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

Doc_N

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

OMG, I've shot myself in the foot twice. I'm cutting my grass with a petrol mower - so that is 66% tax rather than 0% cost from tax subsidised PV panels.

Seriously thought has anyone found a well engineered, easy to use electric mower of about 2kWp ?

Maybe one of these (Bosch Rotak 40):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Ergoflex-Electric-Lawnmower-Cutting/dp/B004GTMNXI/

Or the Rotak 43?

grahamc2003

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

OMG, I've shot myself in the foot twice. .

Well I hope you used some sort of electrically powered gun, and that it was at a sunny lunchtime. Every little helps.

jackieblack

grahamc2003 wrote: »

Well I hope you used some sort of electrically powered gun, and that it was at a sunny lunchtime. Every little helps.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

orrery

Cardew wrote: »

I believe I raised the issue of costs and stated '2 cups will cost under a penny'
If my 'back of a fag packet' maths are correct that 0.1kWh is sufficient energy to raise 1 litre of water by 90C.
My tea cups are 0.25 litres not 0.5 litres.

OK, I got out the kettles and the meter and did some tests. Before anyone comments: I'm making a 'real' comparison for how we use the kettles in this house. When the big kettle is put on we fill to at least half way up the scale (very wasteful) or the small kettle is filled to 'max' (I didn't bother with the secondary boiling to make sure that the water is hot since it went off the boil).

So, big kettle:
2kW, 0.15kWh @ 11p = 1.65p

Small 500W kettle:
630W (!!!), 0.05kWh @ 11p = 0.55p

So in this house the saving is 1.1p without any solar contribution - with solar, the saving becomes impossible to calculate, depending on your assumptions: anywhere from zero to 1.65p.

sly_dog_jonah

Doc_N wrote: »

Maybe one of these (Bosch Rotak 40):

www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Ergoflex-Electric-Lawnmower-Cutting/dp/B004GTMNXI/

Or the Rotak 43?

I went for a £99 Rotak 36 when we moved into our house. Does the job well but if you've a bigger garden you way want a larger size like Doc N suggested. Ours is 1400W so easily less than our generated power on a good day, which today most certainly isn't - the grass will appreciate the rain though I'm sure.

Cardew

orrery wrote: »

OK, I got out the kettles and the meter and did some tests. Before anyone comments: I'm making a 'real' comparison for how we use the kettles in this house. When the big kettle is put on we fill to at least half way up the scale (very wasteful) or the small kettle is filled to 'max' (I didn't bother with the secondary boiling to make sure that the water is hot since it went off the boil).

So, big kettle:
2kW, 0.15kWh @ 11p = 1.65p

Small 500W kettle:
630W (!!!), 0.05kWh @ 11p = 0.55p

So in this house the saving is 1.1p without any solar contribution - with solar, the saving becomes impossible to calculate, depending on your assumptions: anywhere from zero to 1.65p.

If I understand you correctly, you boil lots of water by half filling the big 2kW kettle, and are comparing it the contents of the small 500w/630w kettle.

If the half filled big kettle uses 3 times more electricity than the small kettle, then logically you are boiling three times more water*.


If your small kettle boils sufficient for two cups for 0.55pence then that supports what I stated(and started the great kettle debate!!) i.e. 'it costs less than a penny to boil enough water for 2 cups.'

* Ignoring different heat losses from kettles.

Cardew

don0301 wrote: »

It's so funny, time and again you 'lecturing' people with solar panels (not having them) how they don't work, or 'how' they should manage them, or 'how' discussing it on a thread titled 'how do i make the most of them' and having been told several times to 'take it somewhere else' you persist with your nonsense? most people here, are learning and discovering, and enjoying. are you really that anti cos your big mansion is listed and you can't have? why are you so anti?

shoo? it just doesn't work does it?

ps thanks for subsidising my FiT

Another post up to your usual standard. 'No doubt 'Mart' will thank you soon!

EricMears

Rather different day today than yesterday !

Yesterday 16kwh, today I've just struggled up to 500w - which is leaving a surplus over base load of 100w so I'm charging my mobile phone to celebrate

Some signs of brightness moving in from West. Maybe I'll be able to have a free cup of coffee with lunch ? :beer:

EricMears

Cardew wrote: »

Another post up to your usual standard. 'No doubt 'Mart' will thank you soon!

It does seem a little strange that anyone without solar panels should feel they have anything to contribute to a thread entitled "So now I have a solar PV system how do I make the most of it???" . I certainly joined the debate hoping that someone would be offering useful pointers on how to maximise the advantages of having them.

One minor error that's crept in (and quoted above): just because a building is 'listed' doesn't necessarily mean that solar panels can't be fitted- it just means that you can't assume automatic planning consent. There have been several recent examples of very old churches (which should have listed status) being allowed to fit panels on South facing rooves which canot be seen from the ground. Or of course, many listed buildings would have a few spare acres of land and could put a ground mounted array in the South meadow.

grahamc2003

Hello Eric. I see you've given your opinion on the 'Home Powerpack'.

Strange, I didn't realise any had been sold.

Or, just a minute, you're not passing opinions without owning one are you?