Balcony solar PV

[AGT]

Bin the mc4 and go with butt crimps, that’s what I’m going to use.

[Joeboy]

Bin the mc4 and go with butt crimps, that’s what I’m going to use.

Aye, but I've got them, paid for years ago.

Same for the PV cable, got X amount on a reel, probably enough but if need be there is a spaghetti section I can go to.

[AGT]

I struggle to find the stuff I buy for projects, then the projects are delayed, or I bought the stuff early.

My garage is a tip

[Joeboy]

I struggle to find the stuff I buy for projects, then the projects are delayed, or I bought the stuff early.

My garage is a tip

I'm getting slowly better at grouping stuff, it's not a neat freak later life reaction. More a strategy to ware off the inevitable decline of cognitive function.

I might have to recount the mc4's as these panels come with mc3's. I guess that dates em a bit! Pretty sure I can pull something out of the 4mm cable pile to make up the shortfall. Never happier than being one of Uncle Bulgaria's boys.

[Tay]

First wrinkle in these units is that when new they have to be set via the Enphase gateway unit. By buying secondhand we circumvent that issue.

60 cell panels required falling within the parameters of '190Wp to 270Wp solar PV modules with absolute maximum 45V volts, although 300Wp or so would also be possible.'

Peak output is 225W.

I am looking at 3 of 250W 60 cell secondhand panels for £150. Add the £100 for the Enphase micro's and we'll be about £300 incl bits for a 750W balcony system that has no app. That's ok with me.

Tally ho!

seen a few of this knocking about on the bay, decent prices but couldnt find any definitive about using, monitoring or setting them up without a gateway or whatever they call it.

If I did find a decently cheap gateway is there anythign stopping that from working, or is it going to be info from enphase to make them work or an account to view stats etc...I did like the build quality of them.

[Joeboy]

First wrinkle in these units is that when new they have to be set via the Enphase gateway unit. By buying secondhand we circumvent that issue.

60 cell panels required falling within the parameters of '190Wp to 270Wp solar PV modules with absolute maximum 45V volts, although 300Wp or so would also be possible.'

Peak output is 225W.

I am looking at 3 of 250W 60 cell secondhand panels for £150. Add the £100 for the Enphase micro's and we'll be about £300 incl bits for a 750W balcony system that has no app. That's ok with me.

Tally ho!

seen a few of this knocking about on the bay, decent prices but couldnt find any definitive about using, monitoring or setting them up without a gateway or whatever they call it.

If I did find a decently cheap gateway is there anythign stopping that from working, or is it going to be info from enphase to make them work or an account to view stats etc...I did like the build quality of them.

Once grid profile is set they will run as standalone units. My understanding is that a secondhand unit will already be set for UK grid.

There are multiple scenarios to be imagined where that wouldn't be the case. Old/new stock unprogrammed, imported stock etc. For these 3 units the guy was unaware of this but knew about envoy gateway as a platform.

I'll know more later today hopefully. Certainly the one I saw working yesterday was off the top of a box of 4 which the guy had randomly chosen from the box.

They were an order that was wrongly sent, rectified but never collected by supplier. After 2 years he let them go to me.

He said he thought they were new I don't think so but in excellent nick and certainly appeared to have been grid set. At this price and quality I am willing to let any stats slide and just keep an eye on a kWh counter instead.

I see no reason why a second hand envoy unit wouldn't work if you were stat hungry.

[Joeboy]

Just realised that mc3 & mc4 are not compatible so i'll just test for voltage and reterm to mc4's once back home. The Micros are now fitted with 3 pin plugs for temporary testing. If all goes ok they'll then be removed and micro's installed permanently. I'm not expecting too much from this system as it will see some (a lot) of day shading and is really for a late afternoon sun lift when the E/W array fades. Also the panels are poly, of low wattage, efficiency, potential high age and who knows how degraded...



BUT, that's got to be better than them going to landfill? There are some 180W one's down in Livingston but that guy wants £150 for 3. I'm happier with £100 for 3 170W and choose the best looking 3 from the 6 on offer.

I am hoping for some sun so I can see an optimal peak output and get a handle on how degraded they are and hopefully a Year of manufacture since we've spoken about this in past.

Those Enphase micro units have been haunting me for two months since I first clocked them on marketplace. The beauty is that the guy had a photo of the specsheet which stated 60hz. Which they are American side but labelled 50hz and programmed for over here. Happy days.

[Joeboy]

Well that was absolutely excellent. Met a really nice fella and his wife for collection of the 3 x 170W poly panels. He has a great set up, LA batteries, 40 panels and even flying a turnip of pointlessness! Bonded like cousins!

Panels are back home, MC3's cut off and replaced with MC4's. Panels tested again, averaging around 27.9V. Hooked up to the enphase microinverters and they run through a start up sequence. Green solid led, green flashing led then intermittent orange/red flashing led (its all just one led) when producing. Had my DC clamp on for each micro test and there is a tiny almost inaudible click when circuit made and production starts. It's a long wait the first time!

Also tested for loss of grid and they are instant off on DC side. Very happy indeed.

Also noticed a significant step up in build quality in these panels compared to today's offerings. Sturdy well built bits of kit. They are now 3rd hand as Stuart bought them used.

I'll have a bit of fun fitting them, he also gave me some brackets and a LA battery for my own turnip of pointlessness. I've sent him the forum name. Hopefully he'll register.







Don't know about you guys but I find it astonishing that a 500W system outputting clean 230V 50Hz can be put together for £200 and a good rake through the workshop spares boxes. I will buy a kWh counter and maybe a cheap JB and switch but that's it, the rest is just time and fun, oh aye, endless tea too.

[Moxi]

It is fabulous times when second hand kit is abundant, it doesn’t seem that long ago that solar panels were like rare mythical beasts that we all wanted but few could afford.

Half and half day here weather wise but 7kW imported from Sol and battery SoC 40% inverter is off at the minute while the car takes a charge via the type 1 as we had a trip out today and rather than topping up at a super charger I opted to slowly top the car up on cheaper home juice and the last of the sunshine.

Must get my 150 watt panel out tomorrow and back in service now the windy weather has abated for the time being.

Moxi

[Fintray]

Don't know about you guys but I find it astonishing that a 500W system outputting clean 230V 50Hz can be put together for £200 and a good rake through the workshop spares boxes. I will buy a kWh counter and maybe a cheap JB and switch but that's it, the rest is just time and fun, oh aye, endless tea too.

Looking at this chart it is astounding how much the price per Watt has dropped. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/solar-pv-prices