Radian

I wonder why the webbing was cut away so much more than necessary to mate the two beams together? I just Increased the exposure of this photo to get a better look... Taken to extremes (for the purposes of visualising the issue) if the notch had gone all the way down the web then the only element that would resist bending is the flat plate forming the bottom of the "ɪ"

They probably paid a king's ransom for that diagnostics kit. Got to get as much use out of it as they can.

Am I reading this wrong or is the problem that the frame is built on an un-insulated concrete slab?

Fair enough. I think that what we really need is a more dynamic interaction between production and consumption so we can achieve a distributed network of microgenerators (i.e. resurrect the fits scheme such that it becomes more economically viable to have rooftop solar). Anything that detracts from the widespread adoption of the smart meters necessary for this is a concern to me.

EDF no doubt promote this as a way of helping you understand your energy usage, and that could be beneficial to you. But you are clearly taken aback by the level of detail they appear to have about your household. Did they communicate with you in advance about the level of monitoring that would be performed and the way in which they would inform you about it?

Got anything against using a smartphone adapter version like the Flir One? Not quite the resolution of the Pro versions but still pretty effective...

I've been beating myself up on this exact same mistake. But we were being slate roofed in 2019 and we had a hell of a time getting a competent contractor, scaf. and materials organised as it was. To throw another half-dozen variables into the mix just seemed a bridge too far when the gains from PV were so much less tangible.

It's a classic application of Machine Learning (AI). Supplier can 'train' an AI with the profile of typical appliances as every class of load has a particular usage pattern/wattage. These appear as deltas on the overal consumption so can be 'teased out' individually when enough readings over time are available. There's a branch of forensics that specialises in this kind of analysis so 'big brother' has a very sneaky way of keeping an eye on us through our 'smart meters'. Actually the first example I'm aware of dates back to the cold-war era East Germany where the Staatssicherheitsdienst used peoples electricity meters to infer behaviour.

I would look into getting a length of 150 x 90 PFC cut/rolled/shut into a 1/4 ring beam to link 9 to 11/12 junction.

Paint the wall light grey and get a projector 😁

Would you say that for flat roofs as well?

Looks like we're going to chicken-out and get it installed... ~£4k for a 3kWp system, no battery. Looking at PVGIS and Solcast I predict we can self-consume the lot with a few automated 'smarts'. I have however been accumulating a small collection of panels and inverters over the last few years so there's always scope for a future 'garden project' to augment our overall generation capacity. I would add that this would be directed towards off-grid applications. Out of all the documents I scraped to read-up on PV installations I found guidlines for solar pv system installation for solar providers to be most practically useful - aside the fact that it originates from Sri Lanka 😄

It may be that you can pinpoint the end of a clay pipe that used to lead to the stream, probably less than 1m or so depending on how it originally terminated. I'd start by estimating the 'epicenter' of the flooded area and have a dig. If you can find a pipe (it often runs in short, disjointed sections) you may be able to trench it out to your rainwater system.

Looks like it goes up to the bottom edge of the ridge tiles? if that's OK then I can fit three 1690mm tall panels vertically and leave 230mm at the bottom so rain doesn't overshoot the guttering. Loads of room to the sides. That's why I was interested, thanks. That would have been an excellent idea but the garage has a room-in-roof conversion so the ceiling is in the way.

To continue the issue surrounding safety of installation, another approach is to use microinverters attached to the racking beneath the modules. The direct plug & play nature of these eliminates high DC voltages and anti-islanding makes the AC output harmless until such time as finally connected to the consumer unit via the AC isolator. While offering other advantages, such as minimising losses through partial shading, the worry for me would be maintenance should an inverter need replacing.

Incidentally @Nickfromwales, after reading this other topic, I'd be interested in knowing what kind of margins you would expect to see? The "mcs certified" website has a guide book that says: A reading of BS EN 1991-1 is not a trivial undertaking, I can't see any installer working though this so I'm guessing there's a 'rule of thumb' applied in the field.

