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RED Electrical - Solar panels in Clayton le Woods, Chorley

Case Study

RED Electrical designed and installed a solar photovoltaic generating system at this property in Clayton le Woods, Chorley. The various parts of the system are described below.

Overview

Solar panels in Clayton le Woods, Chorley, Aerial photo of site

Aerial photo (obtained from Google Earth)

The property has a small tiled roof (indicated by the red oblong) that faces between south and south-west (approximately 28°). The pitch of the roof is approximately 30°.

There is minimal overshading for the majority of the day. However, later in the evening the trees to the West of the roof begin to shadow the roof, encroaching from the South West corner of the pitch. The optimal location for the modules would therefore be as high on the pitch as possible and adjacent to the neighbouring house.

Due to the size of the roof and the way in which the shadow of the trees falls on it, a solar array of 7 modules was chosen, with a row of four at the top then a row of three underneath.

The Roof Installation

Solar panels in Clayton le Woods, Chorley, Roof Anchor

Anchor correctly mounted over tile below

The modules are mounted onto the roof using a purpose-made system of anchors and rails. The galvanised steel anchors are installed onto the roof spars above the roofing felt, to fully maintain the weather protection of the roof.

As this roof has pantiles (waved pattern tiles), the Anchor has a wide mounting plate so that its position can be adjusted so that it fits perfectly between the pattern of the tiles.

Tile back in place and mounting rail fitted

All the anchors are secured this way, then the tiles above are carefully moved back into place to their original position. This leaves the Anchor protruding from between the tiles and leaves the roof as watertight as it was before.

Aluminium rails are then bolted across the system of anchors, and the solar panels are then secured to the rails with purpose-made clamps.

The cables from the solar panels are enclosed within protective conduit as they enter the roof via a modified tile vent. Any loose cables are secured to the mounting system using UV-resistant nylon cable ties to protect them from abrasion from the tiles, and to prevent leaves etc being trapped by them.

The Loft Equipment

An SMA Sunny Boy 1200 inverter was chosen for this installation. The loft equipment, pictured below, is as follows:

Solar panels in Clayton le Woods, Chorley, Inverter and Isolators

The loft equipment

D.C. cables from solar array
D.C. isolator (for maintenance purposes)
Sunny Boy 1200 Inverter
A.C. isolator (for maintenance purposes)
A.C. cable down to consumer unit
Safety warnings and shutdown/startup instructions

Generation meter

The Generation Meter

Finally, an additional electric meter is installed (pictured on the right) next to the original meter. This measures the output of the solar PV system and is used by the energy company to calculate the payments that the owner will receive under the Clean Energy Cashback Scheme.

The installation is fully tested and commissioned and the owner is provided with a comprehensive information pack, which includes operating manuals, all testing and commissioning certificates, warranty information, approval certificates and a declaration of conformity with MCS requirements.

Annual Yield

Total annual yield from system = 992kWh, worth over £420 per year.

Annual yield by month

Further pictures

Below are some further pictures of the installation showing the solar panels in place:

Solar panels in Clayton le Woods, Chorley