Hi,
I'm looking to buy solar panels to grow out our installation.
They will be going on top of log stores so flexible on size/power.
Can go to 3kw and/or 6kw depending on how I rework the inverters (solar-SunnyBoy 3600 and batteries - Sofar ME3000SP) I already have.
Looking at swapping the Sofar ME3000SP for a hybrid inverter and reconnect the batteries to the hybrid inverter......
Any pointers/recommendations for buying panels please?
Many thanks
JC
Buying Solar Panels
Buying Solar Panels
16x 245W Pan Solar panels - 3.92kW - 2015
SMA SB 3600TL-21 inverter - 2015
Solar iBoost+ Controller - 2015
9x 2.4kWh Pylontech batts 21.6 kWh - 2022/24
Solax X1 SK_SU3000 Hybrid inverter - 2024
TBD
12x 260W REC Solar panels 3.12kW
1GB B4RN Internet
Re: Buying Solar Panels
I looked a week ago and Midsummer Wholesale had a choice of about 5 reputable brands avaiable from stock at reasonable prices.
Several other people here have used Bimble Solar.
Several other people here have used Bimble Solar.
16 x 230W Upsolar panels S Devon, 4kW Steca, 3.9 MWh FITs/yr
8 x 405W Longi panels, 250/60 MPPT, 3.3 MWh/yr
Victron MultiPlus II-GX 48/5000/70-50
10.65 kWh Pylontec Force-L2
zappi 7kW EVCS
Villavent whole-house MVHR
5000l rainwater system
Vaillant 12kW HP
8 x 405W Longi panels, 250/60 MPPT, 3.3 MWh/yr
Victron MultiPlus II-GX 48/5000/70-50
10.65 kWh Pylontec Force-L2
zappi 7kW EVCS
Villavent whole-house MVHR
5000l rainwater system
Vaillant 12kW HP
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- Posts: 1873
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2021 3:42 pm
- Location: North East Dorset
Re: Buying Solar Panels
I've used Bimble, Midsummer and ITS, all have been fine, no complaints at all from me about any of them.
25 off 250W Perlight solar panels, installed 2014, with a 6kW PowerOne inverter, about 6,000kWh/year generated
6 off Pylontech US3000C batteries, with a Sofar ME3000SP inverter
6 off Pylontech US3000C batteries, with a Sofar ME3000SP inverter
Re: Buying Solar Panels
Get as much as you can on within the limits of your inverter(s). Personally I'd rather have more of a slightly lower performing tier 1 panel than pay extra for slightly less of a bleeding edge Tier 1 offering. My personal preference is Bimble, i found them to be truly excellent. ITS tried to extort me on rails/panel sale. Wouldn't sell rails without panels too, left a bad taste so personally I'm done with them. Midsummer were OK too as were Tradesparky.JC_UK wrote: ↑Mon Oct 17, 2022 11:55 am Hi,
I'm looking to buy solar panels to grow out our installation.
They will be going on top of log stores so flexible on size/power.
Can go to 3kw and/or 6kw depending on how I rework the inverters (solar-SunnyBoy 3600 and batteries - Sofar ME3000SP) I already have.
Looking at swapping the Sofar ME3000SP for a hybrid inverter and reconnect the batteries to the hybrid inverter......
Any pointers/recommendations for buying panels please?
Many thanks
JC
I have Qcell, JA and Trina panels, all around the 380 to 420W range, all excellent. Bear in mind access once you have installed and also its a rule of thumb to leave 200mm roof space.
Last edited by Joeboy on Mon Oct 17, 2022 1:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
19.7kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
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
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
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
Re: Buying Solar Panels
https://www.hdmsolar.co.uk/
These are pretty well priced for panels and offer a lower cost delivery option where they transport the panels themselves.
Saves them getting stood on like mine that came from trade sparky.
These are pretty well priced for panels and offer a lower cost delivery option where they transport the panels themselves.
Saves them getting stood on like mine that came from trade sparky.
Re: Buying Solar Panels
ITS were very helpful and a great price when we bought at the beginning of the year
14Kw Mitsubishi Ecodan ASHP
22 x JA Solar 455W Mono Perc Half Cell Silvers
Solis 8.0Kw 5G Dual MPPT Inverter
13.5Kw Tesla Powerwall
Zappi 2 Charger
iBoost
22 x JA Solar 455W Mono Perc Half Cell Silvers
Solis 8.0Kw 5G Dual MPPT Inverter
13.5Kw Tesla Powerwall
Zappi 2 Charger
iBoost
Re: Buying Solar Panels
Hi again,
I've been on ebay and think I have a good way forward.
