So now I have a solar PV system how do I make the most of it???

davidj4328

Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but if you have certain types of inverters, they have a built in relay which can switch a load from 1kW upwards. With a little modification (by a qualified electrician) you can switch an immersion heater in your water tank. I recommend the immersion is changed for a 1kW unit (this will allow it to be used for more periods throughout the year) although you could use a bigger one. Once the inverter is set up and the small modification completed to the circuit, when the inverter is generating higher than the set limit the relay will operate and switch on the immersion. This will reduce the amount of work your boiler is having to do and therefore reducing your gas bill. In the summer it will probably be enough to not use your boiler at all

don0301

davidj4328 wrote: »

Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but if you have certain types of inverters, they have a built in relay which can switch a load from 1kW upwards. With a little modification (by a qualified electrician) you can switch an immersion heater in your water tank. I recommend the immersion is changed for a 1kW unit (this will allow it to be used for more periods throughout the year) although you could use a bigger one. Once the inverter is set up and the small modification completed to the circuit, when the inverter is generating higher than the set limit the relay will operate and switch on the immersion. This will reduce the amount of work your boiler is having to do and therefore reducing your gas bill. In the summer it will probably be enough to not use your boiler at all

sounds like sales pitch

ok, a bite...

which?

davidj4328

don0301 wrote: »

sounds like sales pitch

ok, a bite...

which?

Apologies for it sounding like a sales pitch not intentional but I must declare an interest as a contracts manager for a electrical/plumbing/renewables company. The SMA Sunny Boy 3000tl, 4000tl and 5000tl inverters (also on the schueco inverters of the same names) have this facility and you connect it via a contactor.

don0301

davidj4328 wrote: »

Apologies for it sounding like a sales pitch not intentional but I must declare an interest as a contracts manager for a electrical/plumbing/renewables company. The SMA Sunny Boy 3000tl, 4000tl and 5000tl inverters (also on the schueco inverters of the same names) have this facility and you connect it via a contactor.

I guess this sort of feature will become more common in time.

no bad thing

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

cazarol wrote: »

Thanks for the replies Dave and Mart. (Can't quote both I'm afraid)

The Multi-Quote button is your friend...

Uncle_Rob

There has been some correspondence about consumption meters measuring net consumption and not being able to differentiate between import and export power. My generation meter and AC isolator etc are installed in the meter cupboard (outside the house) so it was relatively easy to get the sensor onto the feed to the distribution board (fuse board in old money) which is after the junction of the incoming supply with the Solar PV generated supply. I have two remote monitors, one shows power generation, the other gross consumption, so it is easy to see how much is available.

don0301

Uncle_Rob wrote: »

There has been some correspondence about consumption meters measuring net consumption and not being able to differentiate between import and export power. My generation meter and AC isolator etc are installed in the meter cupboard (outside the house) so it was relatively easy to get the sensor onto the feed to the distribution board (fuse board in old money) which is after the junction of the incoming supply with the Solar PV generated supply. I have two remote monitors, one shows power generation, the other gross consumption, so it is easy to see how much is available.

You then, have achieved what many here have not

scientia potentia est !

pharmachris

I've got economy 7 that we have always used for our dishwasher, washing machine and hot water apart from the night storage heaters, so What do I do use the DW & WM according to weather ie on good bright days in the day time and in the winter or very dull days at night. It seems that would really need to check what is being generated before I switch anything on.:money:

Martyn1981

pharmachris wrote: »

I've got economy 7 that we have always used for our dishwasher, washing machine and hot water apart from the night storage heaters, so What do I do use the DW & WM according to weather ie on good bright days in the day time and in the winter or very dull days at night. It seems that would really need to check what is being generated before I switch anything on.:money:

You're spot on. If sunny, the free but variable leccy, but if not then guaranteed cheap leccy at night.

I suspect you'll become a bit of a weather junkie.

If you don't mind me asking, how much is the 'fee' for having E7? Is it still worth it with PV? If you use storage heaters, then I suspect it definitely is, and you now have the options of cheap or free(ish) leccy to choose from. Cool!

As PV becomes more widespread, I suspect there will be all sorts of tariffs offered to maximise its use.

Mart.

larkim

Even without storage heaters, what would the maths work out like for E7 for someone with a RaR system? When does the cheaper leccy kick in from?

Matt