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

ABrass

If you don't get SEG then each extra kWh you consume using your battery will save you 34p with current prices.

You'll get the most benefit from the first 3kWh or so, after that it will be less useful to you as you'll charge it less often.

I'm a fan of Pylontechs, cheap, easily available and widely used.

glaciotim

Ok great - its a 3 bed terrace, my partner works from home so useful already when they're producing. I'll find out/work out the baseline kWh need and let you know.

Apologies for stupid question but I assume they must have installed an inverter for the panels, so if we were to buy a battery, would we need an inverter or some sort of controller to talk between the two?

paul991

several other people on here who have just got free panels are claiming seg so might be worth double checking your contract .It  may be worth installing a cheap monitor like the shelley so you know exactly how much your importing and exporting.Then comparing that info with which appliances you are using. Anything that causes heat uses the most energy.If you have a hot water tank consider a solar diverter.second output to a small  heater,heated towel rail ect

orrery

glaciotim said:

Apologies for stupid question but I assume they must have installed an inverter for the panels, so if we were to buy a battery, would we need an inverter or some sort of controller to talk between the two?

Yes, you need an inverter. Now you have solar, you'll need an A.C. coupled inverter (just connects to the mains). It should have a CT sensor that clips around the incoming mains wire which will detect whether you are exporting (and therefore charge the battery) or importing (and therefore to generate power from the batteries). Some also have a CT sensor which clips on the solar mains feed, but I suspect that this is only to draw graphs.

themaverick1953

We had solar fitted in August with 12.3 KwH battery storage. I can see the batteries will quickly fill in the summer half of the year. Wondering about fitting a timer to the immersion heater so I can switch it on for an hour at noon. Anyone done anything like this?

EricMears

themaverick1953 said:

We had solar fitted in August with 12.3 KwH battery storage. I can see the batteries will quickly fill in the summer half of the year. Wondering about fitting a timer to the immersion heater so I can switch it on for an hour at noon. Anyone done anything like this?

Not quite as described  I have a timer om my immersion that runs it during my 'GoFaster' period at 8.25ppu,

I wouldn't consider trying to run immersion from my solar power as it would use 3kW and I very seldom have that much excess.  Also,  any shady period would see me buying power at 34ppu.

If you're on a non 'time of use' tariff and relying on immersion anyway,  it would be a different story : using immersion at midday would indeed make it cheaper (but probably not free) to run than it would have cost in the evening.

themaverick1953

I haven't heard of Go Faster or ppu? I would just throw the switch for an hour or half hour at midday on cloud free days.

QrizB

themaverick1953 said:

We had solar fitted in August with 12.3 KwH battery storage. I can see the batteries will quickly fill in the summer half of the year. Wondering about fitting a timer to the immersion heater so I can switch it on for an hour at noon. Anyone done anything like this?

Yes, or you can go smarter.

I've got a Zigbee switch and there are a few people on the forum with this WiFi switched fused spur (or a related model):
https://www.superlecdirect.com/time-guard-wi-fi-controlled-fused-spur-FSTWIFI

EricMears

themaverick1953 said:

I haven't heard of Go Faster or ppu? I would just throw the switch for an hour or half hour at midday on cloud free days.

'GoFaster' is an Octopus tariff intended for EV users.  ppu = Pence Per Unit 

Your original question asked about fitting a timer !

orrery

QrizB said:

Wondering about fitting a timer to the immersion heater so I can switch it on for an hour at noon. Anyone done anything like this?

Yes, or you can go smarter...

Or this (WiFi only) works with TuyaSmart App as well:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09P88YF2W/

I've got one to fit. I've connected it to WiFi and checked out the settings and it seems to work fine. It won't get fitted properly until I get the batteries installed in a few weeks.