plus Congleton and Kinlochbervie Hydros,
Most travel by bike, walking or bus/train. Veg, fruit - and Bees!
Post Reply