Going to keep the Sofar ME3000SP for now for the batteries.
I have found a SMA Sunnyboy 3.0 - 3kw solar grid tied inverter, complete with warranty
I will get this cabled in to the home system with the electrician we usually use for such work.
To make sure the system monitoring etc works with this addition the feed to the Consumer unit will need to be routed through the CT clamp for the Sofar ME3000SP to enable to monitor generation on the new inverter.
This also means all generation can be routed and monitored on the SMA Sunnyboy cloud app.
We have run out of space on the CU so will have a larger CU fitted with a couple of free ways for car charging in future, etc.
I have also sourced 16 second hand solar panels - REC 260W, and will probably connect 10/12 (~3kw) of these to the new Sunnyboy inverter.
This keeps our original solar within the FIT agreement, keeps our batteries and also adds approx. 3kw of solar generation.
Many thanks
JC
I've been on ebay and think I have a good way forward.
Going to keep the Sofar ME3000SP for now for the batteries.
I have found a SMA Sunnyboy 3.0 - 3kw solar grid tied inverter, complete with warranty
I will get this cabled in to the home system with the electrician we usually use for such work.
To make sure the system monitoring etc works with this addition the feed to the Consumer unit will need to be routed through the CT clamp for the Sofar ME3000SP to enable to monitor generation on the new inverter.
This also means all generation can be routed and monitored on the SMA Sunnyboy cloud app.
We have run out of space on the CU so will have a larger CU fitted with a couple of free ways for car charging in future, etc.
I have also sourced 16 second hand solar panels - REC 260W, and will probably connect 10/12 (~3kw) of these to the new Sunnyboy inverter.
This keeps our original solar within the FIT agreement, keeps our batteries and also adds approx. 3kw of solar generation.
Many thanks
JC
16x 245W Pan Solar panels - 3.92kW - 2015
SMA SB 3600TL-21 inverter - 2015
Solar iBoost+ Controller - 2015
9x 2.4kWh Pylontech batts 21.6 kWh - 2022/24
Solax X1 SK_SU3000 Hybrid inverter - 2024
TBD
12x 260W REC Solar panels 3.12kW
1GB B4RN Internet
Re: Buying Solar Panels
What are you intending to do with the panels left over ?JC_UK wrote: ↑Mon Oct 24, 2022 11:53 am I have also sourced 16 second hand solar panels - REC 260W, and will probably connect 10/12 (~3kw) of these to the new Sunnyboy inverter.
This keeps our original solar within the FIT agreement, keeps our batteries and also adds approx. 3kw of solar generation.
16.9kW PV > 109MWh generated
Ripple 6.6kW Wind + 4.5kW PV > 25MWh generated
5 Other RE Coop's
105kWh EV storage
60kWh Home battery storage
40kWh Thermal storage
GSHP + A2A HP's
Rain water use > 510 m3
Ripple 6.6kW Wind + 4.5kW PV > 25MWh generated
5 Other RE Coop's
105kWh EV storage
60kWh Home battery storage
40kWh Thermal storage
GSHP + A2A HP's
Rain water use > 510 m3
Re: Buying Solar Panels
Hi all,
4 will be used elsewhere to charge up leisure batteries to run Amazon Blink cameras off grid, using an O2 4g hotspot powered from USB.....
4 will form a small 1KW string and the other 8 will form a 2KW string for the SMA inverter.
Many thanks
JC
4 will be used elsewhere to charge up leisure batteries to run Amazon Blink cameras off grid, using an O2 4g hotspot powered from USB.....
4 will form a small 1KW string and the other 8 will form a 2KW string for the SMA inverter.
Many thanks
JC
16x 245W Pan Solar panels - 3.92kW - 2015
SMA SB 3600TL-21 inverter - 2015
Solar iBoost+ Controller - 2015
9x 2.4kWh Pylontech batts 21.6 kWh - 2022/24
Solax X1 SK_SU3000 Hybrid inverter - 2024
TBD
12x 260W REC Solar panels 3.12kW
1GB B4RN Internet