Posted by: @jennyross

Hi all

When we had our solar PV panels installed in May a solar diverter was not mentioned to us. I am not sure whether this is because we hope to install a Tesla Powerwall once it is supplied (likely to be 2023). Anyway - the engineer who serviced our ASHP asked why we hadn't installed one and I replied that it hadn't been offered and, in truth, I didn't know about them. 

The solar PV installer would now charge us an eye-watering £4,000 to install a solar diverter. This seems a long way from the prices quoted on line. eg

SOLARPANELPRICES.CO.UK "https://www.solarpanelprices.co.uk/articles/solar-panels/solar-pv-diverter-explained/"

PV Diverter - Heat Your Home's Hot Water For Free | Solar Panel Prices

We take a look at the solar PV diverter. A helpful device that will allow you to use excess solar PV energy to heat your home

- which suggests that we may need to pay up to £800 for installation.

What are your thoughts on the above. I'm not going to pay £4,000 for a solar diverter installation but I wondered if anyone could explain why the cost quoted might be so high? Is is because it wasn't installed in tandem with the PV panels? 

Is it worth getting a solar diverter if we have a battery coming our way in 6 months time (we hope). ??

 

Hi Jenny,

The quote of £4000 is a total rip-off.

You can purchase a solar diverter online, the prices range from I think £200 to about £500. If you know a friendly electrician, they should be able to install it for probably a couple of hundred pounds.

Yeah thats insane. I've got a Solic, new they are £215 for the basic one. Then you would need an electrician for probably half a day of wiring. £400-500 installed TOPS if you have an expensive electrician. Honestly if you have an immersion and the wiring is simple and easy to reach its probably more like 2hrs work

@derek-m many thanks for your advice. Yeah - I was really shocked when I saw the price - which was a quick response to my email to him, ie no breakdown of what that comprised. When I went back to the company to see if he had added an extra zero by mistake he simply replied that the £4,000 was correct and that it was labour and 20% VAT. 

I feel that I can't be rude to the guy as he's the boss of the company and it's one of the few in Fife, where I live, which seems to have a good reputation. Plus they have our battery on order and I want it installed without any trouble.

I guess they are over-busy and just don't want the work. Very disappointing to be ripped off by a company that has had so much business from us over the years.

@batalto many thanks. I've just replied to Derek above re my thoughts on this. But thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.

@jennyross any electrician can fit it for you. You don't need any particular skills, its a single CT clamp (I think) and thats about it.

Posted by: @jennyross

@derek-m many thanks for your advice. Yeah - I was really shocked when I saw the price - which was a quick response to my email to him, ie no breakdown of what that comprised. When I went back to the company to see if he had added an extra zero by mistake he simply replied that the £4,000 was correct and that it was labour and 20% VAT. 

I feel that I can't be rude to the guy as he's the boss of the company and it's one of the few in Fife, where I live, which seems to have a good reputation. Plus they have our battery on order and I want it installed without any trouble.

I guess they are over-busy and just don't want the work. Very disappointing to be ripped off by a company that has had so much business from us over the years.

What I find quite disgusting is that in the middle of an energy crises you have companies trying to take advantage and rip off their loyal customers, selling their services to the highest bidder. If they are too busy then they should just say so, not try to rip people off.

@jennyross, that’s shocking. It’s terrible that companies are trying to rip homeowners off. The bulk of that figure is labour. Ha! How many people for how many days to fit a diverter. Give me a break.

I bought the parts from Robin and had it working in no time.  It looks a bit daunting at first but it all comes together quite nicely.  Cost for parts about £150.

@jennyross It does seem a lot. I'm a very-basic DIYer but installed an I2 diverter myself in an hour or two, cost c£200. I placed it between the existing switch and the immersion - effectively it's just a second switch, terminals standard LNE both ways, plus a run of bell wire connecting the unit to the draw sensor on the cable into the house (this determines which way current is running). Probably best to get a pro in if you're not confident, but not a £4000 job in my amateur opinion!

@jennyross

Did you get a power diverter installed?

@derek-m Nope - we didn't. I lost the will 😫 Since July I've also been applying for the SEG and I'm almost losing the will there too. Honestly between electrical companies, power companies and the government I feel like a pawn on a chess board.