How do you fit solar panels on a roof ???

[@tikaanipippin]

Having 10 PV panels fitted on January 2nd, by Mid March I had pigeons nesting under one array, and eyeing up the other one for a further nursery. After fledging, I had about 4 months of defending the panels from further nest building until I fitted barriers of 4 "hedgehog" gutter brushes wired together into 16 metre combined lengths to completely surround each array of 6 panels mounted on south and 4 panels on west roofs. Fitting them retrospectively was a one-man job for me from ladder with fixed stand-off and a roof ladder, and took less than 2 hours for each array. These ladders are semi permanent to enable easy cleaning, with hose, jetwash and window cleaning squeegees. but rainfall so far has sufficed to wash off any seagull spatters, on what has been a fairly dry year overall on the south coast. Pigeons don't appear to roost on my roof at all since fitting these a couple of months ago, I see lots of professionally fitted bird protection attracting mating pigeons, so I guess their barriers are not complete. 40 metres of 100mm diameter gutter brushes cost £96.00. Altogether, I have been pleased with my Solax 3.7kW inverter and 5,8kW battery, which in 8 months has generated 3mWh back to grid on an Octopus Flux tariff, making more than I use in terms of cost, with refunds every 2 months, currently with about £126 credit. September has been disappointing so far, so I will wait another month before deciding how much credit to leave to cover winter. I have a variable Direct Debit,and the last DD I paid was in May, refunded in June. I guess the predicted 7-10 years before I have covered my investment for the PV installation was reasonably accurate, so as a pensioner, I feel somewhat less disadvantaged by the Kleptocratic Starmer Government than I might have otherwise.

[@kevinrtres]

Great video! Thanks for bringing it to view. Good explanation with advice too.

[@LinoTechM]

Great work neat and detailed. As Andrew mention not many of them show the details. Interesting part is installing the hybrid inverter. Looking forwards for some more of these including the batteries.

[@electrician247]

Some on the playlist already mate. Thanks kzbin.info/aero/PLofh8MZVdCPWYc5LT5GF1KidKBOdSSZ89

[@JBE]

Very enjoyable video to watch Mark 👍🏻 I don't know much about solar panels as I've never really touched them, but it was nice to see things explained well without any biscuit B roll nonsense 😜.

[@electrician247]

Thanks James. A new and exciting part of industry for us as well.

[@dansparkyintraining]

Nice job Mark In my mind all dc cables should be red + black - on the whole install and on the panels 😃

[@markbrowne8775]

Great work Mark, very important point I never see explained in all these you tube videos though is to be aware of induction loops on the strings. DIYers could be following these videos unfortunately and won’t have a clue on making sure to be installing cables correctly out on the roof!

[@electrician247]

That’s why most do not show or explain everything. To avoid those who don’t know, having a go. It isn’t on people sharing their work to educate and try cover things off at that level. Sadly that is in the hands of legislation and self responsibility. Thanks.

[@tonywebb9909]

Great work, maybe you could show us the more difficult slate tile job also

[@yngndrw.]

Interesting to see the roof work, not many people show this side of things. You mentioned the cable colours, what colours are DC cables meant to be these days? I've only ever seen black used for solar, with the occasional person using red as well. Shame about the gap but it is what it is. You could have possibly used a different length of panel to try to make the fit without the gap as there is quite a range, but I'm not sure it would have been enough. I think I would have done two strings of 5 in L shaped patterns but it's hard to know how it would look without doing it.

[@electrician247]

Red and white! We ran through a whole range of options on the software. That's the beauty of it. Gives all the options on a screen. This was the preferred solution. It actually looks decent tbh.

[@yngndrw.]

@@electrician247 Ah I've never seen that colour scheme used, now I know I'll probably spot it everywhere though! And yeah as long as the customer's happy, you can't ask for more. The lines are all nice and straight and it's a very neat job.

[@08001967]

hi mark what are the odd marks which appear on the panels is it grease from the fitters hands or is it just the light on the nature of the panels

[@electrician247]

Suction cups and glove marks. All gone on completion. Thanks

[@davidtaylor2087]

watched a number of your videos which are great. Could you do a video on the Solax Cloud from the App and the website. We've a 14Kw Inverter but the readings don't look right to me. No readings on AC Power (On-Grid) during the night, but then during the day these increase to similar to the amount of PV Power that's been generated. Grid Power is also negative during the night when power coming from the grid. I really don't know if the installer has wired it all correctly!

