Quote check (not GE kit)

So not strictly GE related, though will attach to my AC3 etc and you are all wonderful solar people so who better to ask?

So my 3rd home PV system, garage roof 190 degree facing so almost perfectly south!
6x 415w trina vertex s all black panels 2.49kw total
solis mini s6 2500
fastensol roof mounting system
new fuse board in the garage
cabling back to AC3 unit or lora device
paperwork etc
£3300
Norfolk area

At first I thought this was a little expensive, but after another 2 quotes came back at just over £3600 I am wondering if it actually good.

Thoughts? About right? Roof size is 6.8m x 2.5m. I did look for 500w panels but the smallest I found would total 6.8m which is a no no. Found some 460w which fit but then need a 3kw inverter and not sure the extra cost is worth the extra 270w

THALL Can't comment on the price but ... How long before you say to yourself that you should have installed another battery? Would it be worth considering a HY3.6? Even if you didn't want to put a battery in yet, it'd give you an easy upgrade path and increase your off-peak charging capability.

Tim While that is a lovely idea, the GivEnergy inverters are £1000 more and the solis mini S6 that has been spec'd. BUT expanding on that idea would open the possibility to simply have one of my batteries moved off my AC3 and benefit from higher battery charge/discharge. Has a dual system of an AC3 and HY inverter been done before? I am wondering how it would all load balance? I might hope on the givenergy chat and ask!

EDIT: asked GE on chat, GE say no. Can't have an AC3 and Hybrid with a battery on each in the same house, the logic is not there and basically each battery system would fight each other.

THALL Can't have an AC3 and Hybrid with a battery on each in the same house, the logic is not there and basically each battery system would fight each other.

Good to know they have a stance on this but cannot fathom the rationale. If you were to use another manufacturer's hybrid, would they fight? The AC-3 minimises grid import/export by diverting surplus to battery and feeding house load from battery. The hybrid does the same. They wouldn't be connected other than at 240V. This is an illustration of my puzzlement but if that's the Givenergy position, then that's that. I do feel for you; you want to buy their kit but they keep saying that what you want to do can't be done!

Tim I was then pondering this too. I am wondering if this is purely a dashboard issue, I asked if I could have 2 dashboards they said no. In my head the system would look like this

New 2.49kw pv (PV3)
HY 3.6 inverter
9.5kw battery attached

AC3 monitoring PV1 and 2.
8.2 kw battery attached

(PV1) 8kw solis inverter 6.64kw panels

(PV2) 5kw solis inverter 4.68kw panels

The AC3 would not see the new PV3 system at all. It is a nice idea.

THALL I'm sure other people on here have said a combo of hybrid and AC3 is fine.

But I guess if it all goes wrong, might get no support off GE cuz they said don't do it!

Have you considered the Sunsynk 3.6 Hybrid.

As I understand will take upto 7kw Pv Panels and has 2 AC outputs allowing you to pass directly to the GE AC unit and/or you can install batteries direct to the Sunsynk at a later date.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtgB2wqyOWs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Ld-CZN7po

TX200 Double checked with my installer and he says no too. So the official line is you can not mix and match. Either all hybrids or all AC.

So back to the original plan. Merage 2 pv's onto 1 ct clamp/meter and the new pv on its own. Or some combination there of.

dragon2905 Not looked and until Tim mentioned more batteries I had not considered other setups as part of adding a 3rd pv array. Only considering this for investment reasons. Pure greed. So adding complexity is not on the want list.

Looks like abou5 £1100 for the Sunsynk Hybrid available from multiple online retailers so presumably less from wholesaler to trade.

If its any help Segen have an offer on where you can get a free G1 inverter with Givenergy Battery (think it's an 8.2)
Trying to clear old stock.

hoggy wholesale only and need a login? If an AC3 and HY combo was an option I would happily look at all options. Though 17.7kwh of batteries got me through this winter. A second AC3 is still on my want list however.

TX200 it’s a shame Ge don’t support it. Seems odd! I was considering doing the same.

Boffinboy This would of been a good win for me if they did support it. i don't understand why it is not possible but my installer is going to explain why when he comes to survey for my install. But if this had worked it would of saved me the cost of a second AC3 and got slightly higher battery power! Only charging a battery on the 2.5kw array would of been my only down side i think. But as I said I don't understand it.

THALL indeed! Aren’t there issues with dual AC3 at the moment too?

Boffinboy there issues with dual givenergy inverters full stop. Doesn't seem to affect everyone though, but issues are cross charging battery to battery and data issues. There is a new device called a EMS coming out to sort these issues. But the product keeps getting delayed. I expect the current delay is due to the new firmwares which means changes to the firmware on the EMS. Hopefully will appear later this year!

I have just ordered this new 2.5kw pv install. June 9th install. Happy days!

THALL enjoy the expanded capacity! Would be cool to get this EMS. Over time I’d love a second battery, but doesn’t make much sense with the charge rate

Boffinboy I do have 2 batteries and a single AC3. While the AC3 does not meet the house load my bills are very small. Highest bill over winter was £111 I was on Intelligent, 100% electric house and an EV.

New PV setup will be
6.76kw 100 degree East facing 8kw solis inverter
4.62kw 280 degree West facing 5kw solis inverter
NEW ARRAY 2.55kw 190 degree South facing 2.5kw solis inverter

The south facing will really help in the winter. I have no more roof space left after this install though 😃

THALL what a fantastic setup! My only suitable roofs left are NW and would fit about 3kWp. I am still considering it if I can get the right price as it would extend in to the evening and actually be quite attractive with Flux. I currently use E7 as no EV, but am a high electricity user. The 9.5 and AC3 have significantly reduced cost as I can shift most usage to E7.

Boffinboy Do you know what angle NW? I am currently on Flux and so far it is doing really well, but with an expected price drop this June I am wondering what will happen to the export price. Intelligent is back down to 7.5p for 6 hours, go down to 9.5p for 4 hours. But this new array is purely greed based. I was looking at Ripple and decided more home PV works out better.

THALL my other array is 30-40 degrees East of South, I think, so I guess 180ish from that - pretty much terrible! But PVGIS thinks I’d still get over 50% of the generation (bad in winter, obviously, though) and seeing the sun on the roofs in the afternoon is bugging me! Generation would come at a time of day where I can make good usage, even if energy prices are significantly reduced. I had looked at Ripple but it’s not attractive as it’s taxable and return period very long. Probably I won’t end up doing it, but if I could get a well priced install I might. I also have some smaller roof surfaces that face in better directions I am comparing to

Boffinboy My new install is actually going on my garage roof :-) Which weirdly is nearly perfectly south facing vs my house which is east west. So even a 2.5kw array should do well. The sun just needs to get higher than the surround houses to hit the panels.