new install

A question about : new install

had an install today...ended up with

3.78kw system

trina 270w mono panels x 14

sma sunnyboy 4000tl

panels are split across 2 strings....

10 on main roof

4 on lower grd floor extension

no shading issues

south facing roof....liverpool

includes a geo monitor.....still to receive and set up

yet to figure out how to set up the inverter portal for the web portal

install finished about 2 today....miserable, wet and cloudy

generating meter show just under half a kw?

any ideas what i should be looking at, generation wise, across each string on a middling generating day

will look to post a pic if i can figure out how

cheers

Best answers:

• Can I ask how you got on eventually? Did you manage to get any recommendations at all? Or did you go door knocking as was suggested?
  If you put your details into this site https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/apps4/pvest.php you'll be able to get an idea of what you should be looking at generating(sunny day figures)
• i did get a few recommendations.....went with TP Solar in the end...
  door knocking.....resulted in.....our installers no longer in business....
  will look to update further out system performs and post pic (if i can)
  cheers
  af
• Are all the panels south facing? I pinned Liverpool and with a 35 degree roof your combined generation(both strings) comes in around 3500kWh a year(give or take 100). If you post your figures on the generation thread(in our slang O's if you understand them) you'll soon get an idea of how your system is fairing up against similar systems all around the country.
• pretty much south...main roof is about ....10 panels approx 35 degree...other 4 are about 20 degree...looked at that website....if i get 3500kwh i will be pleased....
  will post the O's as I get them in
  cheers
  af
• In the other thread you mention sun from 10am. Is that Winter or Summer?
  Either way, that's a couple (or more) hours generation lost from a system that may get sun from dawn to dusk.
  In summer my panels usually kick in about 7am, but more like 9am in Winter thanks to a hill to the east.
• think 10ish in the winter....perhaps 9 or a bit earlier in the summer
  no doubt i will watching the times more closely in the future!!
  ummm...starting to doubt myself lol
  cheers
• The fun times come when you get that GEO monitor... you won't be able to take your eyes off it for a while
• yes ...it is addictive
  inverter kicked in at 7.45 this morning...
  the monitor on the inverter is showing 1.3kw total for the day up til now
  current wattage generated shows as 765w
  so thinking that is not too bad....but will see what the days closes out at
• registered for fit, first utility really quick to respond...emailed to ask for another generation meter reading...
  later..got a 2nd email as below....
  Your electricity meter is one that is known to the industry to not conform with the export of energy created by solar panels. We have arranged for our metering department to contact you to arrange for an engineer to come and exchange your electricity meter for one which is compatible to the export of electricity which you generate from your solar panels. There is no cost incurred for this.
  Please see the link below which explains why we need to exchange your meter:-
  https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publi...generation.pdf
  the meter i have is not running backwards and seems to log imported without a prob...
  do i have a choice in the matter?
  not so keen on smart meters if that is their intention
  if no fault/problem with the meter i have, would sooner leave as is
  cheers
  af
• pretty sure generated stuff is not getting added on
  can you request they just test it and if no issues just leave as is
  not sure why, but just trusting with the smart meter program
  will ask them and see what they come back with
  cheers
  af
• As you have the SMA inverter you should be able to access it using SMA's Sunny Explorer over Bluetooth. If you have, or retrofit, the Speedwire module inside the inverter you can access over Ethernet and using Sunny Portal and Sunny Places over the www.
• had a reply from first utility....meter would not be a smart meter..i can elect to refuse but if ongoing readings are less than the previous they will refuse to bill by reading and produce estimated bills
  not sure what i will do.....will keep an eye on the meter for suspect changes in readings...if none....may stay as is
  cheers
  af
• I would read that as meaning they will reject an actual meter reading that is lower than the previous one (which would imply the meter had been going backwards) rather than rejecting it if your consumption goes down.