5.5Kw solar panel array with batteries

[Kentishfarmer]

if some of you are lucky enough to still have the older type of electric meter installed. the type with the metal disc inside that rotates, some models of this type of meter go backwards.
if you export 10kwh during the day it will go backwards by 10kwh, this works out as energy storage because on the evening when the sun has gone down or during the day if the sun has disappeared you get this 10kwh back again if needed. if you are paying monthly for your elec you have until your next meter read to make sure your meter has not gone backwards too far other wise red flags will pop up at the provider. not all of these do this, some have back stops on them to stop this happening. if you are not getting paid for exports you cannot be accused of stealing elec, you are lending them your elec generated until you decide to take it back for your own use. energy storage for free, the energy providers will hassle you non stop to get a smart meter, especially Eon, but you do not have to.

Would one of these meters run backwards or is it too new?

 

[Old Tup]

Just bear in mind with outdoor batteries - they lock out at around 5c - I have made an insulted wooden box around mine with 10w heater to keep them active in cold temps.

Might be wrong but I think Teslas have a built in heater

 

[Exfarmer]

View attachment 1048807

Would one of these meters run backwards or is it too new?

I would very much doubt it

 

[MrNoo]

This is the type that will run in reverse!!

 

[Exfarmer]

View attachment 1048833
This is the type that will run in reverse!!

And you are hanging on to it, as long as you can

 

[Highland Mule]

And you are hanging on to it, as long as you can

Would an installer of panels insist that it gets changed, do you think, or is that beyond their remit? Wondering if I should find a friendly sparky to do a self install rather than pick a specialist company.

 

[MrNoo]

And you are hanging on to it, as long as you can

Unfortunately I have a smart meter and don't export anyway. Friend has one with solar (that was installed years ago) and says it goes backwards!

 

[Exfarmer]

Would an installer of panels insist that it gets changed, do you think, or is that beyond their remit? Wondering if I should find a friendly sparky to do a self install rather than pick a specialist company.

The installer has no remit to insist on a change of meter. He should by rights inform the property owner there ios a risk of this, as by no means all of those will run backwards.
My experience was that after my install on my house of 8Kw the meter immediately started running backwards.
I informed my supplier twice of this the second time recorded letter.
The problem is the supplier is not responsible for the meter and has little interest in the flow of power. The loser is n or even the generator who gets paid by metered output. The loser is the network operators who assume this is all part of line losses.
The true guilty party is the meter operators who of course care little as they get paid per meter but care little that many are not working as they should.
Mine was only changed after I pushed for it and a 3 month holiday showed some very strange readings. I pushed for it as the owner of a generating company I was committing fraud by ignoring what was going on.
I suspect there are tens of thousands out their still gaining benefit from these meters including many who have been paid compensation for purchasing panels

 

[f0ster]

the installer is supposed to inform the dno that the site has had pv installed, but it quite often gets missed,

 

[theboytheboy]

Has anyone any recommendations of solar panel installers in the south?

We are in the process of renovating some commercial units and I am wondering about putting solar on the roofs and then using the power for the units and / or the main farm house and a small bungalow.

I have no idea about this stuff at all so a decent recommended company would be a good start.

 

[Exfarmer]

the installer is supposed to inform the dno that the site has had pv installed, but it quite often gets missed,

The DNO has no impetus to informnthe meter operator, quite likely data protection forbids it

 

[MrNoo]

Has anyone any recommendations of solar panel installers in the south?

We are in the process of renovating some commercial units and I am wondering about putting solar on the roofs and then using the power for the units and / or the main farm house and a small bungalow.

I have no idea about this stuff at all so a decent recommended company would be a good start.

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Ben is a chap I know, they did Gloucester Cathedral, more into large jobs, industrial sheds etc but certainly worth a call, if they can't help then I'm sure he'll know someone who can. Nice chap

 

[f0ster]

ref MrNoo, some of these type of meters have back stops that prevent them going backwards, not sure of the exact details of model number etc,
I know someone who had this type of meter with pv, it stopped working completely, he was well annoyed, he got another off ebay, swapped the serial number plate.
reset the counter to correct kwh, resealed it back up,

 

[f0ster]

I recently had to visit a house with various renewables on it on behalf of the agent, the previous occupants had left the meter reading in the electric cupboard so the new owner would know the start reading from moving in, the property must have been empty for a while because the meter had gone backwards by about 120kwh. I told the new occupants about the meter anomaly and to hang on to it for as long as poss.

 

[Old Tup]

Just had a quote for a domestic PV installation…
Idea is using a battery combined with panels to eliminate as much of the Elec bill as possible.
Annual consumption around 4000 to 4500 kWh per annum.
Looks like being around £18k installed with battery etc.
Wondered what sort of figures anyone else has been quoted for similar.

 

[Still Farming]

the installer is supposed to inform the dno that the site has had pv installed, but it quite often gets missed,

Metering services should put import/ export meter possibly

 

[Highland Mule]

Just had a quote for a domestic PV installation…
Idea is using a battery combined with panels to eliminate as much of the Elec bill as possible.
Annual consumption around 4000 to 4500 kWh per annum.
Looks like being around £18k installed with battery etc.
Wondered what sort of figures anyone else has been quoted for similar.

I’d be tempted to fit in a few more panels if you had the space.

 

[Kentishfarmer]

Just had a quote for a domestic PV installation…
Idea is using a battery combined with panels to eliminate as much of the Elec bill as possible.
Annual consumption around 4000 to 4500 kWh per annum.
Looks like being around £18k installed with battery etc.
Wondered what sort of figures anyone else has been quoted for similar.

I'm no expert, but doesn't the battery capacity and therefore cost seem high compared to the size of the solar array? I'd be interested to see how they arrived at that battery sizing

 

[Still Farming]

Just had a quote for a domestic PV installation…
Idea is using a battery combined with panels to eliminate as much of the Elec bill as possible.
Annual consumption around 4000 to 4500 kWh per annum.
Looks like being around £18k installed with battery etc.
Wondered what sort of figures anyone else has been quoted for similar.

Pv Panels not too expensive these day and getting bigger and bigger wattage so less required.

 

[Old Tup]

I'm no expert, but doesn't the battery capacity and therefore cost seem high compared to the size of the solar array? I'd be interested to see how they arrived at that battery sizing

Nothing fixed on the battery size…I was more thinking about if we are going into a phase of supply interruption etc due to Putins Gas War etc etc.
Big enough to supply a bit more than a days consumption. With the ability to help from the battery get over dull days.
Nothing fixed …this was just an initial contact with a brief outline of what I wanted….detailed discussions yet to be held….just wanted an idea if the items quoted for are within ball park range.