markharro

Still struggling to get my head around PV plans not made any easier by absolute failure to engage with any installers at the moment - they all seem too busy. This and the clock ticking down to finalising our BW application. I remain keen to fit around 11/12 Kw to maximise our roof space real estate as I am only going to get one chance to do this if using inset GSE trays to fit. That is also a convenient number for a pallet purchase. The problem however is in knowing that I can safely plan to make use of these on single phase (I think I have been convinced out of 3 phase and in any event have no idea how much it would be to get a 3 phase connnection)? Is there an export limited inverter that would deal with this size of array that would satisfy the DNO? And if so, does that mean that I can be guaranteed that I can plan for this size of instal with a G98 going in afterwards to advise the DNO? And on the separate issue of MCS instal or not, perhaps @AliG can comment on this, if not getting an MCS instal does that mean that you can't qualify for the Octopus Tesla package? What are the other implications? Is it only that you wont get paid for any export - if so I cant see this being a problem for me unless there was a serious rise in the price paid for export in the future. Also @AliG could you recommend your installer and if so provide me with their details? thanks

Air source pump supply/install. Solar Panel supply/install Same for me for these two as well.

I can't afford a designer and am having to research it myself. Any top tips you are able to share from your scheme? thanks

Thanks - I dont disagree that there needs to be control. My point is that the DNOs should be forced by legislation to make the process much easier for residential punters like me and also scrap all fees.

I can't believe how much hassle this is. I don't have the budget for a specialist to make these applications for me and I doubt I would have a clue how to fill in the forms myself. To summarise, if I want to put a standard system on my roof of up to 3.68 then I still need this G98 permission? I thought there was no admin involved with that at all!? anything above that if I want to export back unpaid (because it wont be MCS installed) I need to make this G99 application? If I want to export limit, then I need a G99 and G100? This is ludicrous for a residential punter. I simply want to have a >3.68 system to use my whole roof capacity and not waste the generation potential and the DNOs should be forced to accommodate this it really makes me fume. Btw I have already contacted the Scottish Gov and our DNO to complain about the process/fees involved in a supposed age of climate change but to no avail.

One of our preferred suppliers of passive house triple glazed windows doesnt offer installation in Scotland. Can anyone recommend a local contractor for fitting only? thanks

Thanks Alastair, I must have been forgetting the MCS requirement to be paid for export. Ok so I need to factor in getting £0 for any export as I am not paying a premium for a MCS instal. I would rather wait to see if policy changes and becomes more enlightened over time. So back to the 1/3 phase thing. There are extra costs with 3 phase which I can't determine right now. If I ignore exporting then I think I am right that I can have a 20kw array for instance on single phase without any DNO permissions as long as I have an export limitation on the inverter? If this is correct then am I also right in thinking that if I was generating at full capacity on a sunny day AND I had sufficient load connected to self use the entire generation then I could theoretically use all the generation? It is only if I cant which I guess would happen frequently that the system would throttle to avoid export? If I am right so far then is the only real benefit of 3 phase for me the faster charging speed for an EV? And given that we don't drive every day maybe it would still top up enough over a few days to do a lot of its charging from the PV? I hear what you say about Octopus tariffs but I would rather not rely on these as they could easily change over time....I am much more focused on how I can minimise my draw from the grid whether this is during the day or overnight.

This topic is of interest to me. We have single phase atm but we plan to demolish and rebuild so presumably the cost to re-connect with 3 phase wouldn't be much more than single? We have roof space for a 11kw plus array. I dont want the hassle/cost of getting permission to instal over 3.68 and had planned therefore to get an export limiting inverter and stick with single phase. But I then wondered if I could easily unlock the whole 11.04 by upgrading to 3 phase. The incentive would be to allow fast daytime charging for our electric car and not "waste" our export potential although do we get paid for this without a MCS instal? Anyway, having read this thread I suspect that there are other issues/costs I am blind to eg it seems if you use a 3 phase inverter you need permission? As @AliG said (hello btw) you can use 3 x single phase inverters and avoid this issue but I guess the cost of 3 of these inverters will be a lot more than one single phase inverter? Are there any other cost issues or complications with a 3 phase domestic instal that I am ignorant about? I dont have a lot of technical knowledge in this area so it would be great to get a simple overview. thanks

?What about FC with slight gaps on purpose and a feature made of screws and leave the wall that way. Any visual examples of this sort of thing?

