DIY home solar grid tie

[J1nx]

Anyone DIY’d a grid tie solar system?

Im interested in the G98 notification to the DNO, did you have any issues? Did you self cert or get an MCS certificate or whatever they supply? Do you even get a reply?

 

[Kayos]

Are you using a fully type approved kit? If not you will need to go G99

 

[J1nx]

Are you using a fully type approved kit? If not you will need to go G99

Growatt inverter g98 firmware and DAH solar panels Tuv approved.
Inverter
Panels

This is the form from my DNO, they do not require prior notification but only upon commissioning. The system runs up fine, I have test equipment.

 

[Kayos]

If it's notify after then do as it says, install and notify. Make sure you have a SMETS2 smart meter so you get the huge 5p export rate.....

 

[J1nx]

7.5p on octopus outgoing tariff but tbh I’m not bothered about that. SMETS2 already in.

System is up and running, just concerned self cert will cause issues, MCS isn’t mandatory or legal but a lot of people see it as such.

 

[Kayos]

If it's a notify after setup then it's exactly what it says on the tin

We don't get inspections or questions on 300KW or 2MW arrays

 

[J1nx]

Do you issue & include a MCS cert when notifying DNO?

 

[J1nx]

Just a quick update, emailed notification in to DNO and they have accepted it and acknowledged receipt today. Very impressed with the quick turn around. I only sent the two basic forms in and kept it very simple.

 

[Matrixx]

Not sure if it is the same as generators, but a type tested G99 protection device does not need a witness test as the setting are fixed.

 

[J1nx]

Well, so far, so good. A small DIY solar install in the UK seems like a reasonable investment (£1500 for 2kW in my case). If prices do exceed 40p/kWh this winter then payback will be extremely quick. Edit: just checked, 42p/kWh now if I move to a 12month fix, prob 60p in October price cap rise then

So easy to install, could probably install on my own in a day if I had to do it again.

 

[minimutly]

Oct to March you will generate didlysquat, or thereabouts. Unless the weather turns clear and cold.
Well done nonetheless.

 

[J1nx]

I did do a fag packet calculation on payback and assumed 80% for 6 months (optimistic) and 0% for 6 months. Whilst 80% may be optimistic for 3 of those 6 I have no real data to go on, however the 80% above includes last Friday which was on solar, so actual savings last week were above that and at current cost of 28p/kWh.
I think I will struggle to get any FIT due to no MCS, but I will try just in case when I renew contract (staying on price cap is better than FIT at 7.5p anyway).

 

[Kayos]

Oct to March you will generate didlysquat, or thereabouts. Unless the weather turns clear and cold.
Well done nonetheless.

Really interested to see the data on this, thanks

 

[dobbslc]

@J1nx that's great! I'm very interested in doing something like this so I can heat a hot water cylinder every day for free.
Can you link to what and where you bought the equipment from?
Any photos of the roof brackets etc?

 

[J1nx]

That’s the brackets, then the K2 rail system which was from solarsparky https://www.solarsparky.com/product-category/mounting/
The panels are from a seller on eBay, he imported 500 or so apparently but when delivered he had 17 left, they seem pretty sought after presently. There is currently a seller in Bristol with some 405w panels.
Growatt inverter was also from eBay, I got lucky there, the guy had bought it bundled with a wind turbine but didn’t need it, I received it as new in unopened package.

 

[pressbrake1]

I looked at octopus but got better deal from eon , unbelievably

 

[pressbrake1]

View attachment 351026
That’s the brackets, then the K2 rail system which was from solarsparky https://www.solarsparky.com/product-category/mounting/
The panels are from a seller on eBay, he imported 500 or so apparently but when delivered he had 17 left, they seem pretty sought after presently. There is currently a seller in Bristol with some 405w panels.
Growatt inverter was also from eBay, I got lucky there, the guy had bought it bundled with a wind turbine but didn’t need it, I received it as new in unopened package.

View attachment 351027

Edmondson electric do 405 watt JA Solar panels for £118 plus vat
You have to be careful on eBay as you get excited but when you research it’s not a bargain

 

[pressbrake1]

Really interested to see the data on this, thanks

I’m building a secondary array at a steeper angle to try and make up for winter looses

 

[Kayos]

I’m building a secondary array at a steeper angle to try and make up for winter looses

If I can anonomise one of my sites I will share expected solar data

 

[Gareth J]

I’m building a secondary array at a steeper angle to try and make up for winter looses

Am impressed with our steeper 4kW array's production. It's at about 45 degrees.

Production figures are a bit meaningless as it's export limited. That said, it still outperforms a similar size/aspect one with a much shallower angle. If I were building the sheds to suit, think I'd go for steep and SE/SW ish.