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I'm thinking of starting some form of solar power, and have noticed a lot of people are a bit unsure of how to start in a manner that’s both somewhat affordable and also useful.

I've seen guides that are affordable, but apart from powering a light bulb for a few hours serve no purpose, and ideas on powering small towns, which although useful, are not affordable to the starter outer.

So, I thought I'd write a bit of a guide and hope someone who knows what they're talking about will come an correct it.

After thinking this over for a large part of the morning I just found this http://www.solar-power-answers.co.uk/system280w.pdf
I'm going to write mine anyway

First, the Freezer
http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/c ... egory_oid=

Uses 182.5kwh a year which works out at 500w per day, so with 4 hours sun, you would need 125watts of panels.

Solar Panels – 4@£580
http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu ... S40WA.html
40w 12v panels for £145 gives a pretty cheap £3.62 per watt, best I’ve been able to find so far.
4 of these should be enough even in the worst weather

Charge Controller - £70
http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu ... 20AMP.html
12/24v 20a
Probably not the best one for the system I’m designed, but the most appropriate on the website, and I could add 8 more panels to this for a stunning 480watts.

Batteries – 2@£140
http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu ... ery85.html
12v 85ah deep cycle battery.
The site has two, a 110ah and an 85ah, they’re virtually the same price per a/h, the 110 is 0.5p cheaper per a/h but I’d prefer the two 85’s because that give’s me the option of using 24volts rather than 12

Inverter – 1@£50
http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu ... er150.html
240v 400w constant 800 surge
Should be plenty for this appliance, I think

So, £840 for the lot, and if my sums are right, plenty of spare power during the winter.

I haven’t done a great deal of shopping around for these products, and am in truth a little unsure about the website they’re on.

But, hopefully someone with a little more experience than me will be able to help.

Hey dominic!

Check with the manufacturer of the freezer and make sure it will put up with the modified sine wave and not require a full sine wave inverter. I have fried several appliances this way. The true sine wave inverters are quite a bit more expensive.

Nev

What a shame the costs are sooo high, its enough to put most people off.

Good luck with it.

DominicJ wrote:I'm thinking of starting some form of solar power, and have noticed a lot of people are a bit unsure of how to start in a manner that’s both somewhat affordable and also useful.

I've seen guides that are affordable, but apart from powering a light bulb for a few hours serve no purpose, and ideas on powering small towns, which although useful, are not affordable to the starter outer.

So, I thought I'd write a bit of a guide and hope someone who knows what they're talking about will come an correct it.

After thinking this over for a large part of the morning I just found this http://www.solar-power-answers.co.uk/system280w.pdf
I'm going to write mine anyway

First, the Freezer
http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/c ... egory_oid=

Uses 182.5kwh a year which works out at 500w per day, so with 4 hours sun, you would need 125watts of panels.

Solar Panels – 4@£580
http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu ... S40WA.html
40w 12v panels for £145 gives a pretty cheap £3.62 per watt, best I’ve been able to find so far.
4 of these should be enough even in the worst weather

Charge Controller - £70
http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu ... 20AMP.html
12/24v 20a
Probably not the best one for the system I’m designed, but the most appropriate on the website, and I could add 8 more panels to this for a stunning 480watts.

Batteries – 2@£140
http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu ... ery85.html
12v 85ah deep cycle battery.
The site has two, a 110ah and an 85ah, they’re virtually the same price per a/h, the 110 is 0.5p cheaper per a/h but I’d prefer the two 85’s because that give’s me the option of using 24volts rather than 12

Inverter – 1@£50
http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu ... er150.html
240v 400w constant 800 surge
Should be plenty for this appliance, I think

So, £840 for the lot, and if my sums are right, plenty of spare power during the winter.

I haven’t done a great deal of shopping around for these products, and am in truth a little unsure about the website they’re on.

But, hopefully someone with a little more experience than me will be able to help.

More power to your elbow dominic but on Eon I pay 18p per kwh so it would cost me £32.85 to run the freezer for one year. I was reading in one magazine that solar panels for electric will not really be viable fir another 18 to 20 years because of the price. Still go for it and I hope it works out cheaper.