Hi we are in Edinburgh and after a 2.5 yr battle finally got planning last month to demolish our existing house and build a new passive house. Now its a frantic rush to get a BW and sort out all the other 101 things to allow us to get the slab down before the Autumn frosts. A number of factors have conspired to persuade me that I will project manage and dispense with a main contractor. I think I'd read somewhere that it was a good idea to incorporate a company if doing this and wondered if anyone could comment on this? Presumably to protect in case of a contractual fall-out with a contractor but any other reason for this? eg VAT reclaim? thanks

When is this (Westminster) gov going to do anything as progressive as that! You are right though and I am learning the hard way. We have just got planning for our passivhaus build and I had hoped to aim for PH+ which requires a solar PV array much bigger than the 3.68 max without permission. Our new roof will have space for in excess of 40 panels so my thinking had been for something like a 14-16kw array. But then I started to do some reading and now understand this DNO permissions stuff where we have to pay (Scottish Power) around £600 for them to tell us if we can connect this or not. There should be no fee for this and on top of that the DNO should be forced to accommodate. Now it looks like I will be forced to cut back to 3.68 or else something a bit higher with the export throttle thing - whatever it is simply a waste of potential. On a connected topic, can anyone recommend a good general electrician in the Edinburgh area who could wire a system if I fitted it to the roof first? thanks

I have a similar enquiry - I am thinking of a compost toilet - you can get a kit here to make one yourself for a few £100 - https://trobolo.com/gb/composting-toilet-inserts/ I would put it in a shed we already have. The thing is a quick look at hire sites for proper chemical portable toilets and you see talk of compliance with HSE regs. Would a compost toilet and alcohol gel to clean hands be a problem in that regard? thanks

Thanks - I had thought though that they were suggesting that this was a new class of product?

Anyone seen this and can comment on whether it might be a viable/cheaper source for ventilation and hot water in a passive house build? https://ventive.co.uk/products/home/

I too am thinking about a self instal in due course. I have caught a whiff of chat of rising PV panel prices coming later this year......is there an argument to buy now even though I wouldn't instal for at least a year? We will have lots of roof space so any tips of sourcing cheap/second hand lower wattage panels? thanks.

Thanks for this - Nordvest and Norrsken are new to me. I've have actually just found another source - Katzbeck from https://www.phstore.co.uk/katzbeck-windows-and-doors Anyone know about them or used them? thanks

Some good food for thought here. Prob ditch the spa tub idea. On the shower jet idea, presumably there are the same issues - wiring and a pump? Would there not be a major issues with accessing a pump however if/when it broke?

This will be on the first floor of our new house. Its not a huge space but enough for a bath and decent sized shower and WC and basin. We are hoping to get planning permission imminently and I am just applying my mind to the building warrant process and in particular what we need to think about asking the architect to include in terms of - plumbing/electrics/flooring etc. What thoughts we have had so far have centred on the following - we will prob end up fitting a "normal" bath but if we wanted the option for something with jets then presumably we would need to cater for relevant wiring for this? What about extra plumbing requirements? Similar for shower - presumably one with horizontal jets would require a pump and wiring to power? WC - my other half is keen on one with the built in washer - so presumably more plumbing and electricity? What about storage without making the space feel too cluttered? I think a wet room is possible on a first floor but does this need to be factored in at building warrant stage? How feasible is it to plan to instal standard cheap/2nd hand items of sanitary ware initially but have the option to upgrade these in time once the budget allows to the type of item I have listed? Can you plumb and wire for the stuff on the wish list and future proof in this way or will that raise issues? thanks

Apart from Green Building Store, Internorm and Rationel can anyone recommend any other suppliers of triple glazed PH rated windows? Ideally you have installed yourself and can speak from experience in terms of dealing with the company/cost etc? Thanks I should say that I am particularly interested in any Lift and Slide doors that have low profile frames but are still passive rated. For standard windows this is less of an issue. Also any tips on PH rated entrance doors would be useful thanks.

Update - it was an airlock.....attempts to blow this through with the cold feed in the bathroom failed miserably. I then remember that we only have mains pressure in the kitchen so tried there and not only managed to avoid soaking myself but cleared the block after a couple of tries.....thats a relief.

Thanks - tried this with the bath mixer but not getting any noise at all and no progress. Would putting the immersion on and heating the water help in any way?

Hello again...right i drained both tanks and siliconed the leak and then have refilled the attic tank. The cold taps in the bathroom now flow but nothing but minor dribbles from the hot tap. So next question - does this mean the hot tank is not yet filled? If so, how do I ensure it fills? Or is it maybe because I haven't turned the immersion on yet? I expect it is yet another basic numpty thing I am missing but it is kind of annoying as I really need a shower!

Ah ok got you on that. I opened the valve and there is water moving but I suspect that I need also turn off the valve from the main tank in the attic or all that will happen is that it will keep refilling the hot tank!?

Thanks Dave and excuse my ignorance again but if you are right and this is a drain valve do I just need to open that and then the hot water tank will empty without opening any sink taps etc?

Sorry thought I was finished but one more thing - The LSX stuff says to drain the tank before applying. So next question - how to cut off the cold feed to the tank. I Have attached a photo circling what I think is the valve I need to shut off but confirmation would be welcome? thanks