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

Crowmann

The iBoost came as part of the install - the plus version with two outputs cost around £350. Take the whole storage/iBoost package as £500 then I approx. 50% of my 3650 Kw target will be taken via this route or approx. £200 per annum.


2.5 years for complete pay back? I confess a raging hot storage heater in June - August may not be wanted but I still think 50% will be utilised over the year from the iBoost alone.

edwink

ChrisJD wrote: »

So far as can be determined it is entirely up to whoever pays your FIT. Some use the measured readings, some don't.

We are with Eon for our FIT payments and have a Smart Meter. We are still on 50% deemed export.

Edwink

Crowmann

Thanks Edwink


We too signed up with EON - still not processed the paper work yet!


All is OK, they are just snowed under.

Crowmann

Wild_Rover wrote: »

Thanks for that Crowmann.... did you look for portable storage heater/s or did you consider only a fixed one?

WR

You will not get the heat storage capacity from anything mobile. A 2.7kw storage heater with all 12 'bricks' in weighs a ton. Its the mass that stores the heat so that its still hot late at night.


Previously the house was quite cool at three in the morning (modern 4 bed EPC band C) as the central heating goes off at 10.30pm - now pleasantly warm - well bedroom warm if you get my meaning.


Top move on my part - I have very few so they matter!

Doc_N

There's a simple, flexible and relatively cheap alternative to storage heaters that might suit some people - particularly at this time of year, when it's sunny but cold: straightforward multi-heat radiators.

We use De'Longhi but there are plenty of different makes at pretty reasonable prices.

You need something with low, medium and high settings to match the output from the panels - just use whichever setting best suits the output at the time.

Rheumatoid

Crowmann wrote: »

The iBoost came as part of the install - the plus version with two outputs cost around £350. Take the whole storage/iBoost package as £500 then I approx. 50% of my 3650 Kw target will be taken via this route or approx. £200 per annum.


2.5 years for complete pay back? I confess a raging hot storage heater in June - August may not be wanted but I still think 50% will be utilised over the year from the iBoost alone.

Was that £350 fitted for the iboost+? That's what I have just been quoted and wondered if it was ball park? Looks like they can be had for around £250 so that would be £100 ftting. not sure I can find another leccy to do it for less. Don't know one personally unfortunately.

Not sure how I would use the other output but the original iboosts seem to have been phased out and only available on ebay.

EricMears

Rheumatoid wrote: »

. . . . that would be £100 ftting. not sure I can find another leccy to do it for less.

From my reading of Part P of the Building Regs (but I'm NOT a building inspector or a lawyer !) if you already have an immersion heater circuit in your house then it wouldn't be illegal to modify that circuit and fit a diversion switch into it.

FWIW, I fitted an Immersun myself, it seemed pretty silly not to when (perfectly legally before Part P existed) I'd actually installed the complete electrical system for the house when we were building it and the modification required was pretty trivial.


That does of course require a sufficient degree of electrical expertise to regard yourself as a 'competent person' under older electrical wiring regs.

orrery

EricMears wrote: »

From my reading of Part P of the Building Regs (but I'm NOT a building inspector or a lawyer !) if you already have an immersion heater circuit in your house then it wouldn't be illegal to modify that circuit and fit a diversion switch into it.

You can replace a socket, so there is no problem with replacing the switched outlet with a 13 amp socket and making the rest of the circuit plug-in.

A 3kW immersion is 12.5 amps, so it just works OK.

pinnks

I spoke to 4eco when I bought my second immerSUN. They confirmed you can hang them off a 13A plug if you want to, which is what I do for my second unit.

I too am no Part P expert but my understanding is that you can replace or extend part of your ring main or lighting circuit, just not in wet areas, without having to notify building control or self-certify. This would presumably mean that you can do the same to any other circuit. Also, Part P is notifiable under building regs, so you can, I think, do the work and notify building control who will come and inspect. Whether that is cheaper than a sparks remains to be seen for a 1 hour max job. Different kettle of fish if you are minded to wire the whole house of course, as I too did before Part P came along.

All the diverters do is sit between distribution box and immersion (or whatever) and act as a clever switch. In the simplest scenario, one wire in and one out - 2 or 3 out if you have more than one output of course...

Sterlingtimes

Returning to iBoost. This becomes valueless in April when my VAT inclusive gas usage is charged at £0.0244 per kWh.

iBoost was metered at 825 kWh of diversion last year. At 50% boiler efficiency this would save 825 * 2 * 0.244 = £40.26 per annum.

Alternatively, I could trash the iBoost and earn in metered export 825 * 0.485 = £40.01 per annum.

With metered export and low gas charges the iBoost hardly covers the cost of its own battery.