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

ChopperST

Sorry didn't make my post clear, no it can't.

orrery

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

Er, ok, thought it was you who was asking for ways of diverting leccy.

Thanks, but no, that came from the various responses - I was asking about any conflict or warnings about having solar PV and then getting a smart meter installed. Are there any known issues?

The answer may be 'no'.

Captain_eco

Cardew wrote: »

Asked several times and someone stated that there is such a system but that it costs several thousands of pounds.

Hi guys im new on here, was interested by the link (obviously) I'm in Norfolk and a company called ecowattsolar did my installation and they included lots of extras to maximise my return and savings, I've got a monitor system which is great, a voltage optimiser which 'uses my solar electicity more effecently by around 15%' and the best thing is this aqua genie water thing, not sure how it all works, but basically when the wife or myself are not using all the electric being generated then this device clicks over and heats my water tank, and then when we do use more, it clicks off, so effectively giving us free hot water. I do highly recommend you guys take a look, reasonable prices as well, I dont know what it is so I can't post a number, but i think its ecowattsolar.com.

after seeing what these devices can do, i'm hungry for more, have any of you guys found any other cool products that i can use?

irco

Captain_eco wrote: »

Hi guys im new on here, was interested by the link (obviously) I'm in Norfolk and a company called ecowattsolar did my installation and they included lots of extras to maximise my return and savings, I've got a monitor system which is great, a voltage optimiser which 'uses my solar electicity more effecently by around 15%' and the best thing is this aqua genie water thing, not sure how it all works, but basically when the wife or myself are not using all the electric being generated then this device clicks over and heats my water tank, and then when we do use more, it clicks off, so effectively giving us free hot water. I do highly recommend you guys take a look, reasonable prices as well, I dont know what it is so I can't post a number, but i think its ecowattsolar.com.

after seeing what these devices can do, i'm hungry for more, have any of you guys found any other cool products that i can use?

Hi,
This may have been mentioned before but I have not read through the entire thread as I have just recently had Solar PV panels fitted (4kw system) and have just found this thread.
I have an immersun unit fitted which does the same as mentioned above i.e. diverts excess electricity from panels to my immersion heater. The unit has additional outputs so that if hot water cylinder gets up to temp it switches over to the second output to which I have connected 2 x 850w storage heaters, while this will not fully cater for all my heating needs it goes a long way to raising the temp in my sitting/dining room so that the central heating is only on for a short time to top up the heat.
The unit can also be set set to cycle between the immersion and storage heaters on a user set time scale and has proved very successful so far.
So I am not only saving on electricity bills but gas as well.

Doc_N

Presumably these devices (Immersun etc) are coming down in price as they get more popular?

Any advice as to which are best, most reliable etc? And prices, including fitting?

theboylard

Doc_N wrote: »

Presumably these devices (Immersun etc) are coming down in price as they get more popular?

Any advice as to which are best, most reliable etc? And prices, including fitting?

These surplus diverters don't seem to be getting any cheaper, having a quick look around, which makes me think something is dodgy?
Prices are sub £200 to way in excess of £400, a number of posters here have different ones and we all have an opinion!!

They can all be fitted by a competent sparky, does not need to be your pv installer although you'll pay less vat if bought at same time as your pv system.

They all do the same thing, you can even build your own with, I believe, one of the regulars on here being an architect of one design?

Have a look at https://www.openenergymonitor.org for info and costings of a homebuild.

Dave_Fowler

theboylard wrote: »

These surplus diverters don't seem to be getting any cheaper, having a quick look around, which makes me think something is dodgy?
Prices are sub £200 to way in excess of £400, a number of posters here have different ones and we all have an opinion!!

They can all be fitted by a competent sparky, does not need to be your pv installer although you'll pay less vat if bought at same time as your pv system.

They all do the same thing, you can even build your own with, I believe, one of the regulars on here being an architect of one design?

Have a look at www.openenergymonitor.org for info and costings of a homebuild.

I'd be happy to help anyone wishing to build a copy of the solar power diverter I designed (now in its second year of use). The design and build is not for the faint-hearted though.

Dave F

forestwn6

There are several companies who make stand alone units to divert any surplus energy from your solar panels to your hot water storage tank. The system monitors your generation and your imported units.
Any excess of generation over import is then fed to your hot water tank.
My brother had one fitted shortly after having solar panels installed, and now rarely has to separately top up his hot water heating. From memory I think it cost in the order of £500, with a payback of 2-3 years.

Dave_Fowler

forestwn6 wrote: »

There are several companies who make stand alone units to divert any surplus energy from your solar panels to your hot water storage tank. The system monitors your generation and your imported units.
Any excess of generation over import is then fed to your hot water tank.
My brother had one fitted shortly after having solar panels installed, and now rarely has to separately top up his hot water heating. From memory I think it cost in the order of £500, with a payback of 2-3 years.

Two to three years payback period suggests he is saving £200 a year on hot water heating. He is either using a lot of hot water or he is heating it by expensive oil.

I normally would use gas to heat my hot water. Using the PV diverter I did not need to use any gas between mid May until well into October last year. During the winter months there was also a saving. I reckon I may have saved about £65 in the year.

Dave F

Doc_N

Dave_Fowler wrote: »

Two to three years payback period suggests he is saving £200 a year on hot water heating. He is either using a lot of hot water or he is heating it by expensive oil.

I normally would use gas to heat my hot water. Using the PV diverter I did not need to use any gas between mid May until well into October last year. During the winter months there was also a saving. I reckon I may have saved about £65 in the year.

Dave F

Thanks. Based on those figures a professionally installed system needs to come down quite a bit in price before I'd consider it worthwhile.