On-grid domestic battery storage

EVandPV

The only settings I'm likely to want to change with any regularity would be the timer for grid charging and the SOC target, which I believe the Solis app can do.
On the other hand, if you guys are finding the Sofar is working well with the Pylons, I'll probably go with that for peace of mind. Like I say, I'll have fairly good access to it anyway.

EVandPV

ASavvyBuyer wrote: »

I am starting to work out if it would be worthwhile, based on being able to charge it through the winter months on the Octopus Go 5p/kWh rate.

That's the way I'll be going once our 1 year deal with EON ends next month.
The cheap off-peak charging definitely makes it more worthwhile, although I could do with shaving a few hundred off the total cost somehow.

EVandPV

I noticed from the manual the useable capacity is 2.2kwh per battery.
I take it the latest firmware allows 90% DOD then ?

1961Nick

EVandPV wrote: »

I noticed from the manual the useable capacity is 2.2kwh per battery.
I take it the latest firmware allows 90% DOD then ?

The pylons can go down to 10% DOD, but the software on my ME3000 will only go as low as 15%.

That 5% buffer is useful if they don't get any charge for a few days (like last week), it means they can last well over a day before they have a little feed from the grid.

Solarchaser

I also have a sofar and 3x pylon batteries, at 80% DOD I have 6kwh useable.
For me, it's not quite enough, but stupidly I ran the figures and found I'm really struggling to justify spending more on more batteries.

I would suggest having a look at the lux power ac inverter as an alternative to the sofar.

https://thinkrenewables.co.uk/lux-ac-battery-storage

I'd also recommend Michael from think renewables, very helpful and has done a range of videos on YouTube on how to set up the sofar.

I used those videos a year ago to set mine up.

I will be moving from the sofar to 2x lux parallel ac inverters, as soon as I can silence the sensible voices saying I'll never make roi.
The sofar is good, but once it reaches 3kw, its maxed out, the lux are 3.6kw and so 7.2kw in parralel.

EVandPV

Solarchaser wrote: »

I also have a sofar and 3x pylon batteries, at 80% DOD I have 6kwh useable.
For me, it's not quite enough, but stupidly I ran the figures and found I'm really struggling to justify spending more on more batteries.

I would suggest having a look at the lux power ac inverter as an alternative to the sofar.

https://thinkrenewables.co.uk/lux-ac-battery-storage

I'd also recommend Michael from think renewables, very helpful and has done a range of videos on YouTube on how to set up the sofar.

I used those videos a year ago to set mine up.

I will be moving from the sofar to 2x lux parallel ac inverters, as soon as I can silence the sensible voices saying I'll never make roi.
The sofar is good, but once it reaches 3kw, its maxed out, the lux are 3.6kw and so 7.2kw in parralel.

Cheers.
That certainly looks like a great piece of kit but would put quite a strain on my budget unfortunately.
Will probably have to forego the bells and whistles for the more basic but functional Sofar.

joefizz

Another vote here for think renewables, no connection, just pleased with the service.


solarchaser, you could always sell your sofar to EVandPV... ;-)

Solarchaser

Ev and Pv I'd suggest asking think renewables for a quote, it might end up a little cheaper.
If not, ask then for a quote on the sofar.

Joe... I like your thinking, I certainly will need to sell it on, probably for £1k with 1 battery

EVandPV

Solarchaser wrote: »

Ev and Pv I'd suggest asking think renewables for a quote, it might end up a little cheaper.
If not, ask then for a quote on the sofar.

Cheers, might just do that.
I just noticed they sell the Lux 3k with the Pylons as a kit and their prices are actually not too bad.
Depends how much they would want for installation but I'll definitely give them a shout.

ASavvyBuyer

ASavvyBuyer wrote: »

I am starting to work out if it would be worthwhile, based on being able to charge it through the winter months on the Octopus Go 5p/kWh rate.

EVandPV wrote: »

That's the way I'll be going once our 1 year deal with EON ends next month.
The cheap off-peak charging definitely makes it more worthwhile, although I could do with shaving a few hundred off the total cost somehow.

Worked out some figures based on our average normal rate (14p/kWh) consumption to see if it would be worthwhile charging from Solar PV in Summer & 5p/kWh rate in Winter.

Average in the Spring/Summer normal rate savings would be 4kWh/day = Approx £90/6months (based on 12p/kWh saving)

Average in the Autumn/Winter normal rate savings would be 6kWh/day = Approx £90/6 months (based on 8p/kWh saving)

Therefore total saving for a 7.2kWh (6kWh usable) battery system = Approx £180/year

Cost of 7.2kWh battery system is approx £3k. Therefore payback period approx 16.6 years.

Looks like, for us, it is better to just buy the RE generated electric for now until battery costs come down further.