Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

solar panels have never worked for me, we face east west and I would expect us to move within the next 10. Instead i replaced all windows and doors, this was a 100 house site and we were the last, windows and doors were draughty and guarantee was well gone. we are now having our conservatory roof replaced with a tile and insulation roof, so a room which is comfortable only in part of spring and autumn can be now used much more, gone will be too hot in summer and cold in winter. (I hope)

My installation cost £6,500 and was for 16 Canadian Solar all-black CS6P-250M solar panels, each fitted with an Enphase M250 Microinverter. Each microinverter sends a wireless output signal to an Enphase 'Envoy' Communications Gateway sited on a lower shelf of a side table in the lounge. This communicates directly to the Internet in an extremely comprehensive manner.

The installation comprised an array of 10 panels fitted to the West side and an array of 6 panels fitted to the East side of the house roof. Each array has its own isolator. The AC feeds then meet at a further isolator at the Generation Meter, which has been sited at the side of the Consumer Unit inside the house. From the Generation Meter there is a feed to the house and also a feed to the grid near the Electricity Meter. The Electricity Meter cannot run backwards so if we don't use what we generate, then it goes out to the National Grid.

We receive £0.1438 per kWh generated.
We also receive £0.0477 per kWh exported. Exports are calculated at 50% of generation.
We also receive a further 20% VAT on top of Export amount.

Thus far we have had payments for the 3rd and 4th quarters for the last financial year,
In total, these amount to: £180.52 and are made up as follows:

A. 1047kWh at £0.1438 = £150.56
B. 523.5 kWh at £0.0477 = £24.97
C. 20% VAT on B. = £4.99

April is 450kWh (Generated thus far)
May 500 kWh (est)
June 550 kWh (est)
July 600 kWh (est)
Aug 600 kWh (est)
Sep 550 kWh (est)
6 months sub total = 3250 kWh (est)

So Total for a Full Year of 12 months = 1047 + 3250 = say, 4,300 kWh.

Payments will be:

A. 4300 x £0.1438 = £618.34
B. 2150 x £0.0477 = £102.55
C. 20% VAT on B. = £20.51

Total Tax Free Income = £741.40

Annnual Percentage Return = £741.40/£6500 x 100 = 11.4%

I calculate the payback time will be around 9 years. Not fantastic I know, but the annual return is simply stupendous and a no-brainer when compared with other low risk investments.

The installation also focuses the mind somewhat on using and wasting (or not) electricity. There are therefore other indirect savings.

My installers were an utter cowboy outfit. Thus I could not recommend them as a business at all. I consider myself to be a wide thinking and expert buyer and I was cheated in several ways by a man who was just an outright liar. However, I am quite happy with my installation now because I did get all the crappy work, which he was going to fob me off with, and other of his elements of downright cheating too, put right. I put matters right using my own resources and knocked my costs of doing so of his bill.

In the doing of my installation I did get to meet several good guys. I have noted their details too.

In this business, warranties for solar panels mean absolutely nothing, IMHO. You have to make sure that these are bloody good ones to start with. Similarly, with the microinverters. Use good, reputable, reliable components.

Just imagine the scaffolding costs to change one solar panel or one microinverter. Let's say £350 average. THIS SCAFFOLDING COST IS ALWAYS DOWN TO YOU IN THE EVENT OF A CLAIM. SO WOULD YOU CLAIM? It is going to cost you £350 to swap one £150 solar panel and/or one £20-30 Microinverter. YOU WOULD SIMPLY RUN WITH THE FAULT. The payback value isn't worth the cost of the repair.

So, IMHO, what one needs by way of an installation, is the type of installation which I had done. Not just one single Inverter for the whole job lot, but using a Microinverter for each solar panel. Using one single inverter for thew whole job indirectly means the whole lot goes down if you get one faulty solar panel. If one solar panel goes down then the lot goes down and you have to get the scaffolders in. The single inverter would be sited in the roof space so it should be replaceable without the need for scaffolding but there would be zero generation until it got fixed/swapped. None of the others would feed through the faulty single inverter.

With a Microinverter for each panel, if one of these fails or the pertinent panel associated with it fails or underperforms, then generation continues.

If you have a single inverter system, everything performs only according to the maximum of the worst panel in the array. Shadow on one panel reduces the whole lot down to the generation output of that shadowed panel. This is not so with a Microinverter system.