[@electrician247]

Your CT(s) will be the wrong way around. assume 3 phase? Simple fix for the installer to correct. Arrows point to the grid I believe.

[@markyates5744]

Couldn't you get 2 rows in portrait? Not sure if you could get 3 rows vertically though? Otherwise very neat job.

[@electrician247]

No. Due to the velux windows. Kinda says it pretty clearly just by looking at the layout. Still a decent sized array and 1 year post install pumping out fantastic numbers. Share the details of your install and I will give it a once over anytime…

[@jmtworm]

Night work! 🤩

[@H4N5O1O]

1:55 so how do you get all the tiles nailed back down without going all the way up to ridge ? 23:50 those windows are shiite - if you get storm water in the top running down inside rotting the frame you can add an Omega (symbol) shaped 10-15mm adhesive seal at top of window and add a L shaped piece of plastic/tape to the top metal bit over the glass

[@electrician247]

Not all of the tiles are nailed to begin with. Roofers seem to nail the odd few. Consistent among most roofs we have worked on. Any tile we lift that was nailed is returned as such working away until we find them without. Usually not very far. Hope that helps. Windows are not mine but potentially useful info for anyone else watching. Thanks

[@H4N5O1O]

@@electrician247 wow are roofers now that lazy or cheap to not nail them all ! or are uk storms not sufficiently strong to lift those heavy concrete tiles ?

[@electrician247]

@H4N5O1O nails never did hold them down. Pin them in line. Are you a roofer? 1 or 2 clout nails holding tiles down I assume your joking 🤣🤣🤣

[@lloydg4079]

Do you have to earth the rails/panels?

[@electrician247]

Good practice to but only required if accessible. Depends how you view that.

[@johnfreshwater3790]

I notice you are not using a roof ladder. One thing you should be aware of is that no roof tile is designed to walk on. Crawling boards should always be used to prevent damage to the tiles.

[@electrician247]

We have roof ladders and big softies which were used however on installing the panels it is unavoidable to not use them. All breakages are replaced and generally concrete roof tiles pretty robust. Nature of the beast until someone invents drones to drop them on.

[@markyates5744]

Good video. Don't see many solar installs. Personally I'd never lift solar panels with vacuum clamps! Not designed for it. The cells behind the glass are very fragile, subject to micro cracks, and the marks on the panels on the roof look like delamination. Ifft them by the edges with hooks. My installer called them up the ladder. They're only 20kg

[@electrician247]

The worst method is via ladder. Against just about every manual handling and working at height reg is a single activity. No. No delamination whatsoever. They leave grease marks much like finger prints which wash off on the first clean. Even on the roof suction cups are the best way to move panels safely and without damage. As per most manufacturers instructions.

[@markyates5744]

@@electrician247 ok. Thanks for the reply. Would still think you could get some wire through the bolt holes to lift them - wouldn't need to use vacuum clamps.

[@electrician247]

@markyates5744 again absolutely not. The frames will warp/bend. Only other advisable way would be in a solar bag or with lifting straps both of which we also do from time to time. Leave it to professionals is best bet

[@GWAYGWAY1]

The biggest cost seems to be the scaffolding contractors install, I can get a complete package , the package covers everything for Worcester bosch so it seems OK it is the outside contractors to set up the installation and the scaffolding costs. The VAT is the other thing as it needs an approved company to do the whole job in order to not pay the tax at 20%. As I am paying myself it needs to be as cost effective as possible but the regulations do not allow VAT claim back on parts.

[@electrician247]

Rightly so. The tax credit/benefit/welfare payment comes from government/tax payers. The value on that has to be there by utilising qualified and approved contractors. Have you notified building control of your installation?

[@billybulmer7386]

You based in York?

[@electrician247]

We cover York but based in Driffield

[@billybulmer7386]

@@electrician247 the home of Wold Top Brewery 👍 Thanks for the reply.

[@NgohFoben]

Please for an invite I want to come and work, learn for and from you