Of course it's would be a bad idea to crimp a live cable carrying over 48V DC. That's obviously why you don't do it. Nor do you have to given that panels are terminated in gendered MC4 connectors. Any extension cables can be prepared disconnected and finally connected in the safe manner that they are designed to be. This is all very obvious so I guess you're just emphasising the potential dangers if insufficient supervision or understanding is employed. IMO Your observation in no way means DIY installation should not be undertaken.

😄 I can't help thinking the exact opposite; that clicking in a daisy chain of MC4's and tie-wrapping some cables down towards the eaves would be well within the capabilities of a roofer - while locating rafters, lifting and cutting slates and replacing with a flashing kit might be a bit of a stretch for an electrician. A single string with polarised connectors surely is a total no-brainer? More importantly, what exactly can go wrong if the cables are secured and kept off the slates? If it wasn't for the steep (50 deg.) roof and a few other impediments, I'd be up there like a rat up a drainpipe. If you don't mind me asking, what were the forms you completed and where did you send them? Ah, the fradulent approach 😁 While always a temptation the aim of this topic is to establish a 100% legal approach to DIY solar installation. To me, the regulatory issues around installing solar kit seem like a little bit of overkill. I view it like any other electronic equipment I own, such as Welders, compressors, Laser cutters and so on. These all make a connection to the grid which, depending on how you view it, is protected by the DNO's 100A fuse. Now admittedly, when feeding current into the grid then yes - it shouldn't be allowed for any old rubbish to push back in. But this is the point of type-approval. If the equipment injecting that current is type-approved, then however it is fed (i.e. the PV array) is inconsequential. However, I appreciate that there are other hazards presented by power generating devices. Much like having a bunch of Lions lounging on your roof, it can hurt if provoked. Aside form the hazards presented to the property owner, visiting emergency services must be able to operate safely and hence isolate the panels in an emergency. So certain standards must be adhered to (as set out by the ENA) and some level of enforcement must be expected. This doesn't need to be prohibitive and can well be covered by part P which is all about electrical safety. So my question now becomes 'do all solar PV installations need to be performed by MCS accredited installers?' Googling that exact phrase is eerily like a response from the ministry of (mis)information... heavy promotion by bodies with vested interests in the 'scheme'. I can't seem to get a straight answer to this reasonable sounding question.

Given that we run an electronics workshop and music studio from home and therefore have a base load of well over 1kW during the day, it's long been an ambition to get a PV array on the workshop roof. Unfortunately just as I was pulling the trigger world events intervened sending half the country (or so it seems) flocking to the doors of PV installers. I'm having trouble just getting them to pick up a phone. When I do get a answered, I'm not hearing things I'm happy to settle with. In the topic I started about AC cable length it was suggested that I find myself a roofer and get them to fit modules (a task I'm physically unable to do myself). But what are the regulatory hurdles that need to be overcome to do this anyway? Anyone should be able to buy the components - modules, inverter, racking, isolators and cable and do a mechanical install. A Part P electrician can install a new circuit and connect up the system. If the system is under 3.68kW it does not need a generation licence. The G98 application form is available on the energy network association website which also has connection guidance for G98 The form however asks for Installer Accreditation / Qualification which sounds like the first hurdle. This presumably means MCS accreditation. The MCS website hosts a Guide to the Installation of Photovoltaic Systems which is not very informative in this regard. Another aspect seems to be the structural implications and possibly the involvement of building control. There are companies who will do a Desk Top Structural Roof Appraisal for around £100 if you fill in a survey form. This should keep BC happy and go some way to legitimising the installation but if the objective is simply to use all the generation you can and not expect payment for what you export, but is this enough?

That's just awful. Thank the Daily Mail for most of that.

Interesting, has any reason been given for the sand/cement one? I hope you can share the results of the air tests!

Wealth is made by moving assets from lower to higher value uses The longer people have been doing this then perhaps the more they might deserve state benefits. Dunno. But yes, if there are benefits that people are entitled to then I'm all for them being claimed.

Yes, and it's as clear as mud. Still, this is one of those times when being over 60 actually pays off 😉 Wealth as in assets or cash?

Oh, no problem. in that case I may start it later.

UK Gov. Tax on shopping and services VAT on energy-saving products. If you’re eligible, you’ll pay a reduced rate of VAT (5%) when certain energy-saving products are installed in your home.