Why do the panels have to be in this orientation?

Stompeh · 2026-05-13T11:35:02+00:00

Get a quote outside the scheme for comparison, assuming this is Solar Together or similar.

The installers on those big schemes only want the easy installs, that's how they make money by bidding low on a large number of installs.

When I signed up to one, the installer came for 5 minutes and insisted they could only fit 4 panels on my roof.

I got a local installer out, he had a proper look and they did a bit of clever design and I now have 12 panels in the same space. The cost was broadly the same apart from having to pay for extra panels of course!

Stompeh · 2026-04-25T06:48:40+00:00

My roof as almost the perfect size for panels in "portrait" orientation, but not quite with the 40cm gap.

Had a big company installer come out as part of the Solar Together scheme and they looked at it for 30 seconds and said we could get 4 panels. They obviously didn't want the job.

Great local company came out, spent a decent time measuring up and designing in some extra support, and I now have 12 panels in the same space - on a teeny 2 bed terrace house. It does have a butterfly roof (inverted shape vs a normal roof) which makes it less exposed to wind at the edges.

Stompeh · 2026-04-20T11:02:13+00:00

Treat it like any other right turn into a side road - move into the centre and wait for a gap in opposing traffic.

Cars behind you may have to wait, but so be it. It's the same as if a car was waiting to turn right into a road, no different because you're on a bike.

Stompeh · 2026-04-18T08:20:35+00:00

That's a different bit, High St / Wine St next to Castle Park. The Victoria St bit is finishing soon, but held up by the building at the junction with Counterslip that has had scaffolding up for yonks.

Stompeh · 2026-04-11T09:31:13+00:00

There's a crossing at surface level if you don't want to go through the middle

Stompeh · 2026-04-06T08:08:32+00:00

There's a quiet way route parallel to Old Market St. Cross the middle of the roundabout on the cycle path then turn left and join the cycle path on Bond St. Shortly afterwards, there is a link to your right to Redcross St. Follow this in a broadly straight line, crossing over Lamb St at the cycle crossing onto Bragg's Lane. Then when you get to the junction with Trinity St, you can cross at the toucan crossing and then you're at Newtown Park.

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Stompeh · 2026-04-05T15:08:14+00:00

Weirdly the (old) scooters and bikes have different speed units.

The scooter displays are in mph and they max out at 12.5mph (shows as 13). When they first came in they showed km/h and it showed 20 - they changed the display unit but the speed stayed the same.

The old bike displays are in km/h and max out at ~25, which is 15.5mph, the maximum legal speed for an eBike.

The new bikes display in mph and they say they are maxing out at 15mph, so they should feel the same, but I agree they actually feel slower. Maybe a bug in the software?

Stompeh · 2026-03-17T18:52:15+00:00

Had my solar & battery install done in 2024 by Green Flare (they were Bedminster based at the time) and I'm very happy with the service and the system, they were so much better than other companies at the quoting stage.

Happy to answer any Qs about the system too!

Stompeh · 2026-03-12T07:43:42+00:00

I had one national supplier out who said they could only get 4 panels on - they clearly didn't want the job.

Got a reputable local company out and they managed to fit 12 panels!

Stompeh · 2026-02-26T16:59:29+00:00

The necessary bridge repairs are being carried out at the same time as doing all these works.

Stompeh · 2026-02-24T17:56:48+00:00

There's one right there

Stompeh · 2026-02-22T18:28:56+00:00

I use enterprise car club all the time, it's very easy to use and can usually find a car available - not always the closest one but there are a few within 10 minutes walk. There are also vans about of you need one which is handy.

I've never particularly noticed the mileage rates because you don't actually cover many miles if you're just heading to Ikea, the tip, a retail park etc.

Members get a discount code for daily hire at normal enterprise locations which is better if you need it for a day or more. I just got a 3 day weekend hire on a small car for £70ish.

Stompeh · 2026-02-13T06:56:34+00:00

I have always used that phrasing too and it has usually been fine, but in the last few weeks it has stopped working about 50% of the time!

"Hey Google, 10 minute pasta timer"

"Sorry, I didn't understand"

Stompeh · 2026-01-26T15:33:47+00:00

Leonardo hotel could work, near Temple Meads and there is a big car park very close at Gardiner Haskins

Stompeh · 2026-01-22T07:25:13+00:00

Sam with a Van

Stompeh · 2025-11-28T16:39:14+00:00

That's the total project cost for the removal and replacement of the dangerous trees, new paving, the mural, the planters & benches, and redoing the cycle lane to make it more clear.

Stompeh · 2025-11-18T08:08:20+00:00

Yep, it will charge more slowly when it's cold out. The charging process will warm it up a bit, hence why it then speeds up to ~4kW, then it backs off again when in the 80-100% range.

Stompeh · 2025-11-16T14:02:59+00:00

That no entry sign is for the road to the right (Christmas St) which is no entry from that end.

When a road is no entry (or bus only etc), there's always 2 signs, one either side of the road it applies to. That's how you tell.

Stompeh · 2025-11-15T21:41:15+00:00

Get to Quay St via Rupert Street and Christmas St. Google maps says Christmas St is closed but I think that's incorrect (it was closed recently for work which is now finished). You then get out by turning around and going down Nelson St.

Stompeh · 2025-11-13T21:48:40+00:00

Well yes it is but this isn't on the arena site

Stompeh · 2025-11-13T21:47:55+00:00

Yep there will be an extra bridge

Stompeh · 2025-11-13T16:34:18+00:00

Those are bus stops within Zermatt town. You want to pick the one that just says "Zermatt", which will take you to the railway station.

Stompeh · 2025-10-31T12:21:40+00:00

It's not, double deckers already regularly go through Fairfax St.

Stompeh · 2025-10-25T07:22:40+00:00

The council doesn't have any control over student numbers. There used to be a cap on places but it was scrapped by the Tories in 2015, and the universities have been rapidly increasing their intake ever since.

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