Choice of intelligent switches ?

EricMears

No. If you buy one of the fancy 'proportional controllers' they will throttle back the power supplied to your 3kW element to use as much as possible of your surplus power.

It's just poor relations like me who have to use a lower powered element which is switched (fully) on or off to either use the full power of the element if surplus allows or nothing at all if it's just a few watts short.

The_Debt_Monkey

Thanks for that, ill get one ordered!

[Deleted User]

Having run the Solar Immersion MKIII since the beginning of spring is it worth it?

Yes but it does have it's limitations

Unfortunately the clock is next to useless as it cannot keep accurate time which depending on your setup could be a major pain. E.g. E7. For me thankfully it is not an issue.

Then there is zero reporting facility to see what it has dumped into the tank other than the real time percentage of something which is being dumped into the tank.

Other than that it certainly seems to work well but if you are a geek for figures then other units may suit you better.

As with other posters my boiler [heat pump] is setup to heat the water water as usual if water temp goes below 50c.

Weather permitting free hot water till Oct ? Fingers crossed

My main reasons for getting it were to continue the quest to use every last drop of solar production and to reduce heat pump running time :cool:

Currently still in the process of changing to LEDs and waiting on a delivery of batteries for the PV storage project, Mon hopefully. Basically anything to maximise payback The water wheel project is on the back burner for the moment but am borrowing some tools to make a small start in that area shortly

From my long term graphs import is steadily reducing...

silverwhistle

jeepjunkie wrote: »

Currently still in the process of changing to LEDs

The market seems to be in a constant state of flux: any recommendations?
I don't have downlighters so would be replacing normal bulbs. I've already got an IKEA lamp which clamps to my headboard for reading in bed.

[Deleted User]

silverwhistle wrote: »

The market seems to be in a constant state of flux: any recommendations?
I don't have downlighters so would be replacing normal bulbs. I've already got an IKEA lamp which clamps to my headboard for reading in bed.

All been from ledhut.co.uk as lots of vouchers floating about. See their facebook page. Tried the 3w candle bulbs, outdoor led floods and MR16s. Very happy so far. Still a few to go but with this ongoing hot sunny weather momentum has stalled somewhat as lighting is rarely used but it'll be worth it come winter.

Martyn1981

jeepjunkie wrote: »

Currently still in the process of changing to LEDs and waiting on a delivery of batteries for the PV storage project, Mon hopefully. Basically anything to maximise payback

You can't just sneak that line in and leave us hanging, are you dabbling with a couple of lifepo4's or getting 1/2 tonne of fork lift batts delivered?

Mart.

[Deleted User]

Martyn1981 wrote: »

You can't just sneak that line in and leave us hanging, are you dabbling with a couple of lifepo4's or getting 1/2 tonne of fork lift batts delivered?

Mart.

Nothing too fancy I'm afraid.

Just trying to kill two birds with one stone... I need to keep certain [low power] household items running during power cuts which is many times a year with charging hopefully taking place during daylight hours.

Cheers

EricMears

I too have a smallish UPS primarily to keep central heating pumps running through a power cut although I've also connected a couple of lights, my main computer and our Sky+ box to it. Afraid I haven't made any attempt to ensure that it's only charged by solar power or E7 though although I'm hoping that its percentage demand from high price bought-in power is fairly low.

[Deleted User]

EricMears wrote: »

I too have a smallish UPS primarily to keep central heating pumps running through a power cut although I've also connected a couple of lights, my main computer and our Sky+ box to it. Afraid I haven't made any attempt to ensure that it's only charged by solar power or E7 though although I'm hoping that its percentage demand from high price bought-in power is fairly low.

One is an IBM UPS [Re-badged APC] and the other is an APC but twice the size of the IBM. To buy these new would would be over a grand :eek: New batts on delivery for the IBM but the APC will have to wait until funds allow despite shopping around as they are not cheap. If I was not in the countryside it would be a luxury but out here...

Initially it is just for cordless phone, broadband, vodafone sure signal etc then take it from there...

Interesting hearing how you are using yours

Cheers

legoman62

Still using energysavingexp's idea to heat my water with no problems:D
Been running a 27in 1kW immersion in the top of my cylinder for well over a year now. Supplies all the hot water we need.
OK.. may not be as good as some of the proportional controllers that are now available, but costing next to nothing to buy and put together makes it a bargain.
Paid for itself many times over!
Gas usage in summer months almost zero

Boiler's in hibernation from April to October