The installation needs at the very least to be carried out by a team who has in it:

1. A good, careful, neat and safety-concious Roofer.
2. A good, neat, concientious, thorough and non-cheating Electrician. And one who can legitimately Certify the job on completion so the customer can get properly connected up to the Feed In Tariff and be paid out from it.
3. Neat, careful Scaffolders.

Concentrate on the strength of the Installation team and the quality of the Panels and Microinverters.

Just don't let some 'lying-bastard-run-scumbag-outfit' fit cheap undersized cable down the side of wall from the house roof, flapping in the breeze, without any isolators to the system.

eg. Without even asking or discussing anything about it, my bastard boss installer even swapped the solar panels from what we had originally agreed upon. His electrician brother, who was the 'foil' for obtaining and running the firm's registration, came and did a bit but fell out with him and walked off the job. Thus this left him without any properly qualified and certified electrician on site or even attached to the firm. I could tell you a whole lot more about this cowboy outfit sort of stuff.

Just make sure you get THREE GOOD GUYS as above and you'll get a good installation and be laughing instead of losing a fair amount of sleep.

Obviously good insulation is the key in every house as not loosing heat means you don't have to use fuel to provide heat! Most people forget how much money they are loosing by not insulating properly.

Even if you leave a property the "FITS" benefit go's with you so you don't lose by moving, as I say it's a no brainer, only a fool would argue against Solar generation in the right area.

Excellent news
You haven't deducted interest lost on the £6,500. You can get more than 5% (in fact up to 7%) for investing your money for long periods. That is between £325 and £425.

Haystack.

True. That was a trap and deliberate mistake set for you.

But it is in a sense, a bit of a fallacy. The best return I could find at the time for a low risk was around 4% gross. The fallacy is complicated because that theoretical rate can go up and down too.

You cannot value the 'look' of the high tech black panels on the roof.

Neither can you value the 'balls' of the buyer who had it done and lives in the house beneath that roof.

Some of my neighbours don't fit exterior lights, etc, at Christmas. I think some of them can't afford to. Even if they could afford it, some of them haven't got a clue how to do it. Even if they have got a clue, some of them just haven't got the practical skill to do it for themselves. IYGWIM? Sorta kinda.

Stable

I did similarly withour conservatory roof. I had a Guardian roof system fitted.

We now have a usable 'temperate all year round Sun Room' - as against a 'roasting hot' or 'freezing cold' conservatory.

I switched from AOL to TalkTalk , since i switched i haven't had any cold callers for over 3 days now, normaly i have 3 to 4 a day. Is it because cold call's are generated from software program's and TalkTalk use a different system from AOL

Conservatories are cheaper to install but not as good as if you spend more on an proper extension which as you say can be used "comfortably" all the year round, same old story ... if you buy cheap you buy twice!

... Some people never learn do they.

I did not go with Guardian as they wanted to add 20pc Vat, others were at a lower rate.

Choosing who to vote for is tricky. My inclination is to vote Conservative. However my constituency is a Lib/Lab marginal with the Lib Lynne Featherstone (Secretary of State for the Home Office) as the current MP. My family are going to vote Lib this time to stop Labour. The current poll shows her just ahead, so it looks like others have the same idea.

I have a similar issue, especially as sun only gets into the conservatory from late January to mid November, so the winter is particularly cold. There is underfloor heating but not man enough to raise the area to a comfortable temperature in winter. I am looking at Guardian, but would welcome suggestions on who else to consider. Thanks H

To-nights election "debate" should be interesting with questions from the floor on Welfare Benefits and Child Benefit.

Also hear there are to be more questions to Cameron on true employment figures.

It will be interesting to see the chicken trying to bluster and lie himself out his failures and false promises.

In case Manuel has forgotten this poster.



Hear there are over 3000 of the posters ready for show next week.

But remember to celebrate!

Sturgeon: Labour's indyref 2 warnings are desperate scaremongering from a party in its death throes
Thursday 30 April 2015
The First Minister has dismissed Labour warnings of a second referendum on independence as the "desperate scaremongering" of a party in its "death throes".



Labour's deputy leader Kezia Dugdale accused the SNP of being obsessed with the constitution as she attacked Nicola Sturgeon over the "scandal" of falling standards in literacy in Scottish schools.

Ms Sturgeon dismissed the claim as "totally farcical" and said Labour was the only party in Scotland talking about another referendum.

During exchanges at First Minister's Questions, Ms Dugdale called on the SNP leader to repeat her assertion that last year's independence poll was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".

Ms Dugdale said: "The promise was that the referendum was a once-in-a-lifetime event. That no matter how we voted as a nation we would get back to dealing with the really important issues.

