Renewables: "talking 'bout my generation"

k66

As John P. asked; what was your consumption of power last year (pre Solar Months)? It was massive 10537 kWh
The storage heaters are on a separate electrical system so that would need to considered. I have timers on my appliances (only when it is sunny) and rest assured the free power is being used up as much as I can.

Oscargrouch

k66 wrote: »

As John P. asked; what was your consumption of power last year (pre Solar Months)? It was massive 10537 kWh
The storage heaters are on a separate electrical system so that would need to considered. I have timers on my appliances (only when it is sunny) and rest assured the free power is being used up as much as I can.

How are you working out what 'free' power is available ?

k66

I check the sunny beam display output and everything is on timers.Operating when generating. Switch things off when I put kettle etc on then switch on again If it's sunny and cloud free generating over 2.5 I will put on the immersion and set the audible cooker timer to remind me. I assume that around 250w is used biradio, clocks lights etc

EricMears

Oscargrouch wrote: »

Hammered you by 0.0475 kWp Eric, sorry...Not..:rotfl:

Always pleased to hear of anyone generating well. Don't mind at all if they do better than me. Actually, at this time of year almost everone should - my panels are far shallower than would be optimal.

My 80W (& dropping) managed to push daily total from the 10.69 I reported to 10.70kWh

John_Pierpoint

k66 wrote: »

I check the sunny beam display output and everything is on timers.Operating when generating. Switch things off when I put kettle etc on then switch on again If it's sunny and cloud free generating over 2.5 I will put on the immersion and set the audible cooker timer to remind me. I assume that around 250w is used biradio, clocks lights etc

I have an Aurora inverter - designed by Californians and built by Italians (?) - It has an inaccurate desk top display gizmo which displays the number of watts being generated 5 minutes ago plus a small, hopefully a bell curve but usually a porcupine (*) graph of day to date output.

However the real acid test is inside a hinged panel in the hall, amongst a tangle of wires are the "DINOs" importing meter for day and night electricity (a large electronic box incorporating a remotely adjustable time clock) and my small electronic generation meter.
The advantage of these two electronic meters is that they incorporate a red flashing LED. The red light on both meters flashes once per watt recorded and glows constant red if the energy is passing through backwards.
So, one can instantly see if the appliance switched on has mopped up all the spare electricity. With a little experience of the rate of flashing, one can decide if the electricity consumption is free or less than half price.

The danger being that one can switch something on when the electricity is free and forget it.

(*)
For most of December the daily graph was not bell curve or even porcupine, more road-kill hedgehog.

In the summer, because the panels face SE, the graph looks like a beaver, a head shape in the early morning, until the sun clears the shrubs and the adjoining small roof ridge, then a big hump followed by a long tail, because the sun has moved onto the other side of the building.

tunnel

tunnel wrote: »

Flippin heck, Looking at the figures on here thought i'd check my generation,very happy indeed,4.9kWh for the ESE and 6.1 for my SW system,combined 11kWh...am well happy...nearly,wifes been out all flippin day so nearly all been exported:mad:,plus forcast is for snow tonight. Could certainly do without that now we've hit our first double figures.

And the panels are white again this morning :mad:

InVestor_2

12 kWh yesterday

Looking like another good day today

Now, off to maximise my free leccy..:D

EricMears

Today looks even brighter and sunnier than was yesterday :j:j

At least, for most of the time, in between it keeps snowing. And (you've guessed it !) my shallow panels have a thin layer of snow so are pumping out a magnificent 0.000W :mad:

Can but hope some of the covering melts in the sun, but not really confident it will.

Oscargrouch

k66 wrote: »

I check the sunny beam display output and everything is on timers.Operating when generating. Switch things off when I put kettle etc on then switch on again If it's sunny and cloud free generating over 2.5 I will put on the immersion and set the audible cooker timer to remind me. I assume that around 250w is used biradio, clocks lights etc

On reflection, looking at your figures, your usage does not seem too bad, pre-solar. I reckon your annual energy bill for Leccy would have come in at around £976.75 + VAT ? As you are an all Leccy houshold as a total annual energy charge, that would seem reasonable. At least now you have a PV system you have total control in reducing your energy bill. I have dual fuel, Leccy cost is only £250 inc. VAT per year; Gas bounces around the £500 incl. per year. The only way I have of reducing Gas, is stay colder in the winter and use a small 500w oil filled radiator when enough solar is being produced. (struggle some winter days)! :mad:
If I manage to reduce Leccy, which as said is the only one I can reduce via PV, then if I manage to cut it by 30% I only save £75. Where as, if you cut yours by 30% which is do able, then you save £307.68p. So you have greater savings available by making full use of PV. Wise Move....:T
Edit: Figures are based on normal tariff, not Economy 7, as night usage you have no means to reduce. Apart from switching to a standard tariff and doing all the Leccy work in sunshine....:)

k66

Thanks Oscargrouch, the solar bodies who came to quote us were surprised that our total fuel bill was under £1,000 pa it is a cosy 3 bed detached house - it captures the sun as the windows are south facing, a little suntrap. Today I will be searching for a 1.5 kWh 11 in immersion heater, this seems to be the best option for us as there are fast developments in the field of using excess pv power and I do feel that further developments are imminent. Today looks like another good day, washing done, and nowthe immersion is on as we are generating 2.56 kWh and the sky is clear. I don't like clouds any more.