Thanks Daniel, I have been considering changing my water solar to PV solar for a while now. You have certainly covered all the bases that I would need to take into account. Well structured and delivered presentation.
A few people have asked this. I wanted SolarEdge with it's 25 year extended warranty - but didn't want to pay the higher price of their batteries. Also SolarEdge allow me to monitor each panel with their optimisers, I'd like to know if one ever fails. I can also get more draw from having 2 inverters so if sunny all I can get from the solar inverter and draw 3kW from the battery as well if I ever needed to.
One thing I would emphatically state, based on actual experience across multiple installations, is AVOID Chinese brands (JA Solar, Jinko, Trina, Growatt etc.) Quality just isn’t there and they have been many issues with warranty support, spares etc. They will offer tempting specifications, disproportionately lower prices (and margins to installers) to try to displace the quality brands. Best panel brands to go for are Solarwatt, Sharp, Hyundai or Sunpower. Best inverter brands are SolarEdge or Enphase. Best battery brands are LG, SolarEdge, GivEnergy and Tesla.
Thanks for the video, I've researching solar at the moment, so it was handy. Why go with two invertors rather than a hybrid? I've been leaning towards a hybrid as it looks simpler, is there a catch?
I wanted SolarEdge on the solar side for the optimisers and the 25yr warranty they provide, but Solar Edge batteries are expensive. So I went for GivEnergy batteries which meant I needed a GivEnergy inverter as well. Yes I could have just had a GivEnergy hybrid inverter the max warranty on these if you pay extra for it is 10 years. But I also read a hybrid inverter has to work a lot harder than separate inverters so that may reduce it's lifespan. Having 2 inverters also means I can have up to 4kw from the solar inverter and another 2.6kw from the battery inverter at the same time, if I need that power. Having only one inverter may also save you about £1,000. There are many different ways to set up a solar system, and I am not going to say my design or choice of products is the best, every house is different.
I wanted the SolarEdge inverter on the solar side as I wanted optimisers on each panel so I could see if anything went wrong with a particular panel, plus SolarEdge offer a 25 year warranty if you extend it. I didn't want the SolarEdge battery though as they are expensive so I went for the GivEnergy battery, which meant I needed another GivEnergy inverter. That was the main reasons.
I'm not sure about solis, but it would be worth phoning around some solar suppliers like midsummer wholesale or getting in contact with solis directly.
I have no clue from a power point of view, but I would have hoped production would be the same. I just didn't want to pay an extra day of labour for in roof and then have my tiles removed, which I would then have to store if I ever needed them put back. Although I agree having them flat in the roof does look a lot nicer.
Just so happens i'm looking at solar solutions as well. A friend of mine has recently commissioned an install which isn't dissimilar to yours but it's quite a lot more expensive. Does your system have islanding so you are covered incase of a powercut? An with regards to installers, would you mind sharing who you went with or DM'ing me their details? TIA
I believe my set up will not work in a power cut, although I think the battery would drain down and provide power, but nothing after that. I used a company called Green Solar World in Newmarket, Suffolk. I did also have extended warranties on everything and bird protection, without those 2 items I probably would have paid about £1k less. But I suppose hardware prices may have risen.
@@daniel_coe thanks for the extra information, it certainly made for interesting reading. Personally speaking I would like to include islanding as powercuts might be more common in the future as supplies struggle. But it's a gamble... all of this, the capital expenditure, hedged against on-going rising costs. I liked the eddi device you're using are you just using it for your immersion?
@@huwwilliams3664 yes just using the Eddi for the immersion tank, there is a 2nd output on the Eddi, but I can't think of what else to use it for. I don't have a hot tub!
I just took a look at the totals for April to July (4 months). Each panel is very similar. So the panels on the South each generated 240kWh and the panels on the East each generated 220kWh. I hope that helps.
Thanks Daniel, I have been considering changing my water solar to PV solar for a while now. You have certainly covered all the bases that I would need to take into account. Well structured and delivered presentation.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you! Very useful video 😊
Thanks for your comment
Thanks for sharing your experience Daniel. For someone like me who is looking at this from a standing start this sort of info is gold dust.
Glad you are enjoying it. I started out just the same watching RUclips videos.
Hi Daniel.Great video certainly got me thinking. One thing that i could not get was the 2 inverters.Why 2
A few people have asked this. I wanted SolarEdge with it's 25 year extended warranty - but didn't want to pay the higher price of their batteries. Also SolarEdge allow me to monitor each panel with their optimisers, I'd like to know if one ever fails. I can also get more draw from having 2 inverters so if sunny all I can get from the solar inverter and draw 3kW from the battery as well if I ever needed to.
Great video. Lots of info I didn't yet know. Have subscribed!
Welcome aboard!
Thank you for a very informative and useful video!
You are welcome!
Great video, thanks - just starting to research solar systems.
