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

Kernel_Sanders

larkim wrote: »

But can you actually put up with the frustration that is a low powered kettle?!? Personally, I don't drink many hot drinks but they drive me nuts when I'm in a hotel and it takes 10+ minutes for the damned thing to boil!!!

"A watched pot never boils"
The answer to this would be an insulated kettle, except they don't seem to come in low wattages!
However, I have a miniature oven incorporating a hotplate with a highly useful 100w=1050w range. I'm looking for an insulated stove kettle to use on it, but at a reasonable price.

don0301

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

"A watched pot never boils"
The answer to this would be an insulated kettle, except they don't seem to come in low wattages!
However, I have a miniature oven incorporating a hotplate with a highly useful 100w=1050w range. I'm looking for an insulated stove kettle to use on it, but at a reasonable price.

Thermos flask? been mentioned before i think

Kernel_Sanders

don0301 wrote: »

Thermos flask? been mentioned before i think

I have done that before, but as Doc N points out, it's a lot of extra messing about for minimal savings. I just want to refill the kettle as soon as I have poured, and let the cold water absorb the latent heat from the metal, hopefully retaining some of it and so shorten the next boil time.

don0301 wrote: »

I'm confused, as cardew mentioned a timer at midday i guess he was talking about someone not at home during the day.

Off the top of my head*, I seem to recall Cardew comparing somebody only relying on a timer for the savings to somebody doing it manually and that the latter would probably only be around £25 p.a. better off for his trouble. Therefore, it is irrelevant as to whether the former is at home or not.

* N.B. the phrase 'off the top of my head' means that I have a vague memory of something but that I have neither the time nor inclination to go and check it. If incorrect, it is not a reason to claim, at every opportunity, that I presented it as fact .

don0301

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Off the top of my head*, I seem to recall Cardew comparing somebody only relying on a timer for the savings to somebody doing it manually and that the latter would probably only be around £25 p.a. better off for his trouble. Therefore, it is irrelevant as to whether the former is at home or not.

* N.B. the phrase 'off the top of my head' means that I have a vague memory of something but that I have neither the time nor inclination to go and check it. If incorrect, it is not a reason to claim, at every opportunity, that I presented it as a fact .

Your learning from zeupater too? lol

well, as I've posted I'm saving roughly £20 a month since installing solar panels

of course, some from having the panels, but also i am much more aware of the benefit of using them wisely.

The_Green_Hornet

I tell you something, sticking certain posters on the ignore list (you know who you are) makes it a lot quicker (and a lot more enjoyable) reading this forum than it used to be.

However, I just fail to understand why certain people who don't like Solar PV (sorry don't like FITs) come on to a thread entitled So now I have a solar PV system how do I make the most of it??? to keep repeating the same negative message over an over again.

Why don't they go to a moaners and whingers forum? There must be one on the web somewhere which would accommodate them.

don0301

The_Green_Hornet wrote: »

I tell you something, sticking certain posters on the ignore list (you know who you are) makes it a lot quicker (and a lot more enjoyable) reading this forum than it used to be.

However, I just fail to understand why certain people who don't like Solar PV (sorry don't like FITs) come on to a thread entitled So now I have a solar PV system how do I make the most of it??? to keep repeating the same negative message over an over again.

Why don't they go to a moaners and whingers forum? There must be one on the web somewhere which would accommodate them.

I'm sure many don't like me for my humour,apologise for that
but actually this is why i started posting on here

after seeing 'certain people' attacking people on here for no reason than they are 'right' or 'against'

I'm sure GH is not happy me endorsing his correct post, but ignore me, it is.

edwink

EricMears wrote: »

If you fill it to minimum level for need (probably just enough to cover element for one cupful) it shouldn't take anywhere near ten mins to boil (though I appreciate it might feel that way). In the comfort of your own home, it's unlikely anyone really needs a hot drink quite that quickly and you can always pass the time by watching your generation meter tick over and calculating your earnings.

Or of course with a 4kw system running flat out you can use a more powerful kettle than mine. We have our low power one for use in caravan where a standard hookup trips out under the modest load of a normal kettle.

Another useful way of using less electricity and less water when boiling the kettle is to buy a kettle that has the element underneath the metal base of the kettle. That way you can put just one cup of water in it to boil. There is no need to make sure you have covered the element in this type of kettle. I have a 3kw kettle and when I boil just one cup of water it takes just over (or there abouts) a minute to boil one cup.

Just thought this might be useful to you and others as the topic today seems to be kettles. Oh and microwaves!!!

ED

pwllbwdr

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

However, I have a miniature oven incorporating a hotplate with a highly useful 100w=1050w range. I'm looking for an insulated stove kettle to use on it, but at a reasonable price.

But does the hotplate use (say) 200W constantly when set on that setting or does it intermittently fire a higher wattage element? Both result in average power use of 200W but one is likely to suit being supplied from a PV installation and the other won't necessarily.

Martyn1981

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

I have done that before, but as Doc N points out, it's a lot of extra messing about for minimal savings. I just want to refill the kettle as soon as I have poured, and let the cold water absorb the latent heat from the metal, hopefully retaining some of it and so shorten the next boil time.

Funnily enough I do exactly the same. Mrs Martyn1981 doesn't like hot drinks, so I just put one cup's worth in, after pouring a cuppa. I work on the basis that the water in the tap is below room temp (absolutely freezing at this time of year), and the hot kettle will be used to balance it out. Savings are probably next to zero, but it does mean I only have to pick it up once, and there's always a cuppa ready to boil.

I actually like the idea of matching a kettle to generation. But only if it's no bother. Do we really need more and more powerful kettles. Might even help to balance demand slightly with longer and lower power demands.

Anyway, onto better news, baseload easily surpassed at 7am today, 285Watts, already 500Watts. Is that Summer I see peeking round the corner. Next thing is BST, and generation right into the evening peak!

Mart.

EricMears

Martyn1981 wrote: »

I work on the basis that the water in the tap is below room temp (absolutely freezing at this time of year), and the hot kettle will be used to balance it out. Savings are probably next to zero, but it does mean I only have to pick it up once, and there's always a cuppa ready to boil.

Mart.

It wouldn't be adoptable by everyone, but when I'm using a kettle that exceeds my 'free' electricity, I tend to fill it with hot water. Don't do this if you have a hot water cylinder plus header tank in loft but it should be fine with any 'mains pressure DHW system' - e.g. a 'combi boiler' or (like me) a 'Heat Bank'.