TheolodianMar 4
Might be a good time to whack a few cheeky solar panels on the garage roof before energy prices jump! 🤔😬
Show threadTheolodianMar 5

It’s looking like at least £350 per panel in parts, plus several hundred for labour depending on installation. So maybe 3 panels on micro inverters for a little over £1K, but 8 panels on a string inverter (future battery) would be around £4K. 😳

This is on a flat roof with no scaffolding required. Still considering 3-4 panels, but no chance on more than that.

Show threadTheolodianMar 7

I’ve found a cheap option! Designed for balcony solar, but as that is illegal in the UK they are going cheap. Micro inverters for 4 panels and a 2kWh AC battery for £700 in total! 🤯

https://uk.ecoflow.com/products/stream-microinverter

EcoFlow STREAM Microinverter

Show threadTheolodianMar 7
They also have a range of 2kWh and a 4kWh battery with 2-4 MPPTs built in. It works if you want a small system, nothing really electrified yet. Should pay for itself quite quickly, although the Agile integration seems to require a paid subscription. Less clear if you will still want such a small system after electrification. 🤔
Show threadTheolodianMar 8
OK, the limitation on the batteries is 800W grid input/output, the 1,200W is only to the backup sockets. So 2,000W of solar isn’t useful for very long on a sunny day, with a 2kWh battery. However, it could be useful on less sunny days - especially as a refurb battery with 2kW solar is only £600 + VAT. 🤔🤓
Show threadTheolodianMar 8
However, where I want to put it is in the utility near the gas boiler and the washer & dryer. By connecting them to the backup sockets we could have heat and hot water in a blackout, and we could use more of the solar for laundry - improving our payback. 👍
Show threadTheolodianMar 8
This may be more valuable than I first realised. Because it is fundamentally a balcony setup, the total output to the house wiring of all inverters on the same user account is capped at 800W. You can change regions in the app and get this to 1,200W but adding more kit does not increase the peak output to the grid/house - only to the backup sockets on the units. So you want the big users plugged directly into the units, and then cover other household loads with the 1,200W.
Show threadTheolodianMar 8

More timely info:

https://youtu.be/Na4LTD1M6nw

DIY Solar: We’re Told Never Do This… So I Did

YouTube
Show threadTheolodianMar 9
Sparky was initially dubious, but now curious. He’s coming later this week to take a closer look at doing this. 🤓👍
Show threadTheolodianMar 12

Quote is in, £1,750 fully installed. Fully legit, but no MCS shenanigans. I am to supply the ballast for the buckets. It will back up the gas boiler in a blackout.

That is exactly £1 per Watt of PV, yet also including a ‘free’ 2kWh battery. The round trip efficiency of the battery is pants, but no biggie.

Show threadTheolodian
They also have a 3.6kW hybrid inverter for £500, and a 10kWh battery for £1,100. However, I just can’t see how to make that work for us. Not enough solar, no EV tariff, and still not a big enough battery to keep us off of the expensive day rate. 🤔🤷‍♂️
Mar 12 at 5:24pmMastodon for iOS