All things Solar (merged threads)

[prydey]

my latest bill.

used 970 odd kwh.
exported 1030 odd kwh.

FIT lower than all rates, means i still had to stump up $100. also, i go in to arrears over winter, so i probably started a fair way behind the 8 ball. i'm hopeful by end of next billing period that i will be back in front. my usage was higher than same time last year, but my 2 daughters are also growing up and one is a teenager, so its not like usage will stay static.

its not ideal, but its still better than the $500+ bills we used to get.

have to get a bit stricter with when we do washing (keep telling wifey it must be done in sunshine hours) and electricity chewing devices that don't need to be on.

(came home last night from work, kids both asleep, mrs watching tv in living room and tv going in bedroom!!)

i don't really want to become like my dad, but sadly its a necessity as human nature doesn't change

[Dash_XR]

First bill with solar was $4, love it. Thinking about getting some more now so they can start paying me.

[poppa smurf]

my credit goes down a bit over winter as well, but that's to be expected, it doesn't get that cold up here so our usage goes down a bit, not that it's ever high anyway.

I reckon $1,000 paid to me every year and no power bills and a credit still left in the account is a bit of all right......it'll do me.

made 18.5 kilowatts the day before yesterday, no cloud 45 deg's......cleaned the panel's yesterday morning, no cloud 45 deg's produced 18.6 kilowatts on an almost identical day yesterday......

not sure about the benefits of cleaning these thing's.

[Pepscobra]

I think this was mentioned earlier, but what are the brands to look for / avoid when choosing Solar Panels and other components?
My mother-in-law recently got a quote for a 5kwh system for $5K... I suspect very cheap Chinese components and to be avoided?

[Pepscobra]

Guys, could I have some help please with recommendations for a VERY GOOD installer in Perth metro area?
The last two jobs I had done on my home (paving and timber flooring) were rubbish... So I want to do my homework properly this time.
Cheers.

[comagutsa]

northern sun solar did mine and Mike was great to deal with .. good sunny boy inverters and get the better suntech panels

http://northernsunsolar.com.au/

[Pepscobra]

Originally Posted by comagutsa

northern sun solar did mine .. good sunny boy inverters and get the better suntech panels

Thanks Stu.
how longs it been installed?
good quality components and install?
I see Gryphon (roller door company) are now doing solar packages...?

[masda74]

Can't go past sunny boy inverters and suntech panels.
This past two months payed out over 600 clams.
32 panels on the roof makes me very happy I did this 3 years ago, come April.

[Pepscobra]

I've just been in contact with Northern Sun Solar for a quote.

[comagutsa]

Nearly 2.5 years now. Joe

[savagetuna55]

JFY 5KW 3ph and 5.5KW of 250W panels (east/west)
Power bill down by about $200 per month

[comagutsa]

Yeah joe make sure you get the better suntech panels -0/+5w ones . My system cost $6500 for my 3kw system with sunny boy inverter and my 200w panels. Just so you have an idea. But I did see them advertise the same system but 250w panels about 6 months ago for $5500

[Pepscobra]

Was hoping to go to a 4kWh system, but have calculated my roof space will only allow 12-13 panels... which limits me to a 3kWh system. Stupid vent pipe in the roof stuffs up my layout.
Unless I go premium and get the SunPower panels which are 327W each; means I can get 4kW from 12 panels... but gonna cost a bit extra, but I'm thinking may be worth it.

[Pepscobra]

My house faces North, and on the North roof face I can fit nicely 12 panels.
I can also fit another 6 panels on the West roof face, giving me a total of 18 panels @ 4.5kW.
Question is, will the West facing panels be effective?

[Bushbasher]

I have a 4.8kw system with 25 panels.16 are fitted on a north-west facing roof with the other 9 on the 5 degree sloped flat roof extension because the gabled roof wasn't big enough. I'm so glad I let the solar guy talk me into the north-west aspect instead of north as I initially wanted it. The thing I came to realise is straight north means the panels only get good light to make good power for about 75% of the daylight hours as the sun is at a too oblique angle at the start and end of the day to make good power but the way my panels are, they start making power a couple of hours after sun up but they make good power all the way to within 45 minutes to sundown because they point more to the sun late in the day. You can have a look at what my system does HERE.

[savagetuna55]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

My house faces North, and on the North roof face I can fit nicely 12 panels.
I can also fit another 6 panels on the West roof face, giving me a total of 18 panels @ 4.5kW.
Question is, will the West facing panels be effective?

The better way is to have 2 equal strings of panels
So half on the north and half on the west if at all possible.
An Inverter needs +/- 190VDC panel voltage pressure per string to generate 250VAC, otherwise the inverter goes "to sleep"
6 x 250W panels @ 32VDC x 6 =192VDC, so it struggles if the sun does not hit the panels in the optimum angle.
This is here in Perth in the afternoon as in the morning they do not get any.
(Most inverters are 2 string when they are over 3KW)
Hope this helps.

[prydey]

my panels are also split between north and west facing roof.

