Recent content by novelsmike

At last another metallurgist gives us a complete answer on the materials issue. Mind you, my degree was in 1970 so not exactly up with all things metallurgical!

Well, my system cost 10.9K plus another 1K for bird protection. 16 panels, 3 x 3.3 batteries, inverter etc. This seems to be the going rate. Just make sure your supplier is MCS certified.

Well, my installation cost about £10K. 16 panels, 10Kwt battery storage, inverter etc installed. I have two EVs but I just plug into the mains and charge overnight at the cheap rate times. There are various Octopus tariffs available targeted at EV households (e.g Octopus GO) and panel/battery...

Export can be with another company

I don’t know what is best yet myself. I started with Octopus GO. But I was interested in getting at least something for exporting to the grid (I have exported 400 KwH so far since February). To do that you have to go to Agile. Agile is more expensive than GO for early hours usage (I have two...

Correct. You have to on Agile Octopus

Outgoing Octopus pays 15p per KwH

Definitely get batteries. You use cheaper electricity at night (Octopus GO or Agile Octopus for example or if you have Economy 7) to charge up the batteries (usually to about 80% in the summer to allow some space for panel generation). You charge them too during the day through the panels. My...

If you have a Natwest business account you can get the accounting software FreeAgent for nothing. No monthly fee and it does everything including VAT, HMRC payroll returns, invoicing, expenses etc. However you will still need (I think) to have an accountant do the yearly financial statement.

Yes I charge at night too. My installer suggested I set the system so it charges to 80% in the summer to allow the panels to export to the batteries. I was on Octopus GO but switched to Octopus Agile as their rates almost halved on the 11th April. This has low rates up to 5am but you avoid using...

Our clamps never worked despite several attempts by the installer. Replaced with a ‘more accurate’ unit. Works fine now.

Hi everyone I have a Growatt system. In the server settings How do you set it to allow the batteries to be discharged to say 5%? I have tried a couple of ways and saved them but it always stops at 10%

Thanks Figrol. I pay 12p for my cheap rate electricity which I use for my EVs and also to charge up my batteries. I will investigate SEG.

Hi Everyone. I have a Growatt inverter connected to 16 panels. I am with Octopus and the Octopus Go tariff. This is good for me as I have Economy 7 night rate available to me. On sunny days my batteries fill up and I export power to the grid. I get nothing for this. The other Octopus Outgoing...

Thanks