Ben Tasker4d ago

New #blog post: Adding A Balcony #Solar Install to our garage

We've had solar for nearly 3 years now, but our easterly exposure has been niggling at me: output starts waning around lunch so the afternoon feels wasted (particularly after a cloudy morning)

So, I've added some west facing panels to the garage using a plug-in solar kit

This post talks about the install, setting up monitoring with #telegraf as well as results in the week since

https://www.bentasker.co.uk/posts/blog/house-stuff/adding-plugin-solar-to-our-capacity.html

Adding a Balcony Solar Kit To Our Capacity

I recently installed a balcony/plug-in solar onto (well, around) our garage to provide some additional solar capacity. This post talks about the install experience, setting up monitoring via telegraf

www.bentasker.co.uk
Show threadNick
@[email protected] Very interesting, we currently have a 12 year old 3.6kW system split across East and South, and I'm pondering adding something on our West facing roof to extend the generation day. Also we have no battery storage yet, so I've been pondering an Ecoflow Stream Ultra X with an Ecoflow smart meter to ensure export limit is not breached. I'm still not completely convinced on value for money though.
Apr 3 at 11:28amWeb
Show threadBen Tasker3d ago

@nick I think a standalone (in the sense no seperate hybrid inverter) system like that might have a better chance at breaking even

£1500 for 3.8kW doesn't feel too bad particularly with them claiming (and I assume warrantying) a 15yr lifetime.

I think my only reservation from a skim of the specs is the 2.3kW peak output (but then, that'd be quite a high sustained load).

I think I'd want it wired into a spur rather than plugged in too 😀