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

orrery

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Thanks for the correction about the old standard being 240V not 250V.

In fact, there were 250V supplies. I lived in a house in Chesterfield, Derbyshire between 1953 and 1964 that had a 250V 60Hz supply.

EricMears

orrery wrote: »

In fact, there were 250V supplies. I lived in a house in Chesterfield, Derbyshire between 1953 and 1964 that had a 250V 60Hz supply.

I believe you'll find that the National Grid adopted 240v 50hz re-WW2.

However, in this area (Chesterfield) there were several instances of local 'off-grid' supplies - often as not supplied by a local colliery - which worked to all sorts of 'standards' (even some DC supplies).

cannonballdaze

Hi,

Are there any systems on the market for storing the excess power generated in the day rather than exporting it so that it can be used in the evening / night, this avoiding higher priced mains power ?

I'm thinking of an automated system that diverts the excess to a "battery" and then supplies the house later.

Thx - Joe

Martyn1981

cannonballdaze wrote: »

Hi,

Are there any systems on the market for storing the excess power generated in the day rather than exporting it so that it can be used in the evening / night, this avoiding higher priced mains power ?

I'm thinking of an automated system that diverts the excess to a "battery" and then supplies the house later.

Thx - Joe

Hiya, if you check out this thread, and my post #2 you'll get some ideas and background. Nothing particularly cheap or promising yet.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3912611

Mart.

Plot_Vendor

I have a pulse meter that goes solid red when exporting - to my chagrin, its been solid all day! :mad:

To the other half, I said, "let's do the laundry." It's all done, I was told. What about the hoovering? Done. As was the ironing, the cooking, etc. So, short of standing under the shower gratuitously, I'm stumped as to what to do.

Meanwhile, my meter remains glowing solid red. I could almost swear its taunting me ...

John_Pierpoint

You need to buy a large well insulated hot water tank and then think about an electric car?

EricMears

Plot_Vendor wrote: »

I have a pulse meter that goes solid red when exporting - to my chagrin, its been solid all day!

To the other half, I said, "let's do the laundry." It's all done, I was told. What about the hoovering? Done. As was the ironing, the cooking, etc. So, short of standing under the shower gratuitously, I'm stumped as to what to do.

Meanwhile, my meter remains glowing solid red. I could almost swear its taunting me ...

Of course, when you see your steady red light, you can't really be sure whether you're exporting everything you make or are in the ideal situation of using all of it but the last 10 watts or so. You'd need a proper export meter for that (or perhaps something like my Wattson meter).

But this unbroken sunshine is a bit aggravating. We too have been running the washing machine at every opportunity, dishwashing nearly every day instead of storing it for a full load. I've even taken to pumping my rainwater from basement to loft tanks twice a day instead of the usual one and of course using free electricity for that rather than E7.

Even the 110v immersion heater has been a bit disappointing - I had the thermostat set at an apparent 80deg C but it was switching off at more like 75deg. I do have a 90deg thermostat available - but begrudge switching it off for half an hour whilst I change it.

Cardew

EricMears wrote: »

But this unbroken sunshine is a bit aggravating. We too have been running the washing machine at every opportunity, dishwashing nearly every day instead of storing it for a full load. I've even taken to pumping my rainwater from basement to loft tanks twice a day instead of the usual one and of course using free electricity for that rather than E7.

For people with metered water supply that might well be a false economy.

Severn Trent have one of the cheaper rates for water/sewerage at £2.44 per cubic metre. So 2.44 pence per 10 litres. South West Water rates are double at over £5 per cubic metre - so 5p per 10 litres/

According to WHICH, new washing machines use between 31 litres and 60 litres for an average load. Older machines use more - over 100 litres in some cases.

My washing machine as an example uses 0.4kWh or 0.6kWh on most cycles(rarely a a 0.9kWh cycle). Some 90% of that consumption is for heating @ 3kW.

Making the assumption that all the electricity can be provided from solar(covering the 3kW load) the saving per cycle would be typically 2p to 3p on E7 and 4p to 6p on daytime rates.

However the cost of water for an extra wash could be anything between 8p and 14p with a new machine in Severn Trent area; ranging to 50p in extreme cases for an old machine in the South West.

I don't know what the average might be across the UK - I would have thought 15p????

Then there is the question of extra washing powder!!

The same principle applies to Dishwashers - albeit the electricity savings are greater(provided you have a 'spare' 3kW) and the extra water costs are lower.

Kernel_Sanders

nobby1963 wrote: »

...I am a one fingered typist so I struggle to keep up with replies !

I'm sorry to hear that. Do you get inundated with messages from injury claims companies?

Kernel_Sanders

EricMears wrote: »

We too have been running the washing machine at every opportunity, dishwashing nearly every day instead of storing it for a full load.

I'll admit that I am less inclined to get up off my backside and switch something off during the current bonanza, but one thing I will not do is actively use more power deliberately. Every watt we use in this way means an extra watt (watts?) that will have to be generated from fossil fuels and conveyed (at some loss) to our neighbours. You and I both know that we are being paid in excess of one pound for every kWh that we actually export, an astonishing amount that is being financed by those without access to free electricity; they will be asking if our motivation was 'green' or 'greed'! Frankly, I think you got off lightly with Cardew's reply