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Part 26 - Wall mounted Solar PV system


Stones

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Having originally planned then dropped the idea of Solar PV (a combination of budget constraints and drop in FiT rates) I recently acquired a number of Solar PV panels (a pallet bought in conjunction with @ProDave from Bimble Solar via Ebay).

 

Having recently collected the panels, lengths of mounting rail and various other bits and bobs @ProDave had kindly sourced, I fitted the system over the last two Saturdays.

 

First off was mounting the rails on my rear, SW facing garage wall.  I decided to mount the panels vertically simply for ease - a ready made structure to fix the rails to, and easy access to a consumer unit for the grid connection.  There is a penalty in terms of a reduction in annual generation compared to a sloped array, however simplicity won out.

 

The following picture shows the garage wall with rails fixed;

 

IMG_20190302_115423.thumb.jpg.7018c3dea475610257f71ee27c2fa147.jpg

 

To start I nailed packers to the cladding to ensure I had a drainage gap behind the rails.  I then fixed the rails (Unistrut - a tip from @Onoff) through the cladding, cladding battens into the timber frame of the garage using timber drive bolts I happened to have.  As the lengths of Unistrut I had were offcuts (only way I could transport them) I used joiners secured to the channel with bolts/channel nuts.  Finally, I added hanging brackets for each panels to help carry the weight of each panel / so I wasn't reliant purely on bolts clamping the panels in position.

 

I fitted the panels, sitting them on the hanging bracket and bolting them around 300mm from top and bottom as pictured;

 

IMG_20190302_144316.thumb.jpg.be9e524185a2f20e18fab7d0189236b3.jpg

 

The ends were secured using Z brackets I cut down using a grinder (thanks @JSHarris) so that they clamped only the frame and did not overhang the panel itself;

 

IMG_20190303_141616.thumb.jpg.f716e0f2f16eb72fbff287385486162c.jpg

 

Long M6 bolts with large washers were used to secure the panels into the rails where they met with each other;

 

IMG_20190303_141622.thumb.jpg.f7e98306f30997f3a301dcb21ab31233.jpg

 

The channel nuts (also known as Zebedees) into which the long M6 bolts were secured;

 

IMG_20190303_141844.thumb.jpg.b840dda571f2e53260e88d0d0d8b4df0.jpg

 

I used M8 bolts and channel nuts for the joiners, end and hanging brackets.

 

My electrician connected the system up, wiring the panels to a DC isolator, into the Inverter which in turn is wired into the garage CU via a meter and AC isolator.  2 hours work for him.

 

IMG_20190303_113335.thumb.jpg.9cca60341658932fbc2bef264c152203.jpg

 

Switched on, the Inverter ran through all its self tests and everything okay.  Sadly at that point it clouded over and the heavens opened so only a few watts being generated.  Fortunately, today has been a bright and sunny day (albeit a bit hazy) and my 1.5 kWp system is as we speak, generating 1.2kW.

 

The following shot was taken yesterday just before the rain came on, but all in all, I'm pleased with the way it looks (panels mounted so they read visually with house windows).

 

IMG_20190303_111813.thumb.jpg.766b5c887a6e2620a91c276c0539421e.jpg

 

Cost wise the system (1.5kWp plus a spare panel), mounting rails, nuts, bolts, brackets, isolators, meter and electrician (@Prodave was kind enough to give me the DC cable he had left over which was just enough for the job) total £550. I already had the inverter.

 

Final job within the next 28 days is to notify the DNO of the installation. 

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Looks fantastic ! Really does not detract from the house at all and is a perfect fit on that wall ! 

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Looks good, keeping the top in line with the windows was a great idea. 

 

I'm curious about the DNO notification.  Was your electrician MCS certified or just a regular sparky?  My install will be DIY and I don't want to have to find a MCS company to try and sign it off. 

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If not claiming FiT then there's no need for MCS, and being in non-Part P land means nothing other than a DNO notification (down here even a non-MCS/FiT installation would mean getting it done by a  Part P chap).

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I like that, looks very neat and as you say the row of panels complements the window line so they do not look in any way ugly.

 

@BMcN you only need to be MCS registered to claim the FIT.  I registered my own system about 2 weeks ago now.  You just have to fill in a form and provide a drawing.  They accepted "Electrician"  in the "Qualifications" box of the installer.

 

Details in my thread here 

 

 

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As Jeremy says, no requirement for MCS, but has to be a competent person, i.e. electrician.  Details here from an earlier thread.

 

 

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Just a quick update to this, installation notified to the DNO under G83/2.  Easy to do - a notification form (detailing installation address, MPAN, technology and installer - electrician in my case), Schematic of installation (kindly provided by @ProDave) Type Test Certificate (of the Inverter - obtained from list on Energy Network Association website).  For completeness, I also sent them a site plan.

 

System working well, and array generation peaked at 1503W today, 3W more than the notional maximum of the 6 (250W) panels combined.  

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Very smart!  And as you say, it complements the windows on the main house.  

 

Can you mount panels on gable ends of a house, like cladding?  

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