V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
IMHDO, 'tis the best use of solar energy .. PV is such a faff, unreliable in our climate for output and get so little return for such an outlay ... the sums just do not add up on PV
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
You gotta love those above ground pools
Can tell that you have a digger
Like the roller cover and solar heaters
What filter do you use?
Have considered one here, maybe half and half , but there're so few days one can make use of it unless it's covered and heated ... the poly tunnel is a stroke of genius for a cover
.... keeping it planted might be an issue here though and could see it for miles .... do you need any form of planning for them ? Water would be a.n.other issue for us .... would take some time to fill the bugger
TiltyShaun
Well-known member
We have been blessed with a great summer last year after we out the pool in. The solar panels have been a necessary addition this year as I refuse to burn oil or electric to heat the thing!!
We are very social and coming home from work to see who is floating in the pool is the highlight of my summer!
We put the pool in last year as my daughter was struggling at school but always liked to swim. This gave her something to boost her confidence and she is now back on track. She certainly now understands numbers and the first thing see does when she drops her school bag on the floor is to check the pool temp to see if she is allowed in!!
We are very social and coming home from work to see who is floating in the pool is the highlight of my summer!
We put the pool in last year as my daughter was struggling at school but always liked to swim. This gave her something to boost her confidence and she is now back on track. She certainly now understands numbers and the first thing see does when she drops her school bag on the floor is to check the pool temp to see if she is allowed in!!
TiltyShaun
Well-known member
We also have PV and solar on the roof for hot water. The solar for the hot water makes you realise how much energy you waste heating a hot water cylinder for when you might need it!! PV will be a game changer when the battery technology improves so that you can store the electric for your own use. The feeding tariff makes it a good return as long as the panels and equipment last for the 25 years!! (Not very likely)
Routy56
Well-known member
We have a 4kW, 16 PV panels, array on our south facing roof
Helped the contractor install it in 2015 for about £5k and now wish we had done it sooner.
On a sunny day we generate 3 - 3.8kw for most of the day.
The FIT makes it very viable with a nice pay back every quarter
Routy56
Well-known member
Poly tunnels are the way to go IMHO. The plastic is rated to last 5-10 years. We are on our second cover in about 28 yearsHave considered one here, maybe half and half , but there're so few days one can make use of it unless it's covered and heated ... the poly tunnel is a stroke of genius for a cover
Water would be a.n.other issue for us .... would take some time to fill the bugger
Once you have backfilled the side trenches to secure the plastic, it withstands any gale
No planning consents required - under 4m high
Yer flow rate can determine how quick it fills up. From empty the 40m3 takes about 2-3 days on a garden hose.
We never empty it, just top it up, keep it conditioned with PH checks and low level of chlorine
DO IT - you'll learn to swim
Routy56
Well-known member
Agree with all that
As above we love our PV and should pay for itself in about 7-8 years
Use all forms of heating appliances during the day now and SWMBO has been trained to watch the generation meter
Always considered HW solar heating - do you have a specific solar tank and controls for yours?
We are due to upgrade the boiler. Now removed and running on immersion only at the moment.
Have got some extra panels waiting to be installed for an 'off grid battery system' soon.....
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
I looked at it when the feed in tarrif was up in the 40+p / unit and couldn't make the figures add up ....
the panels just don't last long enough, sadly
as said, when the battery tech allows you to keep and store what you generate it'll be a better proposition even with the tish life of the panels, at least you get a direct usage advantage then.
thermal is deffo the best returns for investment
would love to be able to use PV effectively -- as in turn the leccy off most of the time
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
be even better if you could store and use what you make ...... and switch the grid offWe have a 4kW, 16 PV panels, array on our south facing roof
Helped the contractor install it in 2015 for about £5k and now wish we had done it sooner.
On a sunny day we generate 3 - 3.8kw for most of the day.
The FIT makes it very viable with a nice pay back every quarter
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
..As above we love our PV and should pay for itself in about 7-8 years
Always considered HW solar heating - .... We are due to upgrade the boiler. Now removed and running on immersion only at the moment.
Have got some extra panels waiting to be installed for an 'off grid battery system' soon.....
invest in a Tesla wall ... you must've had a very cheap install to pay back in 7-8 years ..... but will it last to see it make you a profit ??
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
so an 8m wide tunnel's under the 4m ridge height rules then ... how do you fare with the 30M2 rule ?Poly tunnels are the way to go IMHO. The plastic is rated to last 5-10 years. We are on our second cover in about 28 years
Once you have backfilled the side trenches to secure the plastic, it withstands any gale
No planning consents required - under 4m high
Yer flow rate can determine how quick it fills up. From empty the 40m3 takes about 2-3 days on a garden hose.
