DIY home solar grid tie

[minimutly]

The tail turning the turbine is - or was, called furlomatic, been around for years, uses an expanding spring to balance the turbine against the tail. It mostly works, but needs a damper to stop the thing swinging around.

 

[gaz1]

one in use

there is ridgeblade turbines for house/buildings as sits on the apex of the roof

 

[Fintray]

I'm not sure this is the right site but it's the only one I can find.... http://www.windandwet.com/index.php

it might be the right guy..... there's a "wind turbine guy" who's an expert at diy small wind turbines, knows them inside out

this designs have special tail, which turn the turbine blades out of the wind when the wind gets too fast.... saving you from having to have a system to brake it and also letting it generate in higher winds


can;t find it but there's another side (maybe someone here will know it?) when you can put in your post code and it'll tell you the average wind speed at different heights from the ground.... helps figure out if it's worth making one



for best output/efficiency you need to me 6m above any buildings/trees etc.

The main guy for diy small wind tubines is Hugh Piggott
Many of the contributors to the Navitron site are now here including Clockmanfr who has build several of Hugh's design wind turbines and some PV trackers.

 

[knighty]

The main guy for diy small wind tubines is Hugh Piggott
Many of the contributors to the Navitron site are now here including Clockmanfr who has build several of Hugh's design wind turbines and some PV trackers.

ah that's the guy!

and thanks I've just joined up there :-)

 

[J1nx]

Just a little update to anyone interested, the DIY solar system has been great, working just as expected, taking a good chunk off our bills all year, less so in winter and plenty wasted back to the grid in summer.

Last month I managed to get hold of some grid storage batteries that I have now adapted to work at home with the solar. It’s only been up and running properly the last couple of days but so far it’s allowed much better utilisation of the power generated from the roof. With quite strict limits set in place we have halved the power used and if all keeps working correctly I will lift some of the power limits to improve that further.

Heres some pics..

-

I also changed companies end of last year so now I’m also involved with RE projects proffesionally (I don’t actually install them so forgive the tidiness above!).

 

[brewdexta]

Mines doing great, just bought a couple of additional Pylontech batteries, I did have 2.4kWh, now 7.2.

The Eddie solar diverter is in the middle of being cabled up too, should be on line in a couple of weeks.

 

[pressbrake1]

Today we charged the car, hot water, laundry and dishwasher

 

[Gareth J]

Yes, the last sunny days have been a bonanza.

 

[minimutly]

The export prices have jumped up recently, I think 12p is the highest for non customer, octopus is up around 32p if I recall. I have my lighting tower, still not moved the workshop solar install on.

 

[gaz1]

@J1nx
@brewdexta

since weve just gone through a winter would you state what you have installed

how many solar panels in use
your power output from your solar panels
is your panels in the optimum position
would you both mind showing your winter power outputs for the winter both daily and monthly if possible

to be honest i would like to see both of your power outputs between southern and mid north solar collection ( mid north is hull to blackpool range to me )

 

[Fintray]

@J1nx
@brewdexta

since weve just gone through a winter would you state what you have installed

how many solar panels in use
your power output from your solar panels
is your panels in the optimum position
would you both mind showing your winter power outputs for the winter both daily and monthly if possible

to be honest i would like to see both of your power outputs between southern and mid north solar collection ( mid north is hull to blackpool range to me )

Gaz1, not sure if this will be of any use to you but see below my figures since my system went in.
Garage is 3.87KWp (50 degree angle) and caravan port is 10.24kWp (8 degree angle), bit further north than you are looking for so anything comparative is likely to give higher outputs.

 

[gaz1]

Gaz1, not sure if this will be of any use to you but see below my figures since my system went in.
Garage is 3.87KWp (50 degree angle) and caravan port is 10.24kWp (8 degree angle), bit further north than you are looking for so anything comparative is likely to give higher outputs.
View attachment 398593

thankyou for posting as that will provide the numbers for north ( aberdeen ) for solar usage

 

[J1nx]

Hi Gaz,

@J1nx
@brewdexta

since weve just gone through a winter would you state what you have installed

how many solar panels in use
your power output from your solar panels
is your panels in the optimum position
would you both mind showing your winter power outputs for the winter both daily and monthly if possible

to be honest i would like to see both of your power outputs between southern and mid north solar collection ( mid north is hull to blackpool range to me )

Hi Gaz,

6 x 450W Panels
2000W Inverter (over panelled so a table top type power curve)
SSW direction in SW England
Recently added approx 14kWh of battery storage, DIY LiFePO4 battery.

Monthly from date of install, last June…

Monthly this month, so far…

Last months daily…



Data from Victron battery storage but showing generation vs consumption.


To improve the system I would now look to add SE facing panels to gain extra power in the morning, widening the charge window. More effective than improving outright power in my situation.

 

[J1nx]

Here’s a example of the daily curve on one of the better days this year, it shows the effect of Inverter limit being hit by over panelling.

 

[tom 748]

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

not true got mine done in December last year and haven't paid a penny in elec,201 in credit

 

[minimutly]

not true got mine done in December last year and haven't paid a penny in elec,201 in credit

Ha, and how much money have the g.ment put into your account?
I’m not making this up - mine has been in since the inception of fits, yes it pays for all my electricity and then some, but the dark months are generally just that. Cold winters are ok if there’s no cloud, but then the sun is lower and the days shorter.
Nov to Feb this year, 379kWHrs - over 3 months. 187W average... fill your boots.

 

[GRW]

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).

Average daylight in UK latitude is I believe a little under 11-hrs-a-day. However, in winter the "daylight" as MM says ain't up to much - but you might be lucky and do maybe 5%?
(So many variables & I'm working on anecdotal info not personal direct).
Dunno where you are, but the summer period still has dark, cloudy, cruddy days (esp. here in West Wales), so yeah, I'd think 80% is very optimistic (unless we get another 1976). 50% maybe?

 

[pressbrake1]

My west array with theoretical 2800w of second hand panels went over 3000w today in a brief burst of hot sun!

 

[minimutly]

I just did my last 3 months fits claim - it’s been a poor spring, I’m down quite a bit. Maybe a clean might help?

 

[J1nx]

Average daylight in UK latitude is I believe a little under 11-hrs-a-day. However, in winter the "daylight" as MM says ain't up to much - but you might be lucky and do maybe 5%?
(So many variables & I'm working on anecdotal info not personal direct).
Dunno where you are, but the summer period still has dark, cloudy, cruddy days (esp. here in West Wales), so yeah, I'd think 80% is very optimistic (unless we get another 1976). 50% maybe?

The last line graph I posted shows current consumption/generation, as you can see we are now achieving almost 100% and as I have data from last June onwards we should easily now continue that through to September.
I now have the battery which has almost doubled the investment but it really allows us to harvest the otherwise wasted generation and being on a separate inverter allows peak loads to be covered better.

Winter generation is over 10% easily, December just gone was 45kWh, peak summer was 356kWh so coming on for 13%.