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I have started this thread to give people who like me who have not yet invested in a Solar Panel system but trying to pick the best options.
I had actually signed up for a 4k 16 panel kit using 16 micro inverters £9k, so upper price bracket, then we had WatchDog slating a company who may or may not be rouges, but parting shot was a system should cost no more than £5k
Fir safety i have now cancelled, because boy is it hard to absorb all the information to get to the right configuration before you can even hunt for a price.
Not yet found a generally recommended make of solar PV panel over others, i have an installer booked for survey who uses Zannusi panels, big household name but no idea in this field where they stand.
i read a thread yesterday on another site for green energy (can i link?) about pro's and cons of single string, double string and micro inverters with devotee's of each fiercely fighting their corners, each camp insisting the other camp contributors were all but clueless - hmmmm!
It also covered two popular micro converters, and a war again broke out over which one was best - Hmmmmmmm!
As a popcorn eating spectator looking not to make a big expensive mistake this is my take of it, after near going snow-blind reading, it seems to me every variation has its merits and pitfalls so you pay your money and you basically take a punt, more info you read the higher the uncertainty rises.
Any mistakes below apologised for
Economics
A single inverter (SI) has the advantage of lower initial capital cost, but is less efficient than multiple micro inverters, so will not give as high a return. I treat this fir the kess technically minded as having a 16 cylinder engine with either a single shared carb or an individual carb for each cylinder.
Many say you only need micro inverters (MI) if your roof is shaded in any way, as MI will tweak or turn off individual panels while shaded or faulty, with Si's if a single panel is faulty or shaded all panels will switch off on that string (can have one or two strings), with a single string thats everything until fixed, 2 string half of the system is down, so perhaps a 2 string CI is a good compromise here between a single and MI's?
Safety.
This kit in most cases is fixed to your roof, solar paneks generate DC Voltage, the output of multiple panels is then linked together in series to increase overal voltage, think like cells in a torch you need 3 1.5 cells to make 4.5 volts.
On traditional CI systems the wiring is run from panel to panel in a chain called a series string, presenting around 300 volts DC to the CI for inverting to AC. the CI will likeky not be out on the roof so nit subjected to weather extremes, and easier available for servicing, a consideration of labour cist after warranty makes this prudent beforehand.
MI's are attached to the panels which are on the roof, and so subject to all the weather can throw at them, including extremes of temperature, there is a gap between the panels and roof, on hot days they will be in the equivalent of a George Forman Grill due to durect and reflected heat from the roof.
In an ideal world properly installed without damage to casings ir makers errors etc. they should be ok, but I'm pragmatic and expect my system to attract every fault possible along with 'well i have not seen that before' comments from the service engineers as i watch £'s floating away.
In my case i have very easy access to my roof, but it should enter your thoughts if you have a more difficult access to your solar panels and affect decisions about MI faults.
Seems a decision to make is will the extra cost of micro inverters be covered by the extra returns, and within that will the MI break down more than SI units costing energy generation, so there is n educated gamble to be considered here.
If you buy your system using a home loan be careful to add up the exoected profits then take away the cost if the kit and loan and interest. You won't physically realise serious money until 10 years in and you loan has expired. You will save money and seems £500 - £700 PA is not unusual.
So mine was set to kick in after 10 years, to that point i would 'make' a profit of £1200.00 for a £9k system with Total outlay £21K, to me that don't add up to a good investment. The reo will claim about increasing energy prices but remember doing the math that was already within the profit predictions.
I will then be 75. if i last that long i likely won't remember the 20 year warranty if it ever fails.
My conclusion is if you can buy outright that's best, but if your going the home loan route then get below £5.5k and get the best spec (what ever that is?) for money. |
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26-11-2019 04:00:39
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