inverter & panels

[mr blobby]

hi guys
just bought 10 sanyo 240w panels and a fronius IG-TL 3.6
i know i should of bought more panels but didnt have any more money
my questions are will i have enough power from the panels to run the inverter,im not too bothered if its not the best at the moment as i will be buying more panels,do i need to buy the same make/model of panel
hows the best way to connect them
for the time being they will be installed in my back garden then at a later date on the roof
thanks

 

[whinmoor]

Suggest you send them back for a refund and get an experienced installer round to design a system for you. In fact, get three to quote and they may share some knowledge with you.

 

[mr blobby]

thanks mate so no answers to my questions as i intend to keep them all as i know they are quality products

 

[whinmoor]

Sanyo (Panasonic) are arguably the best (and most expensive) panels around. Fronius are a reliable inverter manufacturer. I don't think you've got enough panels to make the inverter work to its optimum.

Yes, you really need all panels the same because the system won't work very well if you pick and mix different makes and models.

If you bought the panels new, you would have paid 20% VAT. If an MCS registered company supplies the hardware and installs the system, you only pay 5% VAT.

Personally, I wouldn't touch the kit supplied by a customer because you end up having difficulties later on down the line if it fails.

 

[mr blobby]

thanks mate for the advice,i do agree with you where a qualified installer is concerned i have installed/fitted (customers)various building materials/electronics in the past and if theres a problem then it can get very awkward to say the least
one more thing,the panels will be roughly 40m from the consumer unit would you install inverter next to panels or next to consumer unit or half way as i have 100m of mc4 cable

 

[whinmoor]

You mean 4mm DC cable? That's only really suitable when the inverter is very near the panels.

I probably wouldn't put the inverter halfway. Advantages and disadvantages both ways. Put it near the panels (along with the generation meter) and you don't have to worry so much about transmission losses in the cables. Put it by the consumer unit for security and ease of access. Very difficult to advise without seeing the job.

Seriously though, it sounds like you need to get a qualified installer round to have a look. You need to use a pro to claim the FiT anyway so why not enlist one now? I'm not sure why you want to initially install on the ground and transfer later to the roof. Building a firm foundation on the ground, designing a frame to tilt the panels and digging a suitable trench for the cable will involve a fair amount of work. Then relocating them afterwards will be a pain.

 

[mr blobby]

sorry yes 4mm dc cable,youve made some good points,basically i have this equipment spent more than expected so now ran out of installation money if you understand lol,id like to get some use of it till i can have it installed by a pro so thinking of putting it in the back garden for the time being

 

[whinmoor]

I'd advise against tackling it yourself. Ten panels connected together could be lethal!

 

[SolarCity]

All good advice so far. As far as your original question goes, this system WILL work in theory. But it really needs to be professionally installed. You can't connect to the grid without doing so so it is a pointless exercise.

 

[Somecamel]

You could have saved a bomb on kit costs by not using Sanyo- They may be good but they twice the price of a normal panel, the extra money I would have used to have the system installed properly. As Winmoor states, you need to have it signed off by an MCS accredited installers to claim the Feed in Payments

 

[Earthstore]

All good advice so far. As far as your original question goes, this system WILL work in theory. But it really needs to be professionally installed. You can't connect to the grid without doing so so it is a pointless exercise.

Totally agree with this, the main point being even if you connect it all together and manage to get it to work without killing yourself, you can not connect it into your house/grid without the correct approval, which without the knowledge/qualifications of a PV expert/company this just would not be possible, sorry.

Please take notice if the advice given in the above posts, it is all genuine.

 

[Eco Deal]

I dont understand why you just didnt get it fitted by MCS installer. you will pay more in the long run anyway but I guess you will have yourself to blame really.

can you tell us all apporx kit cost ?

 

[mr blobby]

so is it illegal for me to connect to my consumer unit if i carry out all the work myself ?
i paid £300 each panel,£600 for inverter,£30 for 100m 4mm cable and a few mc4 connectors

 

[Gavin A]

depends if you're part p certified, and judged as being competent to connect an SSEG safely to the grid by the DNO - you have to list your qualifications on the Appendix 3 form that gives permission to connect to the grid, so if you're unqualified they may well take exception to this and issue an enforcement notice or similar to force you to get someone qualified to test and certify your installation.

You certainly can't claim the Feed In Tariff unless the system is installed by an MCS certified company.

In theory you may be able to get the council building control to sign the installation off, but in practice the vast majority don't have anyone competent to actually do this, and expect you to get a part p registered spark to do that for you.

 

[finewine]

My neighbours couldn't afford a 4kw system like mine and have just had a 2.5kw system fitted for 3999 pounds so try and get the refund. They expect around 8000 pounds of fit over the next 20 year's as well.