Good luck!
One thing I would emphatically state, based on actual experience across multiple installations, is AVOID Chinese brands (JA Solar, Jinko, Trina, Growatt etc.) Quality just isn’t there and they have been many issues with warranty support, spares etc. They will offer tempting specifications, disproportionately lower prices (and margins to installers) to try to displace the quality brands.
Best panel brands to go for are Solarwatt, Sharp, Hyundai or Sunpower.
Best inverter brands are SolarEdge or Enphase.
Best battery brands are LG, SolarEdge, GivEnergy and Tesla.
Great video thanks. Lots of common sense stuff there
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the video, I've researching solar at the moment, so it was handy. Why go with two invertors rather than a hybrid? I've been leaning towards a hybrid as it looks simpler, is there a catch?
I wanted SolarEdge on the solar side for the optimisers and the 25yr warranty they provide, but Solar Edge batteries are expensive. So I went for GivEnergy batteries which meant I needed a GivEnergy inverter as well. Yes I could have just had a GivEnergy hybrid inverter the max warranty on these if you pay extra for it is 10 years. But I also read a hybrid inverter has to work a lot harder than separate inverters so that may reduce it's lifespan. Having 2 inverters also means I can have up to 4kw from the solar inverter and another 2.6kw from the battery inverter at the same time, if I need that power. Having only one inverter may also save you about £1,000. There are many different ways to set up a solar system, and I am not going to say my design or choice of products is the best, every house is different.
Great video Daniel. I’m looking for a similar install. Which company did you go with.
Green Solar World in Newmarket, Suffolk.
That’s was a really good price.
I guess now things have probably increased by about £2k for my system.
Thank you so so much. Super help ful.
You're welcome!
Great intro video, thanks. What made you go for two inverters?
I wanted the SolarEdge inverter on the solar side as I wanted optimisers on each panel so I could see if anything went wrong with a particular panel, plus SolarEdge offer a 25 year warranty if you extend it. I didn't want the SolarEdge battery though as they are expensive so I went for the GivEnergy battery, which meant I needed another GivEnergy inverter. That was the main reasons.
@@daniel_coe thank you so much for the detailed reply. Just about to go on this journey subject to being able to get hold of kit :D
@@barticasun good luck
Hi Daniel. Not sure why I'm getting quoted almost 5k more for a very similar system to yours.
I believe prices have increased, maybe quote the exact same build to several different installers and see what prices come back.
I thought it was just me and measured the tile and then counted the tiles upwards and across
Very useful thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Where do you buy the extended warranty for solis inverter please?
I'm not sure about solis, but it would be worth phoning around some solar suppliers like midsummer wholesale or getting in contact with solis directly.
If I got eddi would I need to buy a cylinder at what cost as I take it I couldnt use combi?
If you want to use an eddi, you do need a tank. I have no idea of costs for that I'm afraid.
Just wondering what are the pro’s & cons of an in-roof solar array versus an on-roof system?
I have no clue from a power point of view, but I would have hoped production would be the same. I just didn't want to pay an extra day of labour for in roof and then have my tiles removed, which I would then have to store if I ever needed them put back. Although I agree having them flat in the roof does look a lot nicer.
Who was your installer?
Green Solar World in Newmarket, Suffolk
Just so happens i'm looking at solar solutions as well. A friend of mine has recently commissioned an install which isn't dissimilar to yours but it's quite a lot more expensive. Does your system have islanding so you are covered incase of a powercut? An with regards to installers, would you mind sharing who you went with or DM'ing me their details? TIA
I believe my set up will not work in a power cut, although I think the battery would drain down and provide power, but nothing after that. I used a company called Green Solar World in Newmarket, Suffolk. I did also have extended warranties on everything and bird protection, without those 2 items I probably would have paid about £1k less. But I suppose hardware prices may have risen.
@@daniel_coe thanks for the extra information, it certainly made for interesting reading. Personally speaking I would like to include islanding as powercuts might be more common in the future as supplies struggle. But it's a gamble... all of this, the capital expenditure, hedged against on-going rising costs.
I liked the eddi device you're using are you just using it for your immersion?
@@huwwilliams3664 yes just using the Eddi for the immersion tank, there is a 2nd output on the Eddi, but I can't think of what else to use it for. I don't have a hot tub!
Hey! Thanks for the information
How does the output of your east array compare to the south facing one?
I just took a look at the totals for April to July (4 months). Each panel is very similar. So the panels on the South each generated 240kWh and the panels on the East each generated 220kWh. I hope that helps.
Don't forget the DNO application.
Yes that took 6 weeks. ruclips.net/video/KZKeQ1bqEeM/видео.html
@@daniel_coe thought solaredge can go up to 150%, are you limited by DNO?
@@Medea007 Yes it can handle the extra power from the panels, but can't do anything with it - you are still limited by the inverter size.