DIY Solar Project 2023, worth it in the UK?

This is my Grid-Tie DIY Solar Project in the UK. Taking you through the whole process, explaining the 3 different Solar systems, what system I went for, the components, and the cost. How I installed the system, and finally, how to monitor the system and how much power this thing produces!

Octopus Energy referal Link (We both get £50 credit):

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[simmona]

What a brilliant video. Food for thought indeed and much cheaper UK hardware prices than I anticipated. Thanks very much!

[grn]

Great video, really interesting to see how much you can do for a DIY install. Would be really interesting to revisit your system after a couple of months to look at the pros and cons, what you would do differently/ next and what the ROI is looking like.

[julianwinn]

Have a similar system but dump excess power into my hot water tank immersion heater using a Solic200 box. This automatically detects if I'm exporting excess power and diverts it to the immersion heater. Works a treat!

[jebadaiah]

got a 2024 update?? how much did this end up saving you?? what is the price difference between the now and before.

[carguyuk]

Great install. A friend of mine recently installed his panels on his roof using a scaffold tower and a safety rope. Afterwards, he admitted he would never do it again due to risk of falling and pain to knees and wrists etc. Great project update and good detail on your decisions. I look forward to a 12-month review of your system and your views at that time, including would you do anything different. Cheers.

[chrisroyle]

Yours is a similar journey to the one I've been on - before things escalated. The SunSynk Hybrid inverter from City Plumbing is another route to go if you have adequate start up voltage. This future proofs the addition of a battery. I now have a spare Solax inverter which I need to get rid of. The Sunsynk is quite feature rich and the 3.6 version is pretty handy insofar as you can have 7kW of solar panels but is still G98 compliant in terms of grid connection. Looking at the legs on your frames on the flat roof, I'd probably be wanting to put some sort of spreader board under the legs to protect the roof. I'm now looking at adding a fogstar battery (and selling my SunSynk battery) which has been mentioned in another comment.

[steveallen]

1600w panels, EcoFlow delta pro + 1 extra battery = 7KWh storage. Panels mounted in garden with adjustable angle for winter/summer optimisation. Running through independent mains system to household wiring. Currently runs fridge, freezers, microwave, washing & dryer machines. Ready for blackouts with lighting and tv ready to switch over.

[dukeminster]

Great video - curious to know why you mounted the inverter on the outside of the house rather than in the loft?

[alanpalmer]

Hi did you or did the electrician fill out the form I think its call G96 to the power company to say you had solar going back to the grid? As I would like to build my own system like you 🙂 I have done an off grid system and works great

[bobdobalina]

Very inspirational, I was pleasantly surprised how little it cost. I never thought of putting solar on my two ground floor extension roofs - no idea why, it seems obvious now. Looking at mine now, my main roof is hipped so I think the lower roofs may actually have more surface area.

I dont think you actually answered your question(!) is it "worth it in the UK"?! You look and sound pretty pleased, any idea what the pounds and pence looks like yet or is it too early?

[jensschroder]

In summer you have light and sunshine in abundance. It doesn't matter if you don't get all the sun.
In spring and autumn you are happy to get as much sun as possible.
In winter it's hardly worth it and you wait for spring. So it is worth aiming for spring and autumn.
So set the angle to 38 to 42°

[peterfitzpatrick]

Seems like the inverter /dongle would have been better weather-protected in the loft space, even if its IP rated, I'd still prefer it out of the weather...

Great vid, thanks for the info, very inspirational !! 👏🙂

😎👍☘🍻

[MartinE]

That inverter is in a really bad location for maintenance, DC isolation when the panels are live looks impossible, having only built in isolation is frowned upon by the fire brigade, maybe your house insurer too, also the inverter being baked by the sun will significantly shorten its life. An internal inverter install, even in the loft would be infinitely preferable.

[mjg]

Be nice to see a year down the line update, great easy video.👌

[brymstoner]

worth pointing out that 5kWh of LFP battery storage can be had for about half that price from amazon!

[zenzen]

Great video :) One quick question: When you are exporting power back to the grid, does your meter then run backwards ? i.e. will that further reduce your bill or are those watts given back for free ? Thanks

[dukemaximus]

Great video. You should look at hybrid micro inverters if not already. How did you notify DNO and get G98 certification?

[CraigRoyK]

How did you go about MCS certification, etc? I’m thinking of a DIY installation for an outbuilding initially (off grid), but would like to eventually tie it into the house as well.

[yellownev]

A really informative video on a tidy and sensible install thank you for sharing your project. I initially went for a off grid system with Pylontech batteries but got frustrated over the G99 approval as my inverter was bigger than 3.8 for the G98. I removed all the Pylontech stuff and Growatt inverter and paid a local company to install a Solax system with a 5.8 KW battery. They ‘ adopted ‘ my solar panel install and gave me the MCS certification. I didn’t bother with a meter for export as I also had a zappy charger installed for a future second hand electric car which will take any excess and since may whe. I had my system installed it’s been great getting upto 800kw of generation to date …. My target is 1500 kw for the year ! I’d love a video on HA as that is my next hurdle to jump Subbed thanks again.

[mb-faze]

The city plumbing 15% discount on first orders specifically excludes solar equipment. Still free delivery, and those 405 panels are now £93 Inc vat.