Can anybody help with some impartial advice on solar panels? Please?

[PacificDogwood]

I have now sat through to sales people's pitches.
If I never have to hear the word 'warranty' and 'feed in tarrif' again, it'll be soon enough.

What I would like is some technical date, what make of solar panels to they use, where do they come from, what it their output, how much do they degrade over time etc etc?
All I got was sales waffle and promises of a 'cash back' card and £250 if I recommended them to my friends and family. Oh, and that it would cost £10.000, but for me, me being special an'all, they could do it for £8.000 and if we paid outright for £6.999. But if I wanted to discuss it with my husband first, that was fine

I have some questions about fitting the frames to our lead-covered flat roof and how that can remain waterproof once they drill great big holes in to my roof.
I would like to know that those 'buckets' are all about - no drilling, but ballast required to held them down. What's that all about? Does that actually work and does not get air-born in 60mph winds as we get them here from time to time??

I would really love to hear from somebody with a bit of technical or installing knowledge of this. We are 'sold' on the idea of solar panels (mainly to make us less dependent on energy companies, not so much as a 'get rich quick scheme'), but need to decide which company to go with and so far I am NOT filled with confidence.

TIA.

Anybody?

Nobody?

Should one pay extra money to get 300W panels? Does it really matter if the max. 'allowed' output for a domestic set-up is 4KW?

Does the brand of solar panel matter?

Are they self-cleaning?

I am not a solar installer.

AFAIK it doesn't matter if you have ten panels at 240W or 12 panels at 200W, as long as the total Peak output is as equally high. The dimensions of your roof might mean that one size fits better than another. Output per size has tended to increase over the years as the panels get more efficient.

The surface is glass and rain tends to wash them. Depending on dirtiness of the air where you live some people say it is worth having a windowcleaner with a purified water and long pole system wash them every couple of years.

The panels work best if angled at about 40 degrees. If you have a flat roof you might need frames to prop them up. I have never seen that on a house.

IMO you had better have any roof repairs or renewal done before panels are fitted, because it will be a lot more difficult and expensive afterwards, and the panels will (should) be in place for 20 years. If you use a smallish local company I think you have more chance of coordinating the scaffolders and roofers than if you use a national company or a utility company.

If you haven't already done it, log into one of the calculators and put in your location, orientation of panels etc. The return drops quite noticeably as you move away from the south coast.

Panasonic, LG and I think Samsung are large and reputable makers.

re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/apps4/pvest.php#

re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/

Where are you based? In Scotland there's a green homes network where you can see case studies of people that have had them fitted and visit the houses and speak to the householders. Energy saving trust also have advisors that can discuss things with you although because they're impartial they can't recommend particular brands etc

We had some installed a few months back. No stupidly over the top sales pitch and everything was explained properly. I don't have the details at hand right now (DH filed the paperwork) but I can find it for you later.
Not ridiculously expensive, and we've been able to use a reasonable amount of the electricity we've produced so far.

PigletJohn!!

Thank you for answering

Yes, we had arrived at that conclusion: overall power output more important than number of panels.

Our flat roofs (dormers) are relatively new (7 years-ish) and lead-covered.

I have concerns about how they would be made water-proof is frames for solar panels were bolted in to them.
Otoh, these are the buckets one of the installers was talking about. They just stand on the roof (no fixings).

Most local installers seems to be funded by drug-money. Allegedly. Or so rumour has it…

I have seen calculations for our area (Scotland, less sun, but more daylight hours) and it does seem worth it after a few years. Also, I like the idea of being less dependent on whatever utility companies get up to

Oh, thank you, you two too

Interesting about the green homes network - I will have a look. Thanks.

Mrs, any info gratefully received, thank you.

Pacific I have heard that if you have solar panels there can be issues if you come to sell your house. I've done a quick google on 'solar panels & selling house and there can be problems. Worth having a look.

PS Solar panels? In Scotland? I thought the sun never shone that far North!!

This chap is near us and he seems to have generating just fine (as an aside: amazing website! "Grandchildren and Irish Setters" is worth a look).

magi, solar panels on the Outer Hebrides, I have you know
It's daylight, not warmth, you need for them to work.

Oh, re selling.
I am never, ever selling this house.
Well, I might when I move to sheltered housing in my dotage

Pacific - I thought you got no daylight from Nov - March?

Watch out for "dotage" - it can creep up on one before you know it!!!

These are our calculations as per the site linked to by PigletJohn.
Kind of in keeping with what we've been told.

Pacific, that link doesn't work

We have an appointment booked for Monday for solar panel people to measure up my roof for this. We are in a house on a SE/NW axis in Leeds. My roof is a funny shape so we are unsure what parts of it they can use. Hence why I need the professionals to tell me.

Having searched MN for this information yesterday, I came across this thread and a poster named Liara has them and gives some advice on what you should ask.

You may find it helpful.

Does this work?

Thanks for the link to that thread.

My impression is that the 'first contact' from these firms is a sales person, rather than a technical person IYKWIM. To be fair, I was much more impressed by the first guy than the second who smelt of stale alcohol and knew nothing other than his sales pitch.
Good luck - I hope your appointment goes well.

Sorry, no link does not work.
I suspect you just have to do your own calculations and use the link PigletJohn posted.

Thanks, I have been on lots of websites and YouTube to look at installations and where they site all the equipment etc but I definitely need more info on my roof to fill in the links from PigletJohn.

I have a normal bit of roof and then an apex like this /\ so I don't know if I can use the side of the / as well as the normal roof which would double our available space.

I am prepared with a checklist from Which and will compile a list of questions to vet the knowledge of the "assessor" who is coming

We are in East Anglia, got our panels maybe 5 yrs ago, they have outperformed their factory specs for energy generated. We got a big brand name (not cheaper Chinese equivalents).

Panels have under performed in terms of how much of they electricity we use from what they generate (this is a very common experience). They only generate anything noticeable on truly sunny days, but can generate a fair whack per hour even in winter.

The amount of subsidy you get is what determines whether they are economical.

Do not be afraid to play hardball with the installers. Polite, Firm but demanding and no signing until you have read everything carefully. They have generous margins they can shave off to cut the price for you.

Sunny will get you ten times as much as cloudy, even if it seems bright with light cloud.

Low sun (an hour or two from dawn or dusk) might be 50% of peak output.

We haven't got them, but our next door neighbours have them, both on their main roof and on a flat roof, with supports underneath to angle the panels. They haven't had any problems. Did you know Ikea do solar panels now? They seem pretty cheap.

Hanergy supply the IKEA panels and may be in trouble.
Also, I have been warned off Chinese products in terms of degradation and warranty issues, should any arise.

I have no idea who or what information to trust tbh , but do want to go ahead with it. Sigh.

More Hanergy news

And it bugs me no end, that on the IKEA site there's no actual data or facts to be had.
All about the sales: the money you'll make/save, happy families, lovely photos. I am well past that - gimme some facts

After I typed that I read up a bit on the Ikea ones and you will basically need twice as many as most other panels. So it isn't as cheap as it appears, which is a bit of a shame.