Making the jump to solar

[Everest]

Just think of the power I could have generated today

52kWh so far and counting

 

[Black estate]

52kWh so far and counting

Got consultation on Friday

 

[Rolfe]

They haven't been replying to customers for some time.

I once got a reply several months after raising an issue, which had been resolved in the meantime by talking to one of their staff at an event stand.

This was last October and I was then recommended to join the Facebook group because that was the only place they regularly monitored at the time.

Don't know what would happen if they went out of business. Perhaps they would be bought out by the staff or a larger company, but possibly not.

The good news is that you can apparently control the equipment locally and there are several ways to do that.

But, in general, software support could become an issue when protocols change in the future.

I'm not on Facebook. I have no intention of joining Facebook. If I'd been informed that membership of Facebook was compulsory to get support for their equipment I'd have asked my installer to install something else.

 

[Susanna]

@Rolfe - I agree! So fed up with organisations telling us to ‘contact them on facebook/twitter…..’ whatever. No thanks! Answer your phone or reply to my email. It’s not rocket science.

 

[MattyS]

Just think of the power I could have generated today

I've been thinking about that. I've just set up a home assistant instance to track and control my imminent installation. I'd be able to run my house on solar, charge my battery AND export all at once . However I'm sitting here a bit annoyed that I don't have panels

 

[MattyS]

I'm not on Facebook. I have no intention of joining Facebook. If I'd been informed that membership of Facebook was compulsory to get support for their equipment I'd have asked my installer to install something else.

I've been trying to reduce my Facebook usage but my kids football team ONLY update parents via Facebook and it's infuriating.

 

[Rolfe]

@Rolfe - I agree! So fed up with organisations telling us to ‘contact them on facebook/twitter…..’ whatever. No thanks! Answer your phone or reply to my email. It’s not rocket science.

I've trolled them at least twice on Twitter (@ing them in when I've posted something complaining about them), but no response. You just have to say the word Octopus on Twitter and someone is asking you to DM them for a resolution, but I don't think GivEnergy are even monitoring their Twitter account now.

 

[Everest]

I don't think GivEnergy are even monitoring their Twitter account now

not looking good then

 

[Fokmg]

I live in west wales, my cottage is south facing I have 5.4 Kw PV array as i have some shading from chimneys I have used micro inverters that allow max utilisation of the sun . Last year I generated nearly 6 mega watts of power. I also use a pair of Tesla power walls to store up to 27Kwh of power. as I use octopus go inteligent I am able to charge the car and fill the batteries for less than 7p per Kw. Last year i only had to buy 34 units at full price (28.5p ) the other 10,000+ cost between 0 and 7p. Happy days. Interestingly over 7 years i cannot detect any drop in the panel outputs. the battery has dropped 1/2% in 4 years .

 

[Everest]

Interestingly over 7 years i cannot detect any drop in the panel outputs. the battery has dropped 1/2% in 4 years

That's good to hear