DIY Install - Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

[grybaz]

Finally, had some decent weather this weekend to finish my 470Wp install.
Here’s the link to photo gallery, pictures are taken at various stages of the project, as you can see even cat found them useful 

http://aephotographix.co.uk/solar/


Initially panels were left in the garden at 30 degrees angle, so far I managed to generate 63.5 kWh.

It’s my pilot solar project  to offset as much electricity consumed during the day;  based on current panel size I should be able to fit another 12 pieces next year, totalling 2.8 kWp

[mysterons]

Need to lose those tv aerials pronto 

[MR GUS]

Need to lose those tv aerials pronto 

WOT EEe SAID!   

[Baz]

and get cable?

[KLD]

Very neatly fitted brackets!
How rigid are they, they seem to hold the rails on quite a long lever? I'd be mostly worried about lifting forces with the panels mounted so high up near the ridge.
Pity you'll probably have to take them down again next year when you come to put the further 2.something kW on. With the same type of bracket, you'd have to take almost all slates off. Maybe a good time to add loads of insulation   

Klaus

[grybaz]

Very neatly fitted brackets!
How rigid are they, they seem to hold the rails on quite a long lever? I'd be mostly worried about lifting forces with the panels mounted so high up near the ridge.
Pity you'll probably have to take them down again next year when you come to put the further 2.something kW on. With the same type of bracket, you'd have to take almost all slates off. Maybe a good time to add loads of insulation   

Klaus

The brackets are quite rigid, I don't think there's going to be any problems, this is why I haven't committed for bigger project just yet.
If I decide to expand the system I will have to take panels down and rest of the slates, quite a few people renovated their roof in the area, but slates are still in good condition, just need membrane replaced... Insulation already done with 50mm celotex. BTW, today meet a contractor re-doing roof in the neighborhood, asked them to remove some slates undamaged so I have some spare next year.

[Justme]

Where you have bolted the brackets to the rafters through the felting you have a seal between the bolt & the bracket but I cant see any between the bracket & the felting. Ok you are not going to get much liquid running down the felting if the roof is in good condition but if its old or messed around with then you might.

Nice lead work over the brackets.

[grybaz]

Where you have bolted the brackets to the rafters through the felting you have a seal between the bolt & the bracket but I cant see any between the bracket & the felting. Ok you are not going to get much liquid running down the felting if the roof is in good condition but if its old or messed around with then you might.

Nice lead work over the brackets.

Do you have a picture, or shop link on how those seals look like ? As the supplier I bought the kit from didn't mention anything...

[Outtasight]

Looks nice, although aren't there any kits that don't involve cutting big slots in your tiles?

Are you going to try to go for FITs?  I managed to get on the scheme as a DIY install last year, but only in the transition period before they insisted on MCS certification.  When I expanded my array in April this year, OFGEM kicked me off the scheme, as the expansion (and the original install) are not MCS.  I could have stayed on the scheme, but only if I never expanded or changed it (no fun in that...).