bontwoody

Its going to be rendered, thanks for the information. 🙂

I asked if they had span tables (which they didnt) but didnt think to ask whose lintels they were . Thanks

Tried two builders merchants now, neither has a clue what Im going on about. Makes you wonder how many lintels are put in using the wrong calculation? 🤔

Thanks everyone for the contributions, Ill pop down to the builders yard now and see if they have non composite lintels in stock. Good to understand the theory behind the choices. 🙂

Having read a bit more about the differences between composite and non-composite lintels, I have a question. Does the use of a cavity tray negate the support effect of the blockwork above a lintel and if it does then should a non-composite lintel always be used in that situation?

Thanks. That also makes a lot of sense

Well I never thought of using ChatGPT like that!

Thats a good point, it would need the bonded masonry.

Fair enough, I like to do as much as I can myself, I enjoy the learning and have noone else to blame if something goes wrong 🙂 The timber frame has all the required plans etc, its just the outer shell. Worse case I just do as Russell suggests and over spec it.

I just wanted to be sure I was calculating correctly really, if it is more than ample why use a bigger one? It not really about the cost, although the smaller one will be a lot lighter. I drew the plans myself so this is me doing the structural calculations.

I would just like a little reassurance that I am calculating this correctly please. I have two windows at the back of my timber frame extension. The span is 1.5m. There are no complicating loads above the windows so its just the dense concrete blocks. Ive calculated the weight of the Loaded Traingle above the lintel and come out with a total load of 1.37 kN or 0.911 kN/m. My bricklayed thinks I should put a 100mmx150mm lintel over them but looking at the loading table it suggests that a 100mm x 65mm is more than sufficient with a UDL of 2.6 kN/m. Have I made a mistake somewhere? Thanks in advance.

So is the DNO approval I already have only valid for the DC coupled batteries then? If that so then what I need is another battery system option that is compatible with the SE inverter but modular in nature so I can start small and increase as needed. I assume that I can still have the additional PV panels with no batteries attached. Anyone have any ideas or experience of such a system?

I cant go for the SE Battery though as it only comes in 10kWh size and is too pricey, so I need a modular system that can interface with the SE inverter if I have to go for a DC coupled system. Is there any reason why I cant go down the AC coupled route do you think?

Sorry that was my paraphrasing, he actually said: "Western Power (national grid) have done the calculations and would allow an additional 3.68kWp of Solar PV to be installed with a SolarEdge 10kW DC battery attached." By eye I think I could fit 9 panels to the East side and more than that to the West if allowed so probably 5.7 at least. But does he imply that I have to have the DC battery to be allowed them? Thanks

So following on from my previous post regarding adding additional capacity to my existing 2.66kW FIT system, I have now had DNO approval and a quote to install a Solar Edge panel and battery system. My intention is to leave the existing system well alone and put the new system split equally over a East/West (ish) facing roof. The installer has said that the DNO will allow an additional 3.68kW of panels with a 10kWh DC battery attached but added the phrase “ The proposed system that we would install would only contribute to the consumption in the home and will also store in the battery. “ Im happy with the quote for the panels but the battery is beyond my budget. IT does seem to make sense however to install some batteries while the VAT is zero rated. I had hoped to do something more modular with the battery system, starting at say 2-4kWh and seeing how it goes before adding more. So my questions are: Does the quoted phrase mean that the new system wont export at all, and so I must have a DC battery installed Does the DC battery have to be that big? Or could I have a smaller modular battery system and if so what suggestions are there that would be compatible with the solar edge inverter. Can I have an AC coupled battery system instead, and would an advantage of that be that I could store the excess from my FIT system as well as my new system. Would it be a good idea to oversize the new system substantially and use a smaller than 3.68kW inverter (the quote is for a Solar Edge 3680 HD Wave inverter) For information, Im just about to have a Mixergy HW cylinder installed with a PV diverter, and intend to switch away from the existing gas combi to a ASHP as soon as I can. I also have an eMonPi monitoring system that I would like to be able to monitor the new PV system with. An EV is on the cards in the future. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers Mark