Solar PV ?

[Marcus Warrington <marcus.warrington@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm currently getting quotes to have some solar PV panels installed.
Our ro=
of is between west and north west facing so not ideal but on the positive
s=
ide is easily big enough to install the max (as far as the Fits scheme is
c=
oncerned) 3.99Kw system.

Has anyone on the list already had PV panels installed or have any advice
o=
n what to be looking for.

I've had 3 or 4 quotes already ranging from around =A31200 to =A31400
using=
various panels (sharp, upsolar, phonosolar). At first I was tending to fav=
our the Sharp panels (=A31400) on the basis that I'm more confident that
Sh=
arp as a company will still be around in 25years if I need to call on
their=
25year 80% performance guarantee. Having read a bit more, I'm not keen on =
Sharps -5%/+10% tolerance, compared to the other panels -3%/+3%.  Since
I'v=
e now read that output of a string of panels is dictated by the lowest
prod=
ucing panel, that's means if I have a string of Sharp panels all producing
=
+10% but the last one produces -5% then its as though all the panels are
at=
-5%. Sounds like a gamble I'd rather not take, if I buy a 240W panel, then=
that's what I want.

Sanyo HIT panels seem good on paper, but are pricier but from what I've
rea=
d should produce more electricity in shadier conditions. Since I'm west
fac=
ing , the roof will always be shaded in the morning so these may be a
bette=
r buy.

I've also read that the schuco roof mounting system is probably the one I
s=
hould be looking at (and the quickkick the one I should be avoiding!)

I'm pretty much sold on having the PV panels installed (it certainly seems
=
to make financial sense with Fits scheme), but I want a proper job with
dec=
ent equipment not a cowboy job with cheap Chinese panels that won't last
th=
e 25years.

If anyone has already gone through this process then I'd be grateful of
any=
information or advice you have.

TIA

Marcus



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