"Like the fact that the reading levels of kids of all ages in Scotland have declined in the last two years.

"Like the fact that next to no progress has been made to close the gap between those in the poorest and wealthiest backgrounds in our schools.

"The First Minister has all this power at her disposal but what is it for if it's not to transform the the lives of working-class kids?"

Ms Sturgeon said: "If the people of Scotland want a referendum to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, that is exactly what it will be.

"This is desperate, last-throw-of-the-dice stuff from Scottish Labour. Talk about a party in its death throes.

"The desperate scaremongering over full fiscal autonomy clearly hasn't made any impact, although actually that's not true, it has made an impact on the polls: the SNP poll rating has gone up.

"Given that it hasn't helped Scottish Labour, they're now resorting to desperate scaremongering about a referendum that nobody is proposing."

A poll yesterday put support for the SNP at 54%, prompting speculation that the party could win all 59 of Scotland's seats in the election next week.

Ms Sturgeon said: "I was going to ask Kezia Dugdale what the problem is that Scottish Labour seem to have developed with democracy but then I looked at the opinion polls and I think I know the problem Scottish Labour have got with democracy.

"Perhaps I can offer a little bit of friendly advice: Over the next six days perhaps Scottish Labour might want to look at the polls themselves and desist from the negativity and the scaremongering, and instead try to muster, if they can possibly find one, a single positive reason for voting Labour."

Ms Dugdale responded: "If those polls are realised next week, there will be pink champagne for everyone.

"Rupert Murdoch will be buying it, Alex Salmond will be pouring it and David Cameron will be drinking it. That is the reality of those polls."

She said it was not true to say that no-one in the SNP was proposing a second referendum, pointing to statements made by election candidates as well as comments from former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars that there is "no question" that a commitment to hold another referendum will be in the party's manifesto for the Scottish Parliament election next year.

The First Minister responded: "Desperate doesn't quite cover it. I know I'm in opposition to Labour but even I find it quite sad watching the demise of a once good party.

"The great heroes of the Labour movement must be turning in their graves right now.

"Let me make it quite clear: I've got the greatest of respect for Jim Sillars but the clue is in his title, former deputy leader of the SNP.

"I'm the current leader of the SNP so let me say it clearly once again. This election is not about independence. It's not about a referendum. It's about making Scotland's voice heard."

Official statistics released yesterday show that the proportion of pupils performing well or very well at reading was lower in 2014 than in 2012 at primary and secondary schools, with a fall in performance for writing in P7 and S2.

Ms Dugdale said Labour would reintroduce the 50p tax rate and invest the proceeds in closing the inequality gap in schools.

She said: "Just yesterday new figures were published that showed that working-class kids are getting left behind by this SNP government.

"Even now, in 2015, a child's ability to read and write is directly linked to how much their parents earn or where they live.

"That's a moral outrage, that's a scandal yet all the SNP candidates can talk about is another referendum.

"For any Government with the right priorities the three Rs remain reading, writing and arithmetic.

"Isn't it the case that under the SNP it simply means referendum, referendum, referendum?"

Ms Sturgeon responded: "This is totally and utterly farcical from Scottish Labour.

"The only people in Scotland right now talking about a second referendum are Scottish Labour."

She added: "There is much to celebrate in Scottish education but the results that were published yesterday are not good enough and I'm determined to improve them, this Government is determined to improve them."

The First Minister joked about an email she had received from Ms Dugdale to her official account, asking for help as part of Labour's volunteer effort on election day.

"I don't want to pile more misery onto Scottish Labour right now but let me break this gently to Kezia Dugdale: I think I'm busy that day," she said.

Conservative leader Ruth Davidson also attacked Ms Sturgeon on the literacy figures, describing them as "a scandal", while Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie pushed her once more on the prospect of a second independence referendum.

Ms Davidson said: " I know that the Scottish Government yesterday hastily put together a press release filled with action plans and improvement frameworks for this, but does the First Minister really think this is adequate to tackle what is becoming a crisis in school standards?"

Ms Sturgeon replied: "The results that were published yesterday, let me make this absolutely and totally blunt, they are not good enough, and I as First Minister are determined that we improve them."

She said improving attainment, particularly in the most deprived communities, was "one of the most sacred responsibilities of government" and one which she, as First Minister, is "personally passionate about".

Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government had already taken steps to address the issue, with the establishment of the Scottish Attainment Challenge, backed by £100 million of funding.

