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The DNO said no
I have previously mentioned that due to an oversight a DNO application wasn’t submitted at the time my panels were installed. A retrospective application was submitted for 10kw as I wanted to add a few more panels. I have now heard back from my installer that the DNO has said we can’t export more than 5.9kw without…
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Solar Panels and Smart Meters - compatibility
Hi, I have solar panels on my roof (4Kwp). Now that only SMETS2 smart meters can be installed, can I go ahead and get one. Anyone have experience of this please. I've read of incompatibility issues / lost generation revenue etc. Any advice gratefully received. Cheers - Joe
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Money Moral Dilemma: Should I start spending more to go plastic-free?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... I want to reduce my plastic use, and have made some easy changes such as switching to reusable bags. But sometimes it costs more to use less plastic, eg, buying bars of shampoo and conditioner instead of bottles. Should I fork out more for the planet's sake? Unfortunately the…
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Usage monitoring with solar - Doh!
Hi all, We got our solar system commissioned last Friday and we're slowly learning about its performance and how to shift our energy usage to the daytime etc. One thing made me laugh on Sunday... :o I was using our simple clip-on usage monitor (one that goes on the mains feed and then connects wirelessly to a display unit)…
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Have solar panels, should i get a smart meter?
Just got an email from bulb offering a second generation smart meter. My question is, would it be bad in any way due to my solar panels? I am currently for example deemed for 50% as they cant measure export and i take advantage of this using a iboost to control my immerson heater. My FITS is with EDF. Any advice would be…
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Recycle crisp packets, snack bags, and more with Terracycle
https://www.terracycle.co.uk/en-GB/ I'm currently collecting empty crisp packets at work. Keeps things out of landfill and receive points for chosen charities.
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Export Meter/No Export Meter?
Which get's most cashback? Given that I'm in all day and am running a marine fish & coral aquarium 24/7 the panels will be using at least some energy all the time they are running. Of course there's the usual day to day utilities being used where time of day habits can be altered. I'm wondering what people's thoughts are…
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Agile Octopus
Today is the first day of my using the Agile Octopus tariff for electricity. I signed up to this tariff very much as a matter of interest rather than from an expectation of saving a lot of money. We have got to make some effort to contain our usage from 4 PM to 7 PM. Our base load averages 330 Watts and we have solar. Does…
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Warranty Inverter Replacement
Hi, My Solaredge inverter has failed after only 2 years and SE have agreed a replacement. I initially contacted my installer but his warranty expired 6 weeks ago so he's going to charge me for fitting the replacement. What would you regard as a fair price for this work?
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Sweden as a model for electrification
The period 2030 - 2050 is going to be mass electrification assuming the world is serious about reducing FF usage. So what will electricity demand be like in this period for nations that want to electrify heating and transport? Sweden is perhaps the best (not perfect but the best real world) example of what electrified…
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Hot water tank
My hot water cylinder has a top mounted heating element which is sometimes heated by solar produce electricity. A shower pump sucks water from a position located halfway down the tank. Does the shower pump suck first the hot water at the top of the tank or the cold water at the bottom of the tank? Or is there a blending…
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HELMS Solar Panel advice
Hello, I don't suppose if anyone can assist? A few years ago we had our solar panels installed (in England) with HELMS as part of the green deal.I understand that they went into administration towards the end of last year and wondered who the best parties are to talk to relating to this for advice? Also, we are still with…
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Anyone know of a good ESG index fund
I'd like to invest in an ethical and social governance fund, don't have enough money to pay for a financial advisor and am willing to search myself but I'm confused about what to buy - anyone got any ideas on what to invest in that doesn't fund planet destruction, slavery, arms etc. :beer:
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The DNO said yes
:j:j:j:j Woohoo!! We will not be capped! :j:j:j My solar panels in all their glory now the scaffolding is down.
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MYSTERY SOLVED Sold an unbranded wi-fi inverter stick instead of advertised Solis
Finally got some signal through to the barns by using a signal booster so spent £60 on a Solis data logging stick from ebay complete with warranty etc. There were other unbadged EN2 sticks for £40 on there but obviously no guarantees with them so went for the Solis brand. It arrived this morning and it isn't a Solis stick.…
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Solar IBoost+ experience
Last year when we had solar panels installed we also had a Solar IBoost+ fitted to heat one of the two hot water cylinders in our house. (We have a biggish house so have 2 separate hot water cylinders at each end to cut down losses from long pipe runs.) I love the IBoost in principle but in practice there were a few…
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IBoost Immersion Heating
Hi, My new system is working great but I have now worked out that the IBoost is only heating the top part of my Immersion tank (as you would expect). I understand that you can have a pump fitted but I have just been told of a simple DIY fix, lets see if I can explain it: Basically you take a drain pipe section and put this…
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Economics and environment switching from gch to heat pump?
So our 7yo gas boiler keeps playing up and I am starting to think about whether we could replace it with an ashp or gshp. We use about 32k kWh of gas per annum probably one third hot water, two thirds space heating. Looks like heat pumps work better at lower temps so would probably have to replace rads with doubles (would…
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Off grid and solar
Hello, new to this site and hoping for some good info. We are in the process of sorting out a rural self build, we looked into connecting to the DNO but it will cost approx £7,000 (and we have to hire a digger and dig our own trench!) So looking at plan b. On doing some research we can get a decent 3-4 k solar system with…
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Do you have to have a wi-fi stick to monitor an inverter?
Currently having a solar panel system fitted with a Solis 6 inverter to our barns We have some wi-fi issues with various deadspots etc around the house and due to being unable to receive wi-fi in the barns opted not to bother having the inverter wi-fi stick. How else do we monitor the inverter? We have an iBoost so can see…