11 on the north and 9 on the west.

not ideal, but its not like you can do anything about it. more is better than less, so if you have to use your west roof as well, then do it. might not get the full benefit for the first few hours of sunlight, but it can almost make up for it later in the day.

[masda74]

If you are going to split your panels on the roof, you need to make sure your inverter has dual input. something like the sunny boy 3000-5000.
As long as you got enough panels on each string to get the right voltage as mentioned by Savagetuna55, then you should be okay.
Since there are no rebates from the government like there was 3 years ago, you don't want to be pumping power back into the grid as it is not worth it.
Pepscobra, You really need to look at your power consumptions hours.
When do you use the most power. Most people have 9-5 jobs which means that they tend to get home later in the arvo. By having your panels on your west roof, would be more beneficial for most families.
However if there is a stay at home mum and kids, then having power generated through most of the day would be a better choice, which means spreading panels out over the north and west.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by masda74

If you are going to split your panels on the roof, you need to make sure your inverter has dual input.

i left all that sort of stuff up to the installers and the solar company. they use nearmaps to get a rough idea of your roof capacity, and then the installers determine the best way to go when the come and do a physical inspection. of course, they can do as they are told if the homeowner wants them placed in a specific location, but i just went with their recommendations.

16 months on and my cheap chinese system is still working well. premium brands are all good if you can afford them, but alas, i could not. i figured a cheap chinese system was still better than no system.

[poppa smurf]

Prydey we have "cheap" systems here into their 4th year, main thing that seems to go is the inverter,......pretty good warranty on them so they just get replaced, most times the installer gets sick of replacing like with like and will "upgrade" for nix.

possibly the panels will discolour and lose their capabilities but they can be replaced at a later date, meantime power bills are well down.

the thing is with west installs is the fact that they are there, without a westerly install then nothing at all can be generated.

may be less but it is still generating.

[Pepscobra]

Originally Posted by masda74

If you are going to split your panels on the roof, you need to make sure your inverter has dual input. something like the sunny boy 3000-5000.
As long as you got enough panels on each string to get the right voltage as mentioned by Savagetuna55, then you should be okay.
Since there are no rebates from the government like there was 3 years ago, you don't want to be pumping power back into the grid as it is not worth it.
Pepscobra, You really need to look at your power consumptions hours.
When do you use the most power. Most people have 9-5 jobs which means that they tend to get home later in the arvo. By having your panels on your west roof, would be more beneficial for most families.
However if there is a stay at home mum and kids, then having power generated through most of the day would be a better choice, which means spreading panels out over the north and west.

Thanks for that.
Have spoken to the Supplier/Installer just now for clarification and they've confirmed that the inverter (will be going with a Sunny Boy) has the dual input and can manage with the separate bank of panels.
So looks like a 10N:6W split (or better still, a 8N:8W split) should work fine.

[davenl5l]

you could move the vent pipe !!!

[CJR09]

Originally Posted by davenl5l

you could move the vent pipe !!!

ditto this^^

latest studies show through life cycle costing that economic payback can be achieved earlier by having a west oriented array - as on average most modern families are using the majority of their energy in the late arvo/evenings

linky linky

[zilo]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

Thanks for that.
Have spoken to the Supplier/Installer just now for clarification and they've confirmed that the inverter (will be going with a Sunny Boy) has the dual input and can manage with the separate bank of panels.
So looks like a 10N:6W split (or better still, a 8N:8W split) should work fine.

Just be careful, some SMA inverters have dual banks of plugs for arrays, but a only single MPPT controller.

It needs to have two banks of plugs AND TWO MPPT controllers.

[savagetuna55]

Maybe put up your daily KW's and your system details/location, so people can compare.
Most inverters do have a scroll function on their display and it pays to every so often look and take note of what the strings are doing.
This will/could indicate a minor fault,
or your panels being very dirty.
To clean them the bottles that can be used with a garden hose to clean windows,
are also very good to clean the panels and get the max output out of them when the rain is not falling for a length of time.

[Pepscobra]

I am being recommended ET Solar Panels.
Northern Sun Solar are moving away from the Suntech panels due to supply issues.

A quick search on the net suggests they are a good panel.

Anyone here got them?

[supershifty]

I've got 12 x ET 190w mono panels, at the time of the install (2012) they were regarded as a good value middle of the range panel with performance and predicted longevity that was almost as good as dearer panels that were on offer. I've had no problem with them but it's early days.

Cheers!

[Pepscobra]

Question: with panels facing squarely West, till what time in the afternoon will they continue to generate power to provide 240V?

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

My house faces North, and on the North roof face I can fit nicely 12 panels.
I can also fit another 6 panels on the West roof face, giving me a total of 18 panels @ 4.5kW.
Question is, will the West facing panels be effective?

Have the same roof. Not installed yet.. Think the west facing panels will come on strong as the north facing drop a little..

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

Question: with panels facing squarely West, till what time in the afternoon will they continue to generate power to provide 240V?

they will generate until the sun ceases to shine, the question is how much will they produce.......