@derek-m I didn’t get the chance yet and don’t have great access. I did though spray the panels with the hose to cool them down and short a short spike so I do suspect they were just losing a bit from being too hot.

@editor splendid.

196 for me for the past 7 days. Today is a bit slow though. Been cloudy.

Solar power is seriously awesome, isn't it? I mean, the idea of turning sunlight into electricity still blows my mind. About the performance, I've heard a lot of good stuff from different solar companies. It seems like they’ve really stepped up their game recently.

@matenateson it's good. Welcome on board! We have a modest 3.6kW 9 panel array on a house which one company dismissed as 'not suitable for solar PV' based on a 10 second Google aerial picture look at our roof. We get 24kWh on a sunny day this time of year. Even on an overcast hazy day like today, oh and most of last week, we get 6-10kWh. It provides for all our daily needs, including daily ASHP hot water generation. It tops up our 13kW battery storage, and provides a little export at 15p/kWh - more than enough export to pay the £200 yearly standing charge. The solar batteries come into their own in the winter heating season when they are schedule charged twice a day at low rate periods on Octopus Agile tariff. Stored energy provides 85% of our needs at low rate to run our ASHP heating low'n'slow all day long. We save big money doing that, £500+ over the heating season, with free energy over the summer season. Renewable heating and energy just works for us 🙂

@matenateson Our PV installation took place in July/August 2022; the system had been planned and budgeted for in late 2021 and ordered in early 2022. We chose our panels from the Sunpower range and ensured our installers were on their approved list of installers. About May/June time, we were informed that the Sunpower PV panels were no longer available and the replacements would not be imported until 2023 so we were offered REC panels. I then enquired about availability of these panels (slightly lower output and not-so-good spec or guarantee) I was reassured ‘No problem, we have loads of them in our warehouse’, I accepted the substitute. Within weeks, the REC panels were ‘out of stock Sir’ and I was offered Canadian Solar; byn this time, our 21 panel installation had lost more than .5 kWp and a shorter guarantee! When it came to the installation, there were numerous further hold ups due to the mounting hardware not being ‘in stock’ too.

Throughout all this messing about, I was told that this was all due to shortages, import restrictions, Covid … blah de blah. I had also ordered a Tesla Powerwall to be installed at the same time but of course, they were in short supply too and eventually one was fitted in November 2022. I was offered a second Powerwall if I paid 25% deposit then and would have to wait until at least February 2024!

I really hope that the suppliers and installers have managed to organise their feathered aquatic friends into a straight line by now as I felt the situation was quite shambolic for me!

I did not take the installers up on the invitation to pay them about £2,500 and wait over a year for the second Powerwall; in fact, one was installed about April 2023 by the installers of our ASHP .. and at about 70% of the price! I think supplies may be easier now for most equipment - well at least I hope so. 

Regards, Toodles.

Posted by: @matenateson

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Solar power is seriously awesome, isn't it? I mean, the idea of turning sunlight into electricity still blows my mind. About the performance, I've heard a lot of good stuff from different solar companies. It seems like they’ve really stepped up their game recently.

In terms of getting the most out of your panels, it's all about location, angle, and keeping them clean. Regular maintenance is key. Also, tech is constantly improving, so newer panels are getting more efficient.

If you’re thinking about getting solar, I'd say go for it. It's good for the planet and your wallet in the long run. Just make sure you do your homework and pick a reputable company.