T
TheChief
I had loads of hassle with a solar thermal install so am cautious about picking a PV installer. I have read reams of forums/ building regs etc but have no clear answer. Had about 8 sales guys out, all have own opinion so some impartial advice might help me weed out the cowboys. I have a 2 storey extension roof on same plane as main roof facing SSW, but 50mm lower (local building regs nonsense) and a flat roof 6m x 4m on single storey extension. I/ they reckon main+ extension roof can fit maybe 10x 250w panels - 2 of which on the extension roof. There is a hipped roof on the SSW face of building, giving space facing ESE which might fit 1 or 2 panels. There is also a 1 storey flat extension 6m x 4m below, but would likely be shaded in winter by a small tree suffering butt rot which will need to be chopped down in next year or 2 anyway.
1. Do panels on main roof on 1 string (array?) need to be all Landscape or all Portrait or can they be mixed?
2. Can 1 or 2 panels on ESE facing roof be added into the same string without using eg seperate micro inverters?
3. Is the lower height of the extension roof a problem for the main string?
4. Should it be possible to fit a panel across the extension/ original roof join (ie brackets at different heights to offset roof difference)?
5. Does a 'bypass diode in every panel' (SOLAR KING UK) minimise shading/ orientation reduction in output?
6. Any idea whether my flat roof needs structural survey to put 4x 250w panels on it? The original roof will be timber beams across 4m span on top of brick walls, then renovated it had some kingspan added on top then new ply and 'thermoelastic' felt on top, so load would be well spread out.
7. To keep flat roof panels within 200mm of roof, are there brackets/ mounting that could angle them off horizontal at all?
Clearly I want to install as close to 4kw system as possible... Thanks for advice on any of above points.
ps does the 'Install company' (ie the one I am paying) need to have an MCS number, or is it OK for them to sub the work to MCS approved installers?
1. Do panels on main roof on 1 string (array?) need to be all Landscape or all Portrait or can they be mixed?
2. Can 1 or 2 panels on ESE facing roof be added into the same string without using eg seperate micro inverters?
3. Is the lower height of the extension roof a problem for the main string?
4. Should it be possible to fit a panel across the extension/ original roof join (ie brackets at different heights to offset roof difference)?
5. Does a 'bypass diode in every panel' (SOLAR KING UK) minimise shading/ orientation reduction in output?
6. Any idea whether my flat roof needs structural survey to put 4x 250w panels on it? The original roof will be timber beams across 4m span on top of brick walls, then renovated it had some kingspan added on top then new ply and 'thermoelastic' felt on top, so load would be well spread out.
7. To keep flat roof panels within 200mm of roof, are there brackets/ mounting that could angle them off horizontal at all?
Clearly I want to install as close to 4kw system as possible... Thanks for advice on any of above points.
ps does the 'Install company' (ie the one I am paying) need to have an MCS number, or is it OK for them to sub the work to MCS approved installers?