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[Sticky] Tell us about your Solar (PV) setup

Bob@Lochinver · 2021-03-05T17:13:42Z

I have just installed a new solar array on my south facing roof on the 29th Jan 2021 so all very new for me but my setup is as follows: 12 x JASolar 455w Panels (5.46kWp south facing array) Enphase Microinverters IQ7+, Lux AC ESS 3.6kW Inverter, 2 x 2.4kwh = 4.8kWh Aoboet Battery storage, and while I am on the Octopus standard tariff at the moment I am awaiting an install of a smart meter to take advantage of the better rates for charging my batteries outside of the solar charge day and to export my excess back to the grid. Based in Lochinver far North, west coast of Scotland My first month of solar production was from my Enphase system for February was 294kWh which I guess is okay :)

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JulianC

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25/08/2024 9:13 am

@newhouse87 as much as you can fit south facing. Then west. But your installer should recommend orientation to maximise output

Daikin Altherma 3H HT 12kWh ASHP with Mixergy h/w cylinder; 4kW solar PV with Solic 200 electric diverter; Honda e and new Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric vehicles with Myenergi Zappi mk1 charger

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Toodles

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25/08/2024 10:44 am

@newhouse87 South facing as much as you have space for would provide maximum production with the rest on west facing. If your finances would run to it, give serious consideration to installing battery storage which would allow for greater flexibility in terms of maximising use of solar energy to power your ASHP. Regards, Toodles.

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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IanMK13

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25/08/2024 11:44 am

@newhouse87 As @toodles suggests, it depends on whether you intend to install a battery and your split between home use and export. I have recently had 8 panels fitted on an (almost) easterly-facing roof and 6 on an (almost) southerly roof. Per panel, the energy output is slightly higher for those on the southerly roof but there is some shading from the early evening from trees to the west. In your situation, thinking only of roof placement and not where the energy goes, I think I would do as your installer suggests and fit 12 & 6. You will then have a single roof area remaining in case you wish to expand in future (I have bits of roof of various sizes for this purpose). As a result of my battery (13.5kWh) I have paid only standing charges since my equipment was installed.

By the way, that chimney is a nuisance.

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newhouse87

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25/08/2024 8:45 pm

Thanks for replies. The chimney wont interfere too much with the west panels as far as i can see. I wont opt for battery yet as prices coming down and i can sell any excess to grid for decent price at the moment. We used most electric during highest tariffs of 5-7 with cooking so west facing suits this. Did my theory of placing 6 west panels on small roof over sliding door rather then all 12 on big west roof make any sense, thinking that farthest reaches of west roof will get sun last and in winter might get v little. I could try get panels on small roof behind heat pump south facing but was worried about other roofs shading it and also told bigger strings of panels better rather then putting say 3-4 on small roof.

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Judith

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25/08/2024 10:47 pm

Your installer’s suggestion of 12+6 is the best suggestion. You can always add more blocks (with its own optimiser) later.

Aas a bungalow you avoid the bigger upfront and modifying costs of scaffolding so you can make changes fairly easily.
Batteries are coming down in price but you are missing out on the savings while waiting. There are threads on here about making good savings self building batteries if you want to make savings.

2kW + Growatt & 4kW +Sunnyboy PV on south-facing roof Solar thermal. 9.5kWh Givenergy battery with AC3. MVHR. Vaillant 7kW ASHP (very pleased with it) open system operating on WC

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newhouse87

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27/08/2024 4:30 pm

Latest installer suggested

I could get 5 on south roof in pic2 and 4 south roof pic1 behind heatpump and 9 on west roof but Do people think the small south roofs for the 9 panels would be suitable, not losing light due to other angles on the roofs?