I’ve just signed up for a 29.7kW grid connected solar system to be installed in August. We have a large north facing roof with almost no shade, and it really seemed like a shame to be wasting all that potential!
The system will consist of 132 Sunpower 225W panels, and 6 Xantrex GT5 inverters. It is being installed on a colorbond roof, using a landscape layout of the panels:
I got quotes from a lot of installers, and found a big variance in the level of knowledge that the various installers showed when they quoted for the system. I ended up getting quotes from 2 good Canberra based installers (Armada and Enviro-Friendly) and one national installer (Clear Solar). The Clear Solar quote was the one I went with because of the really good mounting system they were able to show me. The rails are mounted vertically up the roof face, and the mounting brackets are shaped to the contours of the colorbond roofing, giving a strong mounting system that allows for airflow on the back of the panels which should keep them a bit cooler (the efficiency of PV panels drops quite quickly if they get too hot). It should also stop leaves and other rubbish from building up behind the rails, which would tend to happen if the rails were mounted horizontally.
I’m getting a data logger and Paul Wilson from Clear has sent me the manual for the protocol to talk to the inverters, so I should be able to write some python code pretty quickly to analyze the performance of the system and watch for any degradation.
It will be fun to be producing more electricity than I use!
That’s going to be a very nice setup, and should produce a huge surplus to pay itself with.
Are you willing to talk at all about the cost and the financing? We’re looking to buy some property down here near Albury within the next couple of years, and will want to install a PV system there (unless it already has one), but at this stage I don’t have a good feel for how to cover the initial outlay.
I’d be interested to hear about the costs also, and how it was installed. I’m interested in putting up solar also.
I was forwarded photos of the installation of your solar system and was impressed by the detail. I indicated to Nathan that the only matter that concerned me was the potential for crevice corrosion between the mounting brackets and the roof sheet.
You have obviously researched this extensively; aside from the mounting bracket configuration from Clear Solar, which tipped them your way. How did you find the quality of their solar panel, in terms of performance warranty etc.? This was in comparison to others in the market place.
You strike me as the sort of individual that may have completed a spreadsheet analysis; would be keen to have a look at it, if you were prepared to share same.
Regards,
Stuart
Hi Stuart,
The ColorBond dissimilar metals guide shows that aluminum brackets are fine with my roof, plus the installer put a layer of tape between the brackets and the roof, so I’m not expecting a problem.
I’m certainly very happy with the SunPower panels. They are a bit more complex to install (due to +ve earthing) but work very well.
Cheers, Tridge
tridge, that’s awesome! I’m not sure the “little” adjective applies. Here I was all proud of my 11x230W panel, 2.53kW system I put on last summer
(I just hooked mine to pvoutput.org too, neat project…)
Hi, Just a quick “reference” follow-up.
I’m close to deciding on a 7.5kW system and live one street away from you with a v large ColorBond roof. I would be very grateful for your input.
Please send me some contract details so we can talk
sure, give me a call at home. I’m in the phone book
maybe you could drop in for a coffee? I’m at home most days.