I think your right, A fridge or freezer is probably one of the more difficult things to power via solar, probably not an easy starting point.

I'm gonna have to have a think about this and see what else springs to mind

I reckon solar hot water is a better investment, personally. How do you currently heat water? If its with electric, then I would say definitely consider heating (or probably pre-heating in your climate) with solar. You won´t be able to run radiators without spending megabucks, but your personaly hot water is doable on a fairly small budget.

Clara wrote:I reckon solar hot water is a better investment, personally. How do you currently heat water? If its with electric, then I would say definitely consider heating (or probably pre-heating in your climate) with solar. You won´t be able to run radiators without spending megabucks, but your personaly hot water is doable on a fairly small budget.

why is CH difficult to run from Solar water? I ask not out of controvercy or anything but the system I've been looking at heats the water so hot it has a mixer valve on it to regulate the temperiture at the taps but still pre heats the ch boiler. Is there no solar water system that can do hot water to the taps AND CH rads ??

Alan

I currently use GCH, have a new'ish condensing combi boiler, although its semi broken at the moment and doesnt produce much hot water.
I dont have a hot tank, and I'm a bit unsure of how exactly you get around that.
I did ask for quotes from a few companies, but just havent received any real response, a few glossy guides, but no indication of price or how difficult it would be.
Radiators are a sealed system so I cant see how it would benefit my system to try and run the CH with solar heating, not saying it isnt possible, just difficult, I think, but I dont actualy know much, if anything.

I have about 200sqft, I think , of roughly south facing roof. Anyone have any idea how much a system for that would cost and what it would do?

Edit
Seems Combi Boilers are a no no, oh well, looks like I'm off solar for a while.

Big Al wrote:

Clara wrote:I reckon solar hot water is a better investment, personally. How do you currently heat water? If its with electric, then I would say definitely consider heating (or probably pre-heating in your climate) with solar. You won´t be able to run radiators without spending megabucks, but your personaly hot water is doable on a fairly small budget.

why is CH difficult to run from Solar water? I ask not out of controvercy or anything but the system I've been looking at heats the water so hot it has a mixer valve on it to regulate the temperiture at the taps but still pre heats the ch boiler. Is there no solar water system that can do hot water to the taps AND CH rads ??

Alan

My system also has to mix down the water (to about 40 - 50 C), the problem is size......I was told I would need a system double the size of my current one to work my two small radiators. If you have a regular size house you will need far more. Friends of mine were quoted 25K Euros for theirs (and this is still in the south of Spain with good sunlight hours), another friend of mine has built a small (30M) eco round house (super insulated, DG windows etc) and has three large flat plate collectors to heat it as an experiment. Don´t forget that in the UK, when you want the heat, chances are it won´t be sunny and though you get water heating when you have direct sun, it is nothing like as powerful.

Clara wrote:

Big Al wrote:

Clara wrote:I reckon solar hot water is a better investment, personally. How do you currently heat water? If its with electric, then I would say definitely consider heating (or probably pre-heating in your climate) with solar. You won´t be able to run radiators without spending megabucks, but your personaly hot water is doable on a fairly small budget.

why is CH difficult to run from Solar water? I ask not out of controvercy or anything but the system I've been looking at heats the water so hot it has a mixer valve on it to regulate the temperiture at the taps but still pre heats the ch boiler. Is there no solar water system that can do hot water to the taps AND CH rads ??

Alan

My system also has to mix down the water (to about 40 - 50 C), the problem is size......I was told I would need a system double the size of my current one to work my two small radiators. If you have a regular size house you will need far more. Friends of mine were quoted 25K Euros for theirs (and this is still in the south of Spain with good sunlight hours), another friend of mine has built a small (30M) eco round house (super insulated, DG windows etc) and has three large flat plate collectors to heat it as an experiment. Don´t forget that in the UK, when you want the heat, chances are it won´t be sunny and though you get water heating when you have direct sun, it is nothing like as powerful.

Thanks Clara........... I have 14 double rads......hmmmm maybe if I got a few more jumpers instead. Mind you I'm well chuffed with finding a company that makes radiators look like skirting boards.... not had a price yet but it looks cool... or hot if you know what i mean.