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

ChopperST

Its my fault I took my winter tyres off yesterday!

kins77

Hi all, we are having our panels fitted on Monday and I am totally excited about it but there are so many people poo pooing the idea that it's making mad! This is why I have come on here to help me prove them wrong and they will be self funding as long as we change a few habits I.e washing in the day. Fingers crossed xx

EricMears

kins77 wrote: »

. . . . they will be self funding as long as we change a few habits I.e washing in the day. . . . .

But be very careful that you don't celebrate generating one kW by switching on two kW of load !

silverwhistle

Back from playing footie, fortunately a home match, and the sun is still shining so in sequence: a shower, a pot of tea and now the oven is on for the sour dough bread I started earlier. Now the oven is to temperature I might even blow dry my hair!

Yesterday I put the freezer on a timeswitch so that it switches off overnight, and when it came on in the morning it didn't sound upset and make a noisy fuss about getting to temperature again, so that seems a successful idea. Best not to open it overnight, but a bit of planning should sort that.

nigelpm

silverwhistle wrote: »

Back from playing footie, fortunately a home match, and the sun is still shining so in sequence: a shower, a pot of tea and now the oven is on for the sour dough bread I started earlier. Now the oven is to temperature I might even blow dry my hair!

Yesterday I put the freezer on a timeswitch so that it switches off overnight, and when it came on in the morning it didn't sound upset and make a noisy fuss about getting to temperature again, so that seems a successful idea. Best not to open it overnight, but a bit of planning should sort that.

Surely the wear and tear to the freezer will cost you more in the long run than the saved electric

Kernel_Sanders

silverwhistle wrote: »

Yesterday I put the freezer on a timeswitch so that it switches off overnight

11 or 12 hours is too long to have it turned off IMHO. I have mine switched off only for the 6 hours between closedown and the Economy 7 tariff kicking in. Even then, the lid isn't opened for that last hour or so (it's a chest freezer) and an old fluffy car seat cover is doubled over the stock. Freezer isn't opened in the morning until temperature is cold enough.

silverwhistle

nigelpm wrote: »

Surely the wear and tear to the freezer will cost you more in the long run than the saved electric

I don't particularly see why: it won't be switching on and off constantly. The period it's off is a fair bit less than the manual warns about, and I reckon that probably gives a precautionary time ("check your food for defrosting" etc.). I have spare spaces filled with plastic milk bottles full of saline solution. Obviously I'll be keeping an eye on matters, but it's good not to have that hum in the dead quiet of the night when all sounds are magnified and annoying!

Doc_N

silverwhistle wrote: »

I don't particularly see why: it won't be switching on and off constantly. The period it's off is a fair bit less than the manual warns about, and I reckon that probably gives a precautionary time ("check your food for defrosting" etc.). I have spare spaces filled with plastic milk bottles full of saline solution. Obviously I'll be keeping an eye on matters, but it's good not to have that hum in the dead quiet of the night when all sounds are magnified and annoying!

I agree - if anything it'll probably prolong the life of your freezer by reducing the number of off/on motor cycles.

Sounds like a good idea to me - been receiving FIT payments since 2010, and always looking for new ways to use the 'surplus'.

nigelpm

I'm no expert but surely the additional electricity and wear getting the freezer back to its lower temperature negates any savings. The switching on and off as you can is irrelevant as you say.

nigelpm

Surely most important would be to buy a more efficient freezer and keep it fairly full up or not have one at all