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

free_juice?

Cardew wrote: »

Your spreadsheets are amazing, a mine of information - and a great advert for the functionality of Excel!

The data certainly demonstrates how the generated output can vary within minutes.

Thanks Cardew. Today I added a page which allows every day this year to be viewed as a 'thumbnail' graph at a glance as it were. It helps demonstrate just how few sunny days we get - or should that be how few Kent gets?

It's a bit bigger than I would like, 700k, but it is available from here.

square-eyes

Cardew wrote: »

However if it is off-grid you don't get FITs

That is quite true. However, I think the original question was could the CH keep working during a power cut. It would probably be cheaper to buy a small Honda generator to power the CH system (with appropriate changes to the wiring) if it is important to maintain the CH during Winter power cuts.
Sorry, not green but affordable.

Cardew

square-eyes wrote: »

That is quite true. However, I think the original question was could the CH keep working during a power cut. It would probably be cheaper to buy a small Honda generator to power the CH system (with appropriate changes to the wiring) if it is important to maintain the CH during Winter power cuts.
Sorry, not green but affordable.

Not that easy to make the wiring changes for a layman. You need power to the boiler, pump(if separate) and electronics - timer, thermostats etc.

These are usually 'hard wired' i.e. not plug in.

mickyduck

teachergirl wrote: »

Hello everyone. VERY busy time at work so I am just about keeping up with reading the posts but not having time to post. Hi Jackieblack production as follows:


March Expected 274 Actual 347 126%
April Expected 378 Actual 576 152%
May Expected 429 Actual 621 145%
June Expected 418 Actual 531 127%

So far I am very pleased with my production. January and February were below target but I am over expected production in total so far. I expect to get nearly £800 this quarter and as someone said earlier I too am going to put this into my mortgage acount to reduce my repayments. Although I confess to having spent the mopney in my head at least three times.;)
I hope to become mortgage free by christmas this year and then I am going to put my FIT money in an account to help pay for my kids Uni expenses.
To the poster who asked about TESCO I did have my panals installed with them and the only problems I actually had were with the Mark group who tried to run my cables across the middle of my utilty ceiling and made a mess. Tesco did offer to come and look and repair the damage but it was close to Christams and I could not be bothered.
Looks like another sunny day today:j

Hi system being installed today, can you tell me how you estimated the monthly amounts. Would like to monitor my system as closely
TA

SideKick

My first post on this subject. I have been reading up on Solar PV on this forum and elsewhere and have a question.

How does your energy supplier get the actual figures for the solar energy produced? Do they come and read some data from the inverter logging? Or do you have to send data or readings to them?

jackieblack

SideKick wrote: »

My first post on this subject. I have been reading up on Solar PV on this forum and elsewhere and have a question.

How does your energy supplier get the actual figures for the solar energy produced? Do they come and read some data from the inverter logging? Or do you have to send data or readings to them?

Most systems are are installed with a generation meter, you (the householder) read it and submit meter readings to who is paying your FIT, usually quarterly.

Your energy supplier does not get/need these readings unless they are also your FIT provider.

John_Pierpoint

square-eyes wrote: »

That is quite true. However, I think the original question was could the CH keep working during a power cut. It would probably be cheaper to buy a small Honda generator to power the CH system (with appropriate changes to the wiring) if it is important to maintain the CH during Winter power cuts.
Sorry, not green but affordable.

In the bad old days of 3 day week, I know of people who simply switched off at the mains and then wired in a small generator.

By wiring a plug backwards, all one had to do was plug it in & switch on - in that order:eek:

I don't know if the 'elf-and-safety movement has now thought of a method to prevent such "monkey business" ?

I wonder what the interesting result would be if PV panels are installed ?

SideKick

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

By wiring a plug backwards, all one had to do was plug it in & switch on - in that order:eek:

We called that a suicide lead:eek: I once found someone at the place I worked had connected two benches up with such a lead:mad:

SideKick

jackieblack wrote: »

Most systems are are installed with a generation meter, you (the householder) read it and submit meter readings to who is paying your FIT, usually quarterly.

Your energy supplier does not get/need these readings unless they are also your FIT provider.

Many thanks, all understood.

I guess in the future things will become more automated.

John_Pierpoint

Yes you will get an export meter and no longer get an assumed 50% export.