But Ms Davidson dismissed the Government's actions as a "sticking-plaster solution designed to get through a news cycle" as she called for greater control for parents and teachers in schools to raise standards.

"I don't doubt the First Minister's intentions, but does she have the resolve to ditch the dogma and the government by press release, and undertake the genuine reforms that are needed?" she said.

Ms Sturgeon said: "I think she (Ruth Davidson) is being unfair to say that the Government has not been taking action.

"I am determined to make sure we have the best standards in our schools for all of our children. If there are improvements that require to be made, we will seek to make them."

Mr Rennie turned his questioning back to the matter of a second referendum on independence as he challenged the First Minister to rule out another vote in the next term of the Scottish Parliament.

He said: "This is the neverendum that we warned about.

"We saw the consequences of the whole machinery of government being focused on the referendum for the last three years.

"The NHS and the police bear witness to that problem, and in Quebec, we have seen the long period of political uncertainty and the economic consequences of that.

"That's why people are concerned about this. They are concerned on the doorsteps."

Ms Sturgeon dismissed this suggestion, stating: "If the people of Scotland want a referendum to be ruled out for a generation, a lifetime, 10 life times, that's exactly what will happen because the people of Scotland are in charge.

"What people are saying to me on the streets and doorsteps of Scotland is not about another referendum, their concerns are about the cuts that his party, hand in hand with the Tories, have imposed over the past five years."


comments :-
Scaremongering?
Not according to Jim Sillars:
When asked today if the SNP would promise another independence vote
next year, he replied: “I can’t see how it can be avoided, frankly.”

Is Jim Sillars also a scaremonger?
Somebody is being economical with the truth.

This may all be music to separatists' ears, but they might try a little honesty with the electorate, or does party discipline prevent that?


The SNP cant promise another referendum next year or any other year. All they or any of the other parties can do is to say in a manifesto that, if they form the next government, they would hold an independence referendum. The people of Scotland would then have to vote them into power with a majority of seats to allow any such offer to take place. It would be the people's choice to have a referendum not the SNP's.


That's correct and IF the polls are right the next Scottish independence campaign will start on 8 May 2015.


Vote SNP and you are voting for an independent Scotland asap.


Jim Murphy will go down in history as the man who destroyed Labour in Scotland.

The demise of Labour been a car crash waiting to happen for some time and Mr Murphy as leader in Scotland has sealed it's fate. It will be interesting to hear what he has to say on 8 May.


Music to many peoples' ears.
However, I think Jim Murphy might think that midwifing the historic decision by Scotland to remain in the UK represents the major job done.

Moreover, the emerging reality according to psephologists with a good track record is that the Tories will get a working majority, with the Nats an irritating irrelevancy.

Sometimes it is wise to be careful what you wish for.
The SNP might want to think about the law of unintended consequences if they think that getting the Tories back in will help the separatist case in Scotland,.

"the emerging reality according to psephologists with a good track record is that the Tories will get a working majority,"

if that is the case then...since we look like we will reduce the ConDem seats up here - we will get a tory government because England want one - and there is little we can do about that....

The only way we can help the tories is by voting tory up here - and if those tactical voters (so desperate for the union) abandon Labour and vote tory (or LibDem) to keep out the SNP up here - they will have helped Cameron admirably







Yes Red Fred your comment is spot on LOL!!!!!

Sandie Shaw
Puppet On A String lyrics
Post my meaningWrite my explanationnew
New! Read & write lyrics explanations
Highlight lyrics and explain them to earn Karma points.
I wonder if one day that, you'll say that, you care
If you say you love me madly, I'll gladly, be there
Like a puppet on a string

Love is just like a merry-go-round
With all the fun of a fair
One day I'm feeling down on the ground
Then I'm up in the air
Are you leading me on?
Tomorrow will you be gone?

I wonder if one day that, you'll say that, you care
If you say you love me madly, I'll gladly, be there
Like a puppet on a string

I may win on the roundabout
Then I'll lose on the swings
In or out, there is never a doubt
Just who's pulling the strings
I'm all tied up in you
But where's it leading me to?

I wonder if one day that, you'll say that, you care
If you say you love me madly, I'll gladly, be there
Like a puppet on a string

I wonder if one day that, you'll say that, you care
If you say you love me madly, I'll gladly, be there
Like a puppet on a string

Like a puppet on a..... String

CC excels himself with the post above... just when you thought his C&P's couldn't get any longer -):

Going down with Burnley Stan ...... Labour in Scotland LOL!!!!!

We are staying up.. say we are staying up -):

:0)