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

kfsimpson

Doc_N wrote: »

£650 quoted for me for an ImmerSUN
. Not at all sure it's an economic proposition at that price.

I have a local electrician coming later today to see me re fitting an Immersun or other device, should be much cheaper than a 'recognised' solar installer. He can source the device at trade price, although he will apparently have to pay 20% VAT - only the MCS installers pay the 5% VAT, he thinks. Will post what he comes up with.

silverwhistle

I had a pv system installed today along with an iboost for £210 including vat, and I've already got a a hot immersion from the generation from mid/late afternoon.
If it's as bright tomorrow morning as it was today a little lie-in should mean a hot tank again!

kfsimpson

silverwhistle wrote: »

I had a pv system installed today along with an iboost for £210 including vat, and I've already got a a hot immersion from the generation from mid/late afternoon.
If it's as bright tomorrow morning as it was today a little lie-in should mean a hot tank again!

Thanks - really like the look of this, minimum disruption to wiring, nothing needed on fuse box. I suppose technically there is the additional cost of a couple of batteries each year .... Have sent the info on this device to my electrician.

erik99_2

People have already said the obvious stuff, like using appliances at different times, but has anyone thought of setting the tumble-drier to half-heat, so that a higher proportion of the energy used is from the solar? Of course, you have to leave it on for longer!

orrery

erik99 wrote: »

People have already said the obvious stuff, like using appliances at different times, but has anyone thought of setting the tumble-drier to half-heat, so that a higher proportion of the energy used is from the solar? Of course, you have to leave it on for longer!

Yep, but it may not help. If the dryer reaches half heat using the same element, and turns it on and off to maintain that temperature you don't gain anything.

tunnel

erik99 wrote: »

People have already said the obvious stuff, like using appliances at different times, but has anyone thought of setting the tumble-drier to half-heat, so that a higher proportion of the energy used is from the solar? Of course, you have to leave it on for longer!

My 4kWp system provides more than enough to use the tumble dryer on full heat AND the washing machine at the same time, assuming the suns shining that is. I did replace both these white goods over a year ago to more energy efficient models though.

John_Pierpoint

orrery wrote: »

Yep, but it may not help. If the dryer reaches half heat using the same element, and turns it on and off to maintain that temperature you don't gain anything.

I've got two elements - one almost unused.

Glynn_Fletcher

I had a solar array fitted in January this year and after a couple of weeks I realised that when I was generating more than I used the resultant was "GIVEN" back to the electricity board. After a few enquiries I came across INTELLIGENT IMMERSION (or I2) this sent all the unused generated power to my immersion heater. I cannot yet say how much it well save but by January I may be in a better position to so do. I will post then when the first year is up.
In the meantime I believe the INTELLIGENT IMMERSION box to be brilliant. It took about 1 hour to fit and could be done by a modest amateur electrician.
It cost £250.00 and will probably pay for itself in 1-2 years as it's saving me quite a lot on heating oil.

orrery

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

I've got two elements - one almost unused.

But the questions are: Does everyone have two elements? Does the OP have two elements?

cannonballdaze

Use a low wattage electric kettle.

We boil quite a lot of tea, fruit tea and coffee. I bought a 1 kW Travel Kettle to replace my large 2 kW kettle.

This means that, during the day, whenever the system is generating less than 2 kW (quite a lot of the time), I save money and CO2 as, although the kettle takes longer to boil at 1kW, it uses more of my solar power and less of the power from the mains.

The savings can be significant.

I had the idea after putting a consumption meter on my kettle socket and finding out that, given energy saving bulbs etc., much of our electricity usage was the kettle.

Cheers - Joe