We never empty it, just top it up, keep it conditioned with PH checks and low level of chlorine
DO IT - you'll learn to swim
flow rate is our biggest issue .... 4.5l/min. all day everyday is our spring rate .... could really do with a bore hole for a pool .
interesting on the life of the cover ... didn't realise they'd last THAT long
would love to be able to swim and be confident of not getting into trouble in water .... reckon I could just about keep meself alive if needed.
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Routy56
Well-known member
Not many rules apply here - been up more than 4 years
When I stuck my barn up it went about 4.2 metres 'cos I didn't allow for the ridge pieces
After about 6 years, a spiteful neighbour got me a visit from planning enforcement.
Others were complaining about their 22+ greyhounds
Over a nice cup of tea I showed the said officer my barn complete with my 1959 Austin FE Series 3 lorry.
It was declared to be OK having been up more than 4 years AND part of the enjoyment of our property
We only have 22 houses in our hamlet and I get on with them all.....
.....the old bugger with the greyhounds apologised before they moved
TiltyShaun
Well-known member
I managed to get two flat plate panels, solar hot water cylinder and control pack from a bungalow that was having its roof lifted and the new owners didn’t want it! I had purchased a set of driveway gates from them off ebay and they offered me the lot for £200. I didn’t want to haggle or appear to keen so I asked if they was taking it off the roof for that price, which they agreed. Happy days.
It is a bit of an odd set up as we had water pressure issues in the farmhouse so we set a new water tank as high as we could and then set up the acquired cylinder in the roof space. The solar heats the cylinder in the roof space and when it gets to a preset temp it transfers to the normal cylinder in the airing cupboard. On a good day we get two tanks of hot water. The roof tank also acts as the “cold feed” to the airing cupboard tank so it reduces the amount of heat the boiler needs to input. April to September we only have the boiler doing hot water on a couple of days if we don’t have sunshine.
Routy56
Well-known member
Thanks for explaining your set up
Don’t think that I’ll be that lucky. However, we are due to upgrade our oil boiler and heating set up. Think I’ll install a vented solar HW tank. Then add solar HW panels as and when. We already have the PV doing it’s stuff
pettsy
Well-known member
Think I’ll install a vented solar HW tank. Then add solar HW panels as and when. We already have the PV doing it’s stuff
What’s your cold water main supply like? If you have a decent one i’d fit a twin coil unvented cylinder.
Routy56
Well-known member
Great suggestion
However think that I’d need to measure my flow rate via my recently installed BWT water softener. Obviously this is on the rising main to the current loft tank
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
Ooops !!Not many rules apply here - been up more than 4 years
When I stuck my barn up it went about 4.2 metres 'cos I didn't allow for the ridge pieces
After about 6 years, a spiteful neighbour got me a visit from planning enforcement.
Others were complaining about their 22+ greyhounds
Over a nice cup of tea I showed the said officer my barn complete with my 1959 Austin FE Series 3 lorry.
It was declared to be OK having been up more than 4 years AND part of the enjoyment of our property
We only have 22 houses in our hamlet and I get on with them all.....
.....the old bugger with the greyhounds apologised before they moved
...... you'm well lucky if the rules get ignored ...... Monmouthshire planning are like the bloody Stasi
.... wish we were over the border a couple of miles away ... Herfordshire are sooo easy goinghe must've had a stock box for his 22 greyhounds, for the move
pettsy
Well-known member
Great suggestion
However think that I’d need to measure my flow rate via my recently installed BWT water softener. Obviously this is on the rising main to the current loft tank
I generally only fit vented cylinders when doing like-for-like replacements now. If upgrading the system unvented would be better assuming you have the flow, and no need for shower pumps etc.
Routy56
Well-known member
A friend of mine rent out his Cottage just up the road after his marriage broke up
One of his former tenant chucked a load of demolition hardcore down in the back garden to park his old Land Rover in the garden.
The whole area became overgrown and unmanageable.
He asked me 'can I just' sort it with my digger and oh by the way arrange new fences to the rear
So yesterday after a long hard day, we tamed the wilderness.....
Note the extra summer PPE
You gotta love these landscape rakes
That's my brother-in-law, Richard, who trained in civil etc, and now runs a small groundworks company. And yes he was a 'doorman' back in the day. You dot mess with him
The tenant was absolutely delighted with the tracked finish of the rich top soil. She now has to decide whether to grass seed it or grow vegetables
One of his former tenant chucked a load of demolition hardcore down in the back garden to park his old Land Rover in the garden.
The whole area became overgrown and unmanageable.
He asked me 'can I just' sort it with my digger and oh by the way arrange new fences to the rear
So yesterday after a long hard day, we tamed the wilderness.....
Note the extra summer PPE
You gotta love these landscape rakes
That's my brother-in-law, Richard, who trained in civil etc, and now runs a small groundworks company. And yes he was a 'doorman' back in the day. You dot mess with him
The tenant was absolutely delighted with the tracked finish of the rich top soil. She now has to decide whether to grass seed it or grow vegetables
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