DO-IT-YOURSELF SOLAR?
A few years back, we trotted off to the hills of south Tipperary to see a renovation job being completed by a friend. The work was beautifully done, finished to a high standard, and even included a small DIY solar panel system. Our friend, whom we affectionately refer to as The Fool on the Hill, loves to tinker and swears he learned a lot by getting his own hands into the installation.
For me, words like ladder, roof, current, and voltage scream “Hands Off!” Others, though, may think of tackling the installation of a renewable, micro-generating electrical system as part of a journey to energy independence.
Even if you are one of those souls for whom such a journey is an important part of going green, it’s probably a good idea to look before you leap. Especially given the whole “climbing around on the roof of the house” part of this.??
The basics of DIY solar
It is completely legal in Ireland to install your own solar panel system. That said, there are regulations of which you need to be aware.
In general, it is no longer necessary to get planning permission to install solar panels, but the array of panels must be no less than 50cm from the ridgeline and edge of the roof at all points. If your house is a period or historically significant listed building, you should ask your local authority for specific advice.
Any equipment you use must comply with Irish and EU safety and environmental rules. That means you’ll need to be able to document that key components, like the inverter, conform to what’s called the “IS EN 50549-1 standard” and that any other hardware used in your installation bears the “CE” mark.
In Ireland, you cannot by law do this job entirely by yourself – ?a certified electrician must handle the final electrical work and the connection to the national grid. Your electrician will also have to notify the ESB when your installation has been completed, using a form called an NC6.
With those basics understood, “do-it-yourselfers” will likely turn to YouTube for expertise. So, let’s have one of these “expert” tutorials flag up some of the potential pitfalls of trying to install a solar panel system yourself. Will Prowse is described on the web as the “go-to expert for DIY solar enthusiasts”, so it’s useful to see the note of caution he includes in his tutorials.
His “Top Ten Beginner Mistakes” give a fair and comprehensive overview of potential problems to which anyone hoping to install their own energy system needs to be aware of.
These include:
According to Prowse, any one of these common mistakes could leave you with a non-functioning system, and require expensive corrections or replacement parts. What’s more, improper installation that leads to damaged equipment may void the manufacturer's warranty – and cost more money.
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Some mistakes – like using the kind of cheap copper-clad aluminium cables readily available on Amazon – are also serious fire hazards. “Avoid them,” Prowse says, “like the plague!”
If you’re home-repair savvy enough to have fully understood Prowse’s DIY solar advice, then you may want to consider taking on the installation of your solar system yourself. As we’ve stressed here before (and will continue to do time and again), the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels has reached critical levels, and you’ll become an important link in the chain of change-makers by going solar.?
On the other hand, perhaps having looked closely at what is involved, you want to go ahead with installing solar, but are a bit daunted about taking on the project yourself.
First off, stop beating yourself up. We’re not all meant to be electricians, and we’re not all meant to have goat-like fearlessness about rooftop work. Just by considering a DIY job, and reading up on the process, you’ll become a lot more “solar smart”. You’ll be able to ask the right questions of any professional installer you approach, get the best price and system for you, and you’ll be ready and able to share your knowledge with others when you get the inevitable questions about going solar.
Secondly, most DIY jobs are motivated not by “the fun of it” but by the assumption of significant financial savings. Back in the day when the “Fool On The Hill” was installing his solar panel system, those savings were substantial.
That’s not necessarily true in 2023. While some savings are still possible from a DIY solar installation, competition for work among a growing supply of professional installers and advances in technology, mean the cost difference between a DIY and a professional installation has dwindled.
In addition, the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEAI) offers specific?grants?for installing solar panel systems,?worth up to €2,100. ?A DIY solar installation may make you ineligible for the grant, as – to ensure adherence to the required safety and environmental standards –? the guidelines require?homeowners to use an SEAI-registered professional installer.
There are other factors that may affect the overall cost of your solar panel system. Getting the most out of your system requires knowing how many solar panels to install and angling those panels for optimum sun exposure. Failing to do that well can reduce the effectiveness of the system leading to lower generating capability. If your solar panel system doesn’t produce enough electricity to meet your household’s needs, you’ll have to purchase the extra electricity you require. That will impact both any savings, and the time it takes for your investment to pay for itself.
The bottom line?
Weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding to attempt a solar panel installation on your own. First, make sure you have a friend willing to foot the ladder….
Then, if cost is driving your decision, make careful calculations that factor in using the best equipment available to the DIY customer – as close as possible to the standard a professional could obtain.
With the facts – and your hard-earned knowledge in hand – shop around for the best price from a reputable installer.