Choice of intelligent switches ?

[Deleted User]

Hi All,

My solar immersion is disconected at the moment. The symptoms exhibited... The ecodan would appear to be trying to boost the hot water to 60c even though it can't go beyond 50c and Dip switches on the FCT2 are sw2-7 changed to on and sw1-4 changed to off. These changes tell the ecodan it no longer has an immersion. Others at default. This stops the heating coming on after a DHW cycle. For the sunny months this is not an issue but obviously is for the cooler months...

With it disconnected all works perfectly but with spring round the corner I'd like to resolve this issue.

Any fellow users with a similar setup?

Cheers

ChopperST

We've just had the Immersun 2 fitted at the weekend as our installers had problems with the cable run for the Power Diverter we were having put in and they needed a wireless device. It looks a quality bit of kit and has a backlit LCD display showing if you are generating a net surplus or drawing from the grid (with either a happy or sad house which the Mrs likes!)

You can program your FIT and gas tariff into it as well and it will break down how much has been diverted to the immersion by day, month or year in either £'s or in kwh.

Obviously not sufficient sunlight as yet to allow a full review but seems to tick two boxes, as it also shows your balance between your own generation and the grid allowing you to monitor when to put on high draw devices as well.

orrery

andymcdoodle wrote: »

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

The SolarImmersion is £199 plus VAT.

orrery

I've just ordered one of these (a Solarimmersion) and I'm looking for some guidance on the use of the second channel from someone who has tried it - the instructions are bit unclear. It is clear that the second channel is not proportional control - just on and off. It seems to make a decision as to whether to run the second channel (assuming the immersion is satisfied) on the basis of the size of the load and the time a suitable surplus has been available. It will then turn the load on for a fixed duration.

I want to use an electric radiator on Ch2 - don't I run the risk of it being turned on at the very moment the sun goes in and importing all the power for the fixed period?

mickyduck

silverwhistle wrote: »

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).

Im in a similar situation single with a 4 kW array and have only had to use my electric shower (10.5 kW) 5 times since the installation of my solar immersion last year. Interested to read you are moving to a no standing charge supplier I am also looking to do that as the 45p a day standing charge for my gas supply is painful when I hardly use any apart from running my central; heating at 18 c in the evenings through winter.

zeupater

silverwhistle wrote: »

... 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 ...

mickyduck wrote: »

Im in a similar situation single with a 4 kW array and have only had to use my electric shower (10.5 kW) 5 times since the installation of my solar immersion last year. Interested to read you are moving to a no standing charge supplier I am also looking to do that as the 45p a day standing charge for my gas supply is painful when I hardly use any apart from running my central; heating at 18 c in the evenings through winter.

Hi

We moved to their (NSC) offering towards the end of last year for the same reason .... with low energy usage the percentage of the bill attributable to the SC becomes a little 'hefty', especially as we normally use no gas at all for well over half the year (solar thermal) ..

I suppose we should really refer to the offering as being ZSC (ZeroSC) because all suppliers are mandated to have a SC and a single tier tariff as part of the requirement to simplify charges, it's just that the suppliers can set the amounts to any figure, including zero ....

Makes sense here, hope it does in your case too ...

HTH
Z

silverwhistle

zeupater wrote: »

we normally use no gas at all for well over half the year (solar thermal) ..

Interesting... I wonder how that varies from PV. My system went in mid-August and I didn't use GCH for hot water in Autumn until October (sometime.??.) and now haven't for a bit this spring (but expect to). Either way, over 6 months.. What does 'well over' mean in your situation?

From now on in my electricity import will also be going down.. A full year's experience will be enlightening: until then I'll leave the PVGIS stats to the enthusiasts!;-)

I also intend to get a wood burner this summer and already have the wood stacks in the back garden to prove it. Think I'll allocate some of the costs to my entertainment budget as I haven't got a TV and it'll be something to watch! Having a snug little lounge should reduce my gas bills significantly, particularly when you just want something to take the edge off the cold. As a skier I've loads of warm clothing but it's not quite the same, is it?

orrery

silverwhistle wrote: »

I also intend to get a wood burner this summer...

You do realise that a wood burner is an all consuming hobby, not a form of heating, don't you?

EricMears

jeepjunkie wrote: »

The ecodan would appear to be trying to boost the hot water to 60c even though it can't go beyond 50c

Why can't you boost your hot water beyond 50 deg ?


If your immersion heater is currently fitted with a thermostat that prevents it going above 50 deg, it's very easy to replace the thermostat with another. Mine for instance would allow tank to go to 90 deg.


Drawing hot water from a tank at 60 (let alone 90 !) would of course give a scalding risk. That can be overcome either (cheaply) by putting a warning notice by every tap or (dearer but safer) taking your hot water through a blending valve.

[Deleted User]

EricMears wrote: »

Why can't you boost your hot water beyond 50 deg ?


If your immersion heater is currently fitted with a thermostat that prevents it going above 50 deg, it's very easy to replace the thermostat with another. Mine for instance would allow tank to go to 90 deg.


Drawing hot water from a tank at 60 (let alone 90 !) would of course give a scalding risk. That can be overcome either (cheaply) by putting a warning notice by every tap or (dearer but safer) taking your hot water through a blending valve.

Because the ecodan must still think it has control of the immersion when it no longer has i.e. the ashp heats DHW to 50c then uses the immersion takes it to 60/65c every so many cycles.

With the solarimmersion controlling the immersion water still heats fine but the ecodan gets it's knickers in a twist trying to do the final 10c immersion boost cycle...

TBH I think one of the two DIP switches on the ecodan controller description is not totally clear and an experiment is needed.

Just need time......

Cheers