Choice of intelligent switches ?

orrery

EricMears wrote: »

It was really more of a suggestion for orrery who was having problems with a 110V transformer when not being watched. The Optiplug will automate that process but it can't of course offer proportional control.

Proably not a good idea with a 110V transformer. I tried to remote it using one of those wireless on/off plugs, but the inrush current blew the box.

Cash_Cow_2

legoman62 wrote: »

I'm using energysavingexp's (from this site) excellent switch idea.....been running it since April 2012 with no problems. Cheap to make, if you are a DIYer and are willing to fit a 1kW immersion heater. I use virtually no gas for the summer months (April - Sept) and less than I would without it, in the winter ones:D

Thanks Legoman but I have nowhere to fit it! Combi boiler, my 2min showers and cold fill washing machine doesn't justify. Cheers

Cash_Cow_2

I've pinged an email off to Wattson/Optiplug to see if this will work and wont try to draw the full load for the 2.5k storage heater as I suspect if I have 500w spare... If its good news will update.

zeupater

Cash_Cow wrote: »

I've pinged an email off to Wattson/Optiplug to see if this will work and wont try to draw the full load for the 2.5k storage heater as I suspect if I have 500w spare... If its good news will update.

Hi

For ~500W of space heating it's probably not really worth looking at proportional load control. The Optiplug is a non-proportional solution so you'd only be charging the storage heater when the spare generation>load, so very rarely in the winter when you require the heat ...

A more efficient/elegant solution to space heating would be to install a small high COP Air/Air heat-pump and simply run this on a timed basis .... 300W spare generation could provide between 1kW & 1.5kW of heat if the unit has a capacity to limit it's own load, with the ability to provide up to double this as conditions dictate (manual intervention required!) ... cost for this would likely be ~£1.5k installed, so it's not cheap but at least you'd stand more chance of feeling the benefit !!

HTH
Z

Cash_Cow_2

Such a tricky subject/solution Z!

I want the heat in the evening really so want to heat those storage heater bricks where possible and all for under £150! Today for example I noted 1.5 to 1.7kw 'spare' quite a few times on my Sunnybeam display. I could do with that now that its darker/colder!

Cheers

zeupater

Cash_Cow wrote: »

Eric! That was my next post as Martyn does have a point based on this cost. For £150 you can have a hard on/off at a preset level; with an Optiplug connected to a Wattson. All DIY too of course. I guess it could be set low at say 200w and this would be fine with a resistive 2.5kw element load? I also get the bonus of a gadget for monitoring that is always on (unlike my Sunnybeam).

I spend about £60 a month on gas - even if I can only minimise this by a fiver a month that this will paid for in a little over 2 years. Family bonus is maybe a warmer house too?

Hi

Checking back over previous posts I read this as if pre-setting to 200W would limit the power provision, which is not what these units do .... the pre-set level (ie 200W in above post) is the switching level, not proportional (/power) control. In the above example, when you have >200W spare generation the 2.5kW element would be switched on, then because you've increased the total load by 2.5kW there would (likely) be no spare so it would switch off again. The pre-set switching load needs to be set to match the actual device connected.

Regarding the Sunnybeam, you can connect it to a USB power source such as a PC or TV and force it to stay on if this is really necessary .... eg - if connected to a TV then the Sunnybeam can be setup to display continuously whenever the TV is on ...

HTH
Z

andymcdoodle

hi
thinking of investing in a Intelligent Water Heating to heat my water from my pv does anyone have a good price thinking about the solarimmersion for £199 or the SOLAMISER for £168 from their website all the others seem to expensive

[Deleted User]

I have the solarmmersion which works fine though it is pretty basic but that's all you need. I did look at immersuns etc but to dear resulting in a daft payback time. We normally heat DHW with the heat pump which was timed for afternoon sun. Even now payback is marginal but takes wear and tear off the heat pump.

colinm

I've just bought a Solar iBoost from eBay and fitted it myself in about 30 mins. Fantastic, works perfectly and even though not much sun this time of year, it's nice to know I'm using everything I generate and cutting down my oil bill. Time will tell whether I'll recoup the £250 odd I spent on the device.

The biggest clinch for me with this model was the wireless transmitter - I didn't want to spend a fortune wiring my immersion into the distribution board - it runs from a plug and sits a long way from it. Plus I would have needed a new distribution box to accommodate another couple of fuses.

silverwhistle

colinm wrote: »

I've just bought a Solar iBoost..<snip>

That's what I've got, installed along with the pv, and hence a bit cheaper fully installed (VAT 5% and part of a large job).

I'm single with 4kw installed, so my usage will be different to many, but I can't remember exactly when I last used the gas for hot water. Sometime in January, I believe, when I came in cold and wanted a hot bath.These days I only put it on manually. Yesterday (sunny Saturday) after a good day the day before the tank was fully up to temperature, I batch baked some bread, did some washing and still exported far too much for my liking!;-)

I've just applied to join Ebico (with no standing charge) as the sums are right for me, and if I cut my consumption further there will be a direct correlation to my bill. I know we'll probably have another cold snap, and I'm not going to take the snow tyres off yet, but I've been pleasantly surprised these last few days how much I've generated (and how little I've imported).