Renewables: "talking 'bout my generation"

nobby1963

shavy65 wrote: »

This might be (probably is) a stupid question but is there any way I can tell when I have a full tank of hot water? My red LED on my immersion switch (fused spur) glows brighter the more electricity I`m diverting, with it obviously being out during cloudy/dark times! I thought I`d see the LED glowing bright red (during high generation/low usage times) and then dull off, or even switch off, as the hot water tank reached it`s setpoint. Anyone know?
At the moment the light never seems to go totally out during higher generation times.
Cheers.

Hi,
My Immersun box - we have it next to our main fuse box / fit meter & solar isolation switch - displays 'water hot ' when the immersion tank is fully hot.
We also have what used to be the switch to turn on our immersion heater that has a red light on it to show that it's On ( or should I say that's what it used to signify ) now as its always in the On position the light only shows red when there is solar power going to the immersion tank. It flickers / glows constantly as power is diverted and then glows constantly when the tank is fully hot - even if there is no longer solar power being diverted to it.
Hope that makes sense.
Nobby.

shavy65

Yeah that`s the red light I was reffering to. So when you say "then glows constantly when the tank is fully hot - even if there is no longer solar power being diverted to it." How do you know if it`s glowing constantly because it`s diverting or glowing constantly because the tank`s fully hot?
Thanks for reply.

EricMears

shavy65 wrote: »

Yeah that`s the red light I was reffering to. So when you say "then glows constantly when the tank is fully hot - even if there is no longer solar power being diverted to it." How do you know if it`s glowing constantly because it`s diverting or glowing constantly because the tank`s fully hot?
Thanks for reply.

Basically, you can't tell.

The Immersun (or similar units) will supply electricity to the IH circuit whenever you would have been exporting. Immersun 2 supplies a reduced voltage if you don't have the full 3kW spare; Immersun 1 & competitors supply out of phase power in similar circumstances. In those cases the red light will either be full brightness, reduced brightness of flashing (extremely fast ) .

Completely independently of whatever power is supplied, the IH itself will switch off completely when tank temperature exceeds the setpoint. Only way to be sure if IH is heating or not would be to measure voltage (or light a test lamp) across the IH contacts AFTER the thermostat.

shavy65

Thanks Eric, that`s what I thought. I have a basic knowledge of electronics, assuming I`d require a resistor in series with the lamp, any advice on size?

Sterlingtimes

Oscargrouch wrote: »

Spotted that this morning, thought at first your WiFi had done one, then saw the spike at 23:08:00 - 23:08:29 of 32.77 kW Generation. Then you were dead until 6:48 when you had a brief blip and using 21.99 kW; then dead until 09:30 - 09:32 with another blip, then you got back to normal at 09:38; hence Wattson did not register the 1 kWh that your Enphase did?

Thank you, Oscar. Lego and I suffered the same issue, but the problem did not repeat itself. I wonder now whether there was a core network outage (possibly BT) at that time.

Sterlingtimes

Yesterday achieved 3.4 Os. Today at time of posting, I have exceed 4Os. Sad compared with April.

Merlin139

shavy65 wrote: »

This might be (probably is) a stupid question but is there any way I can tell when I have a full tank of hot water?
Cheers.

We have the same problem.
DW "have we got hot water today?"
Me "did you not see the sun?"
DW "yes but not sure if we had enough sun!"
Me "turn the tap on and run it!"
DW "great I can wash up"

Most days we probably only use half a tank if we are lucky. Got used to showering in the desert! :rotfl:

Best day of the month!

Hawaii +

It must have been the effect

May the Fourth be with you!

Unable to use our spare leccy today as both at work!

rosythfifer

Its good to see the sun back. A Hawaii .5

Dave_Fowler

shavy65 wrote: »

Thanks Eric, that`s what I thought. I have a basic knowledge of electronics, assuming I`d require a resistor in series with the lamp, any advice on size?

You could get something like this: http://cpc.farnell.com/pro-elec/9228n/fused-spur-unswitched-with-neon/dp/PL09226. It would be complete and ready to put into a standard surface mounted box. I should imagine most DIY stores would have them in stock too.

A plain neon lamp usually has a 1/4W 470k Ohm resistor in series with the neon bulb.

Dave F

Oscargrouch

Sterlingtimes wrote: »

Thank you, Oscar. Lego and I suffered the same issue, but the problem did not repeat itself. I wonder now whether there was a core network outage (possibly BT) at that time.

Out of interest, would you PM me your set up details? These to include how Wattson Anywhere differs, if at all, from your Holmes data; also what your cycle of transmission your transmitter works on and how your transmitter is wired.

Per sacly A/an Hawaii today.........