 

[jason121]

so is it illegal for me to connect to my consumer unit if i carry out all the work myself ?
i paid £300 each panel,£600 for inverter,£30 for 100m 4mm cable and a few mc4 connectors[/QUOTE

Did you purchase the rails, roof anchors, mid clips, meter and isolators as well

 

[mr blobby]

i cant get a refund i bought it all online through various selling sites,ive the rails and mid clips but will need to get the roof anchors and meter do i need a dc isolator with the fronius ?

 

[jason121]

yes make sure its rated correctly for panels

 

[Earthstore]

And an AC isolator.

 

[mr blobby]

would this be ok ?

USED GE 100A Double Pole Incomer Main Switch Isolator | eBay

 

[Earthstore]

No, it should be lockable with a standard lock.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SOLAR-AC-...ial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item5891c37b2e

Something more like this, but I can not spec it for you, sorry.

 

[mr blobby]

would those do ac/dc ?

Salzer 63 amp 4 pole pvc enclosed Rotary Isolator. IP66.Housed in big enclosure | eBay

 

[Earthstore]

would those do ac/dc ?

Salzer 63 amp 4 pole pvc enclosed Rotary Isolator. IP66.Housed in big enclosure | eBay

Yes, something like that, and a DC isolator is like this
4 Pole TRUE DC Isolator for solar panels (2 Strings) | eBay

But you have to make sure they are the correct ones for your system. or they go bang, or catch fire...

 

[Gavin A]

being as it would be illegal for you to install this system yourself, and you don't seem to be particularly competent given the questions being asked, I'm at a loss to understand why you seem to be attempting to continue to buy the kit needed yourself.

You need to be trying to find a competent MCS & part P registered installer who's willing to assist you with the design and installation of this system using your existing kit for a reasonable fee, that way you could actually be eligible for FIT payments - if you do it yourself it will never be eligible for FIT payments, it will invalidate your building insurance, it will be illegal under building regs etc etc.

Please stop trying to blag us into telling you how to DIY this system, it's a really bad route for you to go down.

 

[mr blobby]

ah i see,think im getting about 40v from each panel x 10 = 400v so that`ll do the job ?

 

[Worcester]

[MENTION=67928]mr blobby[/MENTION], so far you've spent nearly £4000 for a system that still needs a mounting system, AC and DC electrics and about 40m of 10mm SWA ...

if you really want to see a return on your money, you should stop right now, and get a professionall, MCS registered installer to take over the project. The panels and Inverter will be OK, though not ideally matched, and you will easily recover the additional cost of getting an MCS installer in by being able to claim the Feed in Tariff.


The salzer's wont do DC - you need a specially rated isolator for it.

 

[Eco Deal]

what about mounting rails , roof hooks, a.c supplies , ac isolators , GENERATION METER! , dc Isolators?

i hate to say this but doing it this way you will pay more in long run.

you should of got a system mono panel 16% eff with a good inverter FULLY FITTED for £5700-£6500 inv 5% VAT scaffold and EPC

dont forget you need a D rating energy performance certificate to get higher tariff too

 

[Worcester]

[MENTION=6133]Gavin[/MENTION]A - you beat me this time saying the same thing

 

[jason121]

Mr blobby you have gone and woke up Worcestor with this thread

 

[Earthstore]

Here is what can happen if you get it wrong, not meaning to worry you of course, but do listen to the advice given, the last two chaps have immense knowledge of PV systems.

Google Image Result for http://static.lifeislocal.com.au/multimedia/images/full/1733850.jpg


Edit, That is the last four or five now, they are all awake...

 

[mr blobby]

bloody hell thats bad,i do understand what all you guys are saying and i really appreciate your time and concern,i know none of you probably would take this on now but as a roughish guide what sort of labour cost might i be paying if i supplied all the materials/parts

 

[Worcester]

So long as you accept what needs to be done, many on here will help you out (with a whole bunch of riders to cover themselves over performance etc etc) .

Whereabouts in the country are you? First bit of postcode and the number from the second bit will do.

 

[mr blobby]

thanks mate
b26 2

 

[Gavin A]

paging brum installers

 

[whinmoor]

Might be a job for SolarCity .... if he dares !

 

[Worcester]

It's Sedgy34's territory
And not too far from us...:banghead:

 

[mr blobby]

thanks guys

 

[SolarCity]

Blimey, you are right by us. I'll come and take a look at it for you if you like. Sending you a PM now.

 

[whinmoor]

Keep us posted. Might make a good movie - "How to turn disaster into triumph"

 

[Gary K]

Keep us posted. Might make a good movie - "How to turn disaster into triumph"

I can see it now, How one job turned the company around and put right what the goverment has messed up, could be a best seller