lumendecensMay 11
About to start the #SolarPanel journey here in #Roscommon
Ohkenergy through Electric Ireland have quoted €6650 for 12 panels (5.3 kw). Work from home. Planning to get an #EV from Kia (free charger if I switch to Energia) in next 6 months.
Panels will be mounted facing SW on a newly built shed/garage with a secondary electrical panel. Right by the house.
Any thoughts or 'tales from the front' would be appreciated.
#solar #kia #connacht
Show threadTom AndraszekMay 11
@lumendecens - 5.3 kW seems to be on a small side in 2026. I installed 6.5 kW in 2016. My panels produce from 40 kWh a day in summer to 20 kWh in winter on sunny days. Our car battery is 40 kWh. This year we added a home battery - it allows using the surplus energy later, instead of giving it away for free during the day. Good luck!
Show threadlumendecensMay 12
@tom_andraszek Thank you! A few replies got me thinking and you are right - it is on the smaller size. 14 panels now looking better. Looking to connect the battery down the road and the inverter being offered supports that.
Show threadTom AndraszekMay 12
@lumendecens - good decisions, especially the hybrid inverter.
Show threadTom Andraszek
@lumendecens - the only issue with the hybrid inverter is how compatible it is with different batteries. I think some of them work only with batteries from the same manufacturer.
May 12 at 9:37pmWeb
Show threadTom AndraszekMay 12
@lumendecens - on the other hand, going with a new PV panels only inverter is possibly a waste - if you add a battery and DC couple the system later, which is the smart way to do to have full control of the system and a battery recharged by solar panels in case of grid being down. That's the problem we have in Australia now: there are tens of thousands of perfectly good, used inverters that cannot be sold. I have had mine listed on Gumtree for A$150 for months, eventually, it will go to the tip.
Show threadlumendecensMay 16
@tom_andraszek Such a waste to have to toss inverters or any equipment. Recovery cost for what can be recovered so high. The Solis converter they use supports a massive range of batteries, so should be safe on that front.