Slate roof operations & Sunsynk 12kW 3phase. 20 x 480W Longi as well as FreedomWon 15/12.

[Steve87]

Slate roof operations. This is quite a special type of roof. A very rewarding experience. The Bitumen is key. 

[Steve87]

[Steve87]

[Steve87]

More to follow on the upcoming days. Much to do & not too much time. I have a very healthy respect for slate. It's extremely strong!!!

[zsde]

How were those slate tiles fastened originally? With cement?

[Steve87]

1 minute ago, zsde said:

With cement?

Not at all. Slate uses brass nails to attach to the roof batons or Brandering. Underneath this is bitumen rubber & aluminium membrane. 

[chrisc]

Also have a slate roof

The house was built in 1949 with wooden shingles.  In 1984 when I bought the house, the roof was replaced as follows:

Two layers of malthoid.  New battens on top and the slates attached with copper nails.

For fitting panels, we drilled right through the slate and roof underneath (80mm) and bolted the channels directly.  Put rubber washers between the channels and slate and also filled the holes with silicon.  Used stainless steel bolts

This was done in 2015 with 8 panels and it never leaked and is firm

[Steve87]

8 hours ago, chrisc said:

For fitting panels, we drilled right through the slate and roof underneath (80mm) and bolted the channels directly.  Put rubber washers between the channels and slate and also filled the holes with silicon.  Used stainless steel bolts

This was done in 2015 with 8 panels and it never leaked and is firm

Yes, this is the preferred way to mount especially when requesting from Valsa whom I use exclusively as my main Mounting Structures supplier. However, the idea to invasively drill through a Slate roof tile when in my opinion I have a more simpler solution from the same company. The mounting structure I use is the Roman roof tile mount & the bracket is completely adjustable in height so we attach in the same way to the Roof trusses as in the Roman tiled mount & it is just as rigid & strong. 

The roof mount you mention for the slate roof mount is this one. Its engineering is much more stronger & robust but that rubber gasket seal worries me a bit with age. 

[chrisc]

The device that VALSA sell today is very similar to the one I designed and made myself in 2015.

Drilling through slate is very easy.  A slow speed SDS bit got through both layers in under 10 seconds.   Fitting a bracket with the way the roof is made would not have been possible, as its 80mm from inside to outside

Its not rubber but compressed nitrile which I got from Rubber Products in Maitland.  It is still flexible after 8 years

[Steve87]

[BritishRacingGreen]

58 minutes ago, Steve87 said:

Well done, old chap

 

[Chaos]

Looks good! Maybe I dodged a bullet, but seems if I had stuck with the slate installation you would have it well under control.
A lot more effort, but shows it's completely do-able and you need to get someone who understands slate properly.
Note: This isn't my installation, but I have a similar situation...luckily with an IBR area that will make life easier.
That's a good looking install Steve.

[Steve87]

I must admit I enjoy working with it. It's quite special though & at least the pitch in this case was not so steep. Makes for a much easier time at work. 

[Steve87]

[Steve87]

[Steve87]

[Steve87]

[Steve87]

[root]

DC and AC cables in the same trunk?

[Steve87]

Very interesting question...Sprague within the trunking. Sprague trunk the AC cables. 

Edited March 8, 2023 by Steve87

[Steve87]

Makes for an overall much neater installation & complies with the code. That trunking is the 100mm X 100mm trunking. It's very large on the inside & I prefer the extra space. 

[Emie]

Absolutely! Slate roofs are a lovely and distinctive roofing system that may significantly increase any property's value and visual appeal. Thin sheets of natural slate stone are often used for these roofs, which are painstakingly stacked and erected to produce a resilient and long-lasting covering.

[TestTube]

On 2023/03/07 at 6:44 PM, Steve87 said:

I like your installation. I have to do something similar also with a freedom battery (smaller though). Just puzzled as to where you put the DC disconnect and fuses for the battery since it's not visible in the photos? Also no disconnect for the panels - using the fuses as switches?

Edited April 21, 2023 by TestTube
better grammar

[chrisc]

I have a Grade 2 listed house in Lime Regis in West Dorset England which was built in 1870.  It has the original slate roof and a big pile of tiles which came from a quarry in Wales.  It was only listed in 1980 which means all improvements prior to this must remain

The house had water-borne sewerage fitted in 1890 and electricity in 1929.  It did an upgrade of the electrical system in 1999, replaced all the cloth and rubber-coated wires, 20 fuses in 4 huge boxes.  

Double-glazing was fitted to the windows in 1976 by the previous owner when she fitted gutters and downpipes.  She was a distant relative with no children and my 2 cousins (one who has since died) and I inherited the house in 1997

The local council will not allow solar panel fixtures to be mounted on the house roof, which in any case is too small, but later this year, will fit 12 panels to the stables roof at the back.  The local council received a grant from the Heritage Risk Secretary for £92000 which will meet the cost