V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ sadly you may well be right ^
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Brendan
Well-known member
Just been having a general look around at solar panels, loads on eBay that all seem to be ex solar farm, would these still be viable or just dead money
TiltyShaun
Well-known member
Our system is 8 years old and still producing when the sun shines. No Feed In Tarrif anymore so you need to get a bargain to make them pay!!
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
do they produce in cloudy conditions Shaun or does it need direct sunlight???
TiltyShaun
Well-known member
They do produce in cloud, in direct sunlight they can overheat and that slows them down!!
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LKSF
Pennine Hillbilly
Solar panels do have an effective life so be careful what you pick up s/h and question why they're getting rid.
There is also differences in quality and newer types available.
IMO the only reason to go renewable is for future generations benefit, if you think you will (financially) forget it, that boat has sailed.
The only way to make it pay now is DIY.
There is also differences in quality and newer types available.
IMO the only reason to go renewable is for future generations benefit, if you think you will (financially) forget it, that boat has sailed.
The only way to make it pay now is DIY.
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Brendan
Well-known member
More a case as the extension is going up and the scaffolding will be up at some point, just to throw a load on. Only thing is the roof is east/west
Quattromike
Well member-known
There seems to be a shortage of the PV panels ATM, everyone must be getting them fitted to save on electric billstalk to mark the gaffer at plug in solar, linked earlier. He will sort you out
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
did I ??
I can recall saying I could use a ****in' lot of cherry for the cost of installing 3ph from me pole, far end of the drive, to me patch - A LOT
as for actual running costs, it'd depend entirely on how efficiently one made use of the available power ... reckon my 32kva runs circa 4.5-5L/hr and'd obviously be more, the more load it receives .. 's way bigger than I need, but was the right price and virtually unused, so's likely to last me for ever.
that said having summat that is barely big enough ain't good either as it'll have to guzzle fuel to cope
if you can use what you produce, leaving aside the equipment costs, etc. the leccy is cheaper than the grid anyday .... really depends what you have in mind
doobin
Well-known member
My landlord is trying to get an expensive grain store (peak power) meter replaced with a normal meter and they are being difficult about it. I think the only way we will be able to do it is to get the supply totally decomissioned and terminated, then ask a new supplier for a connection. The trouble is I think it will take many weeks to achieve this.did I ??
I can recall saying I could use a ****in' lot of cherry for the cost of installing 3ph from me pole, far end of the drive, to me patch - A LOT
as for actual running costs, it'd depend entirely on how efficiently one made use of the available power ... reckon my 32kva runs circa 4.5-5L/hr and'd obviously be more, the more load it receives .. 's way bigger than I need, but was the right price and virtually unused, so's likely to last me for ever.
that said having summat that is barely big enough ain't good either as it'll have to guzzle fuel to cope
if you can use what you produce, leaving aside the equipment costs, etc. the leccy is cheaper than the grid anyday .... really depends what you have in mind
Gecko
Well-known member
I've been buying (very cheap) panels ranging from 5 to 15 years old. I test each one on arrival and so far none have tested lower than spec. (even one with a completely smashed glass)
There are two reasons for this:
- they don't degrade as fast as expected
- generally the warranty states that the panel won't be less than 80% of claimed capacity after 'x' number of years. The easiest way to achieve this is to under-spec the panel in the first place
As the price of grid power goes up, this becomes less and less true. Instead of trying to justify a PV install based on the feed in tariff, consider instead the electricity you are NOT buying.
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V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
'praps it needs to have an 'accident' .....
you'd only need to run a genny as you needed to and as long as you disconnect the grid supply at source, so there's no likelihood of back EMF should be fine ...
might get to like it
what's the max draw that's ever likely to be encountered?
might be worth going separate supplies/gennies ?
Furniss
Well-known member
Giles
Well-known member
Just stayed in a farm in Devon they were like we’ve got solar, thought nothing of it till I walked bast their huge array
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Quattromike
Well member-known
Uuuupp nooorth we don't get quite the same angle of Sun as you would down south. If we weren't so busy ATM we would be installing pv panels all over the place, been a good year for clear skies this year but no guarantee of this going forward, also the panels are on short supply as everyone still busy installing them so dunno if we will do anything until springtime again.
At home I have a commercial supply in an old farm building an used to be circa £30 a quarter as was just occasionally used for lights or battery chargers and such but now is shot up to £125 a quarter with recent price hikes so considering the disconnection route and working a genny when required but probably not worth it and would have to run this on white so will see what develops .
At home I have a commercial supply in an old farm building an used to be circa £30 a quarter as was just occasionally used for lights or battery chargers and such but now is shot up to £125 a quarter with recent price hikes so considering the disconnection route and working a genny when required but probably not worth it and would have to run this on white so will see what develops .
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LKSF
Pennine Hillbilly
It is true though, for your average person the figures don't add up. The Government want us to go green, but have removed the incentive (of grants etc) and are instead forcing us to pay for it by hiking up fuel prices.
For your less than average person it can be made to work though as you're trying to prove. Going around the system by buying good used, doing some DIY, paying a mate to do the wiring etc, then yes it becomes viable. As I have a garage with a South facing roof i'm hoping to do the same.
I don't know if you knew, but there are some good FB pages on DIY solar, about 3 I think and one is UK based, I found out via that where to get a good deal on new panels.
Also broken panels can be fixed by coating them with clear casting resin and a UV additive, the output is lower, but not markedly.
We could be heating our workshops or houses on used oil, but the Government have taxed that too. So it's either non viable or illegal.
On a personal note:
When we moved here we got ourselves locked into a good deal on LPG. However the small print reads that if gas prices go up by X percent then the locked in price is void so it was a waste of time. They've got you by the balls every which way you turn. There is even a large standing charge on the gas tanks, so when I find an alternative to heat my house i'll still get hit with that.
I'm considering wind power as well as that will work where I live. We're halfway down a hill, a few years ago the house above me (which is right on top of the hill) put a large turbine up. It lasted a few weeks before being blown down, they didn't bother again.
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LKSF
Pennine Hillbilly
I doubt the angle of the sun holds much relevance, as does what diesel you feed your genny. Although given this is a public forum if you want to edit that bit out i'll edit mine too.
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Brendan
Well-known member
The biggest problem with renewable energy is that it only really benefits the rich.
Average Joe either won't have enough roof space or facing the wrong direction to get the best results and even then would be looking at a fair few years to get the costs back
Gecko
Well-known member
Same with your 8026 - it'd take a while to pay its self off.
You need to crunch the numbers for your own location/use to see if PV/wind/etc has any merit for you.
Currently the decision for me is easy - I'm using PV where there is no grid power (I have no interest in laying cable).
I'll probable put panels on the house, but that's entirely separate.
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