Balcony Solar

[Bam Bam]

I think the whole balcony solar is yet another half baked idea that someone in government came out with because they'd seen it on holiday in Germany. They are under pressure to do something about energy prices and as usual so long as they are SEEN to be doing something they think it lets them off the hook.

I think there is a lot of pressure on government to allow/facilitate this.

This will come both from manufacturers and the consumers who want to capture and use solar energy. Plus it enables much quicker roll out of solar since there is much less labour required. No scaffolding, roofers, electricians needed.

 

[GaryMG4]

Crikey! 8kW+ consumption for a pond - is it for tropical fish?

When we moved here the 8mx10m pond was supposed to be cleared of its Koi but come March I started to see some movement and found they were still there. They only left a pump and that used 6kWh a day when on 24/7. Despite buying filter system we lost a few fish both to the Herons and climate and when it started leaking last year we got the fish rehomed and I stopped counting at 120. It's now a wildlife pond as the leak was about halfway down. At least I don't have the task of cleaning the filters every few days in the summer.

 

[johnb80]

I think there is a lot of pressure on government to allow/facilitate this.
This will come both from manufacturers and the consumers who want to capture and use solar energy.

I can understand consumers wanting to capture and use solar but IMHO this is not a realistic approach from the point of view of safety, generation and economics.

Plus it enables much quicker roll out of solar

You cant really believe this would be classed as solar roll out ? surely not. The average domestic solar installation in the UK is 4kWp compared to 300W of balcony solar, less than 1/10 of the average UK solar install.

since there is much less labour required. No scaffolding, roofers, electricians needed.

Sorry that really doesnt sit well in my mind, job needs to be done properly to get the best out of the system. The cost in pollution terms of making the battery and inverter with the relevant logistics is too high for it not to be installed to get the best from it. The potential danger both electrical and mechanical from these systems are a cause for concern to me.

 

[Everest]

They only left a pump and that used 6kWh a day when on 24/7

Ah.... I see - guess @NikLiverpool meant 8 to 10 kWh, not 8 to 10kW. Still a lot though, 350W continual consumption

 

[GaryMG4]

Ah.... I see - guess @NikLiverpool meant 8 to 10 kWh, not 8 to 10kW. Still a lot though, 350W continual consumption

You need a fairly powerful pump, mine was 20,000 litres per hour (260W) plus a UV lamp another 80-100W with that size pond, depending on the set up. but yes kWh was probably what was meant.

 

[NikLiverpool]

Diverting a bit but yes, I meant 8 to 10 kWh per day lol. It averages 350W. 2 pumps, a drum filter, 2 air pumps and a UV...
Also answering another question. Not a personal experience but apparently they taste awful heh.
Some of them in the pic.

 

[Bam Bam]

Diverting a bit but yes, I meant 8 to 10 KW per day lol. It averages 350w per hour. 2 pumps, a drum filter, 2 air pumps and a UV...

Possibly this video is for you...

Nice looking panels there! (and colourful fish)

 

[johnb80]

Possibly this video is for you...

Nice looking panels there! (and colourful fish)

Blimey BamBam, what did we do to deserve this? It's almost like being back at school with the dullest teacher ever. What's more worrying is how you managed to find it as well

 

[Bam Bam]

Blimey BamBam, what did we do to deserve this? It's almost like being back at school with the dullest teacher ever. What's more worrying is how you managed to find it as well

Maybe it helps that I watch videos sped up. 1.25x - 1.7x depending how slow they talk. Think I go for around 1.4 for Bjorn.

I like him, he's even come up with some little catchphrases over the years.

But to generate more content more efficiently he now films things while driving and does minimal editing. Which means that it is just footage of him driving around while musing on things. This is one of those unfocused episodes.

 

[johnb80]

But to generate more content more efficiently he now films things while driving and does minimal editing. Which means that it is just footage of him driving around while musing on things. This is one of those unfocused episodes.

The warning appreciated!

 

[Everest]

Think I go for around 1.4 for Bjorn.

Doesn't that mess up the timings for his 1,000km challenges though

 

[GaryMG4]

Doesn't that mess up the timings for his 1,000km challenges though

So they really take around 14 hours?

 

[Bam Bam]

A video in which they test the safety of Balcony solar systems...



Sadly, after various useful tests engaging with important concerns, it ended up being a bit of an advert for the product.

 

[johnb80]

A video in which they test the safety of Balcony solar systems...



Sadly, after various useful tests engaging with important concerns, it ended up being a bit of an advert for the product.

Interesting video, eFixx do cover quite a few subjects. As you say, it does end up as an advert for Indevolt. He doesnt address one of the issues mentioned on here regarding earth leakage with the earth leakage current being provided on the consumer side of the RCD via the plug in solar which is a major safety concern.

 

[EvTek23]

In Germany Lidl have now released their storage battery to complement thier existing Balcony Solar kits. Priced at 299 euros with a capacity of 2.24kWh. See the full article by t3 here:

Lidl launches super-cheap solar balcony battery to help households store excess energy

Lidl's new solar battery is now one of the most affordable ways to store renewable energy at home

www.t3.com

 

[NikLiverpool]

Oh wow. That is cheap for a battery. Apparently it is also expandable up to 6.72kw.