Need Urgent 4kw Solar PV System installed in HA5 postcode

[Rajeev]

Hi All,

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this query. Based on the FIT reduction coming in in Dec, I would like to get a 4kw Solar PV System installed in HA5 postcode urgently across my South and West roofs.

Can you please recommend any MCS approved installers who can do an immediate install so I can get all paperwork completed before the 8 Dec deadline.

Many thanks and sorry of this is the wrong forum to post this message.

Rajeev

 

[MorganPVI]

Good Luck chap. Think you'll need it.

 

[Green]

4kW - as it's over 3.68kWp you'll need to apply first. I'd recommend sticking to less than 3.68kW so you can just have it installed and notify later.

 

[Worcester]

If it's South and Southwest use the Power-One PVI3,6 OUTD inverter, it'll take the 4kWp, has two mpp trackers and is limited to 16A (aka 3.68kWp)

You are going to pay a premium now, we are doing night installs with floodlights

 

[jupestar]

We are the opposite... Just going through planning and DNO now for our projects. We were expecting to be super busy jan/feb/mar. By this time tomorrow our pipeline might look different....

We already had to re-address strategy once, from the feb review... If they change the 10-50 tariff we basically have wasted a year.

 

[and]

Clarification sought in regard to a couple of posts above:

"4kW - as it's over 3.68kWp you'll need to apply first. I'd recommend sticking to less than 3.68kW so you can just have it installed and notify later. "

This from Western Power Distribution:

"For a generation system to qualify as a (G83) single installation it needs to be rated at or below 16A per phase. This means that the output or 'rating' of the system can be up to 3.68 kilowatts (kW) per phase (11.04kW for a three phase system).


Generation rated above 16A per phase are considered under the G59 large scale generation process.

The electricity produced by solar PV panels is direct current (DC). Before it can be used in the home it has to be converted to alternating current (AC), using a box called an Inverter.

The rating of the single phase PV system is the lower of:

• The rating of the inverter (based on 230V) and
• The sum of the ratings of the PV panels x the maximum efficiency of the inverter.

For a 100% efficient inverter rated over 3.68kW, only 3.68kW of PV panels would qualify.

4kW PV panels would qualify, for inverters up to 92% efficient or if the inverter was only rated 3.68kV.

4kW PV panels would not qualify if the inverter is rated over 3.68kW and is more than 92% efficient."


The latter says that the LOWER of either the rating of the inverter or panels times inverter efficiency ...
Rating of Power One 3.6 = 3600W
4kW panels x 96.8% efficiency of Power One 3.6 = 3872W

Is it therefore the case that 4kW of panels with a Power One 3.6 can be installed and connected to the grid without prior notification to the DNO because the lower of the two figures above is 3600W (the rating of the Power One)?

In brief: can I install 4kW of panels + Power One 3.6 and apply for FiT without any complications other than notifying the DNO within five days of commissioning?

 

[BruceB]

Yes, 4kW of panels with a Power-one 3.6 is OK. That is a popular combination. You actually have 28 days or so to notify the DNO post commissioning. The important things for the FIT are:
- a correctly completed application form (easy to make a small error on it)
- a MCS certificate
- proof of ownership (receipted invoice is good)

Regards
Bruce

 

[Rajeev]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your replies, I will he happy with 3.6kWp system. Also with panels split on the South and West facing roofs on two mpp trackers, I don't think both set of panels will produce peak electricity at the same time. So actual peak will be a lot less anyway.

I have had a few PMs and have supplied them my address and post code for Google Earth based analysis!
Fingers crossed.

regards,
Rajeev

 

[Cider]

If it's South and Southwest use the Power-One PVI3,6 OUTD inverter, it'll take the 4kWp, has two mpp trackers and is limited to 16A (aka 3.68kWp)

You are going to pay a premium now, we are doing night installs with floodlights

Love to see that risk assessment !

 

[BillyH]

Love to see that risk assessment !

Probably the last thing to worry about right now

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Im now booked solid, so premium for night shift..............Could be a Movember November for me as I aint going to have the time to shave...................... AND YES GRIZZLY ADAMS DID HAVE A BEARD!

 

[Rajeev]

Hi Guys,

Here are the rough dimensions of my rear south facing roof and side west facing roof and my very basic design done in excel!


thanks,
Rajeev

 

[irishjohn]

Try New World Energy from Chorley, they get around and seem reasonable. Might be pushing now though.

 

[Rajeev]

Thanks, will try them. They do seem far away (210miles!)

Try New World Energy from Chorley, they get around and seem reasonable. Might be pushing now though.

 

[irishjohn]

Like I said, they get around!!!

 

[Worcester]

Hi Rajeev

You can't mix landscape and portrait in the same string, they have to be same orintation, same panel, same azimuth and same pitch, so your down to 7 and 6

There should be at least 400 mm from any edge. (ridge / eaves etc)

Is the 7.15 m on the drawing the 'slope length' or the distance from the apex to thebase of the triangle? The other dimensions are clear enough.

Anyway, you'ld get 8 x 190W generics in Landscape on the Rear-South and 7 x 190W generics in Portrait depending upon the actual dimensions

Even Sanyo's don't yield more becasue of the shape, (and they'll cost a lot)

 

[GreggElectrical]

Good luck getting 4kw under 15k now fella. Send a letter to your MP explaining what effect the current government decisions are having on the consumer end. They'll here plenty from us but I'm guessing less from people like you.

 

[Rajeev]

Hi Worcester,

Thanks for your time in looking into this.
The 7.15m is the slope length.

I will revise my drawings based on your comments.

Why do you think 250W panels won't provide better yield? Are they bigger than 158cm x 123cm?

regards,
Rajeev

Hi Rajeev

You can't mix landscape and portrait in the same string, they have to be same orintation, same panel, same azimuth and same pitch, so your down to 7 and 6

There should be at least 400 mm from any edge. (ridge / eaves etc)

Is the 7.15 m on the drawing the 'slope length' or the distance from the apex to thebase of the triangle? The other dimensions are clear enough.

Anyway, you'ld get 8 x 190W generics in Landscape on the Rear-South and 7 x 190W generics in Portrait depending upon the actual dimensions

Even Sanyo's don't yield more becasue of the shape, (and they'll cost a lot)

 

[ClearSky]

Hi Rajeev, we are an (Essex based solar specialist) and still have a few slots left, but would need to survey your property by the end of this weekend (Sunday 6th at the latest). We stock a wide variety of mono crystalline modules and inverters (including Schott, LG, Samsung, Sanyo, SMA, Fronius), and we use PVSOL when designing the system to create the correct component match. We take care of the entire installation from start to finish. Let me know if you would like us to survey your property. But be quick, stock and fitting slots are fast running out for this new deadline. John.