Balcony solar PV

[AGT]

Awesome set up, hopefully it will give the neighbours some inspiration!

[chris_n]

This thread has probably been one of the most enlightening I have been reading recently.

For me - the downstairs plug ring is the most consumption. Fridge, kettle, laptops, router, TV etc Some of this energy to be trimmed would not go amiss.

For what it's worth it is probably safer to put it on a lightly loaded ring rather than the heaviest. You are introducing additional current after the safety device (MCB, RCBO or whatever) so could cause an overload without the device tripping. That is why @Joeboy said keep it low. This method of instalation is not compliant with UK regs so bear that in mind if you do something similar, having said that I'm sure there are many of this type of instalation all over UK without any problems.

Absolutely, I've never been very good at being told what to do or waiting for the moving average to catch up. Hence the headlong rush to UK noncompliance and implementing an excellent idea. For this its very much an each to their own and think first. I'd not be surprised if the German 800W limit on balcony solar is to go some way to protecting eejits (I don't exclude myself from that group) from damaging themselves and their homes.

The real joy for me in this is the thought of each 1,000 of these diy installs spread across the European landmass and its associated islands has the scope to provide 0.8GW of power. Just from people literally diy'ing. Add in a bit of Octopus power management and that's an excellent decentralised adhoc power plant that in no way relies on politicos.

That's a warm feeling right there and it's not the house burning down.

ChrisN, any news from Germany or Austria on how many
balcony units are being shifted?

I don't really know but I do know the local Obi (B&Q) carries one system in stock and on more than one occasion I have been there it has been gone and replaced again the next time. I haven't noticed any more new small systems in the village recently but there certainly are some in the local town (Wörgl). There was an article in the paper about these systems recently so I'm sure that will have increased their profile.

[Countrypaul]

This thread has probably been one of the most enlightening I have been reading recently.

For me - the downstairs plug ring is the most consumption. Fridge, kettle, laptops, router, TV etc Some of this energy to be trimmed would not go amiss.

For what it's worth it is probably safer to put it on a lightly loaded ring rather than the heaviest. You are introducing additional current after the safety device (MCB, RCBO or whatever) so could cause an overload without the device tripping. That is why @Joeboy said keep it low. This method of instalation is not compliant with UK regs so bear that in mind if you do something similar, having said that I'm sure there are many of this type of instalation all over UK without any problems.

Absolutely, I've never been very good at being told what to do or waiting for the moving average to catch up. Hence the headlong rush to UK noncompliance and implementing an excellent idea. For this its very much an each to their own and think first. I'd not be surprised if the German 800W limit on balcony solar is to go some way to protecting eejits (I don't exclude myself from that group) from damaging themselves and their homes.

The real joy for me in this is the thought of each 1,000 of these diy installs spread across the European landmass and its associated islands has the scope to provide 0.8GW of power. Just from people literally diy'ing. Add in a bit of Octopus power management and that's an excellent decentralised adhoc power plant that in no way relies on politicos.

That's a warm feeling right there and it's not the house burning down.

ChrisN, any news from Germany or Austria on how many
balcony units are being shifted?

How do you get to 0.8GW? 800W x1000 installs seems to be 0.8MW

[Joeboy]

For what it's worth it is probably safer to put it on a lightly loaded ring rather than the heaviest. You are introducing additional current after the safety device (MCB, RCBO or whatever) so could cause an overload without the device tripping. That is why @Joeboy said keep it low. This method of instalation is not compliant with UK regs so bear that in mind if you do something similar, having said that I'm sure there are many of this type of instalation all over UK without any problems.

Absolutely, I've never been very good at being told what to do or waiting for the moving average to catch up. Hence the headlong rush to UK noncompliance and implementing an excellent idea. For this its very much an each to their own and think first. I'd not be surprised if the German 800W limit on balcony solar is to go some way to protecting eejits (I don't exclude myself from that group) from damaging themselves and their homes.

The real joy for me in this is the thought of each 1,000 of these diy installs spread across the European landmass and its associated islands has the scope to provide 0.8GW of power. Just from people literally diy'ing. Add in a bit of Octopus power management and that's an excellent decentralised adhoc power plant that in no way relies on politicos.

That's a warm feeling right there and it's not the house burning down.

ChrisN, any news from Germany or Austria on how many
balcony units are being shifted?

How do you get to 0.8GW? 800W x1000 installs seems to be 0.8MW

No idea, glad you're there Paul. Too many ladder climbs today, getting old. MW it is then.

1.25 million such systems operating at full chat to make 1GWh. How many homes in Europe & associated islands I wonder?

[Stig]

looks very good... I wonder whether the reflection off the surface of the wall one will enhance the output from the lower one when the sun is high, and vv?

When the sun is high...in Scotland?

[Joeboy]

198,000,000 homes EU
3,000,000 homes in Finland
2,600,000 homes in Norway
28,200,000 homes in UK

231,800,000 home across EU landmass & UK.

185,440,000kW potential per hour if all had a 800W balcony system.

185.54GW per hour.

If 10% only fitted these systems....

I'm glad i've checked that, small acorns, mighty Oak trees sort of thing?

[Joeboy]

looks very good... I wonder whether the reflection off the surface of the wall one will enhance the output from the lower one when the sun is high, and vv?

When the sun is high...in Scotland?

That would be July then, about the 9th. Today though... riding low but bright.

[AE-NMidlands]

looks very good... I wonder whether the reflection off the surface of the wall one will enhance the output from the lower one when the sun is high, and vv?

When the sun is high...in Scotland?

That would be July then, about the 9th. Today though... riding low but bright.

If the 2 strings can be measured separately, how about measuring the top one then putting a blanket over the lower one and seeing if it drops off?

(I originally hesitated to ask the question as a while ago (maybe at the other place?) I raised the subject and was firmly told that panels are designed to absorb, so there is no significant reflection. I reckon any plane sheet of glass will reflect at lower angles unless it has been given a velvet texture!)

[Joeboy]

When the sun is high...in Scotland?

That would be July then, about the 9th. Today though... riding low but bright.

If the 2 strings can be measured separately, how about measuring the top one then putting a blanket over the lower one and seeing if it drops off?

(I originally hesitated to ask the question as a while ago (maybe at the other place?) I raised the subject and was firmly told that panels are designed to absorb, so there is no significant reflection. I reckon any plane sheet of glass will reflect at lower angles unless it has been given a velvet texture!)

I will add it to the RE list and give it a go soon.No worries.

[Joeboy]

Wandered over to No1's DC clamp in hand this morning.



Lovely morning made even better by finding toolkit in the app where the app speaks directly to the mictoinverter.



No1 is in there sleeping the Sunday morning sleep of the hardworking . Great hand yesterday getting the wall panel up and on. His meter that only clicks up in 1kWh bites has not moved since yesterday.

The worm of obsession just spoke to me, it said 'can he get paid for exporting', oh dear....