Solar panels

[BigTom]

I think my main concern about having panels on both slopes would be whether there would actually be a carbon or financial saving on them (or how long they would need to be in use for in order for that to happen).

I'll be doing the insulating job this autumn so I'll post back here in the winter to let you know if/what kind of difference it has made.. insulated coving isn't something I'd thought about, thanks for that fs

 

[free spirit]

Wow FS that course would cost me about 8 grand! I may be able to afford it somehow, do you know anyone who's done it?

yeah the full renewable energy engineer one's well expensive, but I'm looking at doing it in bits, and not doing the plumbing part - which is what costs the most.

I'm sure the solar thermal, and unvented systems bit are more like a few hundred quid, which'd be the first bit's to do... though you probably would need to do the energy efficiency one too, that's also only a low few hundred. You could probably get away without doing the part p electrics for a couple of installs if only doing solar thermal providing you never needed to wire the control panel in from very far away and could just us a 13 amp plug socket... or just get a sparky mate to come in and do any wiring up for you.

It's the cheapest place I've found for the individual component bits, the full course though is made expensive because it includes a full plumbing course.

 

[Bingo]

Phew so the plumbing course isn't strictly necessary.

The thing about the full whack is the placement and it hints at further work tho, thats what was tempting me...

 

[WouldBe]

yeah the full renewable energy engineer one's well expensive, but I'm looking at doing it in bits, and not doing the plumbing part - which is what costs the most.

Plumbing is easy. I've re-plumbed all my house including the gas just got the gas checked by a plumber before turning the gas back on.

Fortunately gas doesn't come into solar.

 

[free spirit]

Phew so the plumbing course isn't strictly necessary.

The thing about the full whack is the placement and it hints at further work tho, thats what was tempting me...

this is what I'm hoping, and the way I've read it.

I think it does depend though on your experience - if you're a competent but non qualified plumber then I'd have thought you'd be fine, if you've never so much as fixed a leak in a pipe, then you'd probably need to do the full course.

the placement and likelihood of further work are definate plusses for the course, but it depends how you want to play it - I'm looking at self employed, so it's not of massive relevance to me. I also have a degree in environmental managment and have done courses in wind and solar installation, and worked with small scale renewable energy systems a fair amount over the last 10 years - if I didn't have all this I may well be more tempted by the full course, and I'd say if you did the full course it'd basically guarantee you work (you'd be a qualified plumber as well as renewable energy engineer, so could always do the odd plumbing job if the renewable energy work was slow).

 

[MikeMcc]

A 3 way central heating valve from Wickes is only £50

Aye, but you've still got two sets of panels, only one of which can be used at a time!

 

[WouldBe]

Aye, but you've still got two sets of panels, only one of which can be used at a time!

I've got an East/West facing roof so for most of the time only one panel will be in the sun. But the three way valve does have a midway position so you could use both in parallel in the middle of the day.

 

[Bingo]

Sounds a bit complicated!

FS, yeah unfortunately my plumbing leaves a lot to be desired!

Just been thinking, since the VAT on the full course is such a lot, I'd probably be best off setting up my own company just to get the reduced rate, yeah?

 

[shorety]

We want to put one on our house, possibly for a hot water type system.

Anyone got any good links for general info (i know nothing, basically) and prices/companies who fit them?

We had solar hot water system fitted in our house last year. We used these guys http://www.markgroup.co.uk/

Not sure if it still applies but they got us a government assisted grant to help with the payment.

I'm going to check out other threads but do any of you have a wind turbine generator system too? I've heard mixed reports on the efficiency of them. Read one article by this guy Tim Hunkin He's a cartoonist and engineer. It left me wondering whether they're as good as I thought they were.

 

[Bob_the_lost]

The mark group?

http://www.canyoutrustthem.com/index.php?go=quick_search&keyword=mark+group

Sounds like a load of cowboys to me.

 

[stuff_it]

We want to put one on our house, possibly for a hot water type system.

Anyone got any good links for general info (i know nothing, basically) and prices/companies who fit them?

You will kill all the mayflies


http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/06/solar-panels-threat-aquatic-insects

 

[spacemonkey]

The mark group?

http://www.canyoutrustthem.com/index.php?go=quick_search&keyword=mark+group

Sounds like a load of cowboys to me.

I've dealt with thousands of installations by the Mark Group.

 

[free spirit]

I've dealt with thousands of installations by the Mark Group.

and are you prepared to comment on the quality of their workmanship?

incidentally, I hear that the mark group are the prime (only?) contractors for installing tesco's solar offerings.