Usage monitoring with solar - Doh!

Temrael

Just ordered a Geo Minim LED version.

I'm looking forward to sinking deeper into energy monitoring obsession. :rotfl:

Martyn1981

Temrael wrote: »

Just ordered a Geo Minim LED version.

I'm looking forward to sinking deeper into energy monitoring obsession. :rotfl:

Don't worry, it'll pass. I told my wife back in 2011 when I started noting daily generation figures that I'd get bored of it very soon, and I'm still sure I will, any day now, any day.

1961Nick

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Don't worry, it'll pass. I told my wife back in 2011 when I started noting daily generation figures that I'd get bored of it very soon, and I'm still sure I will, any day now, any day.

When you eventually get batteries......the amount of data goes up 10 fold.:eek:

Perhaps you'll need to factor the cost of a divorce into your 'storage' calculation?:D

DREKLY

I seem to recall that Martin asked her
what she would like for her birthday,
to which she said "a divorce?"
Martin replied " I wasnt thinking of spending that much, dear" ......

Martyn1981

DREKLY wrote: »

I seem to recall that Martin asked her
what she would like for her birthday,
to which she said "a divorce?"
Martin replied " I wasnt thinking of spending that much, dear" ......

Tis OK, she's come round to the 'light side'. For someone who enjoys a good double entendre, I innocently posted a few years ago, how Wifey likes to play the red-light game in the kitchen. That got some interesting responses!!!!!!

The red light game being how many items can be switched on, whilst keeping the import meter LED on solid red (exporting). So it seems PV obsession is addictive.

Let's all raise a toast to Temrael et all, as they follow us down the rabbit hole. :beer:

Sterlingtimes

ajbell wrote: »

Am I the only one that takes offence at the idea of exporting my precious kwhs? .

Yes, the Engineer inside of me would wish to achieve perfection and to export zero kWh. From an economic point of view there isn't much in it. During the course of a year, I export 20% of my PVGIS (3,380 * 0.2 * .054 = £36). My export is metered.

During most of the export hours on the Octopus Agile tariff, the price of importing electricity from the grid is about 9 pence including VAT. The hours 4 PM to 7 PM are far more costly unless these are covered by solar. There will be a bit more hope from this weekend when the clock moves forward.

If I were controlling the use of appliances myself then I probably would get close to 100% use of solar but it is very difficult enforcing a "mad engineer's" obsessions on a household.

DREKLY

Martyn, Hi !! long time no speak,
i hope you enjoyed the joke ....

I am selling my house/plot for
redevelopment, so the 16 panels must come down, and the solaredge inverter, in the kitchen too....
I will not be able to re use them, but
is there any way i could sell them to
someone to recover the outlay?
Any ideas?? I didnt want to start a new threaf yet, there are still 16 yrs of FIT
left, but no way do the developers buying the plot want to get involved,
and they could not easily be shared acrods
the planned two semis that they have
opp approved for....
The panels are 250W Enphase, with solar edge sensors, installed July 2015
...Any suggestions.. need some more panels?!!!
Cheers, Chris in Cornwall.

Temrael

Hi all, just a follow up. I can heartily recommend the Geo Minim (LED version). Thanks to those who recommended.

It's a great little bit of kit and a really good way of seeing what is actually being bought from the grid at a glance. Useful for when you want to decide to put things on, e.g. "Ooh look the car's finished charging, I can pop the washing machine on".

It nicely keeps track of previous days/weeks etc. too so you can try and come in underneath yesterday's usage etc.

It's only a diddy little thing but I'm really pleased with it.

KevinG

Temrael wrote: »

Hi all, just a follow up. I can heartily recommend the Geo Minim (LED version). Thanks to those who recommended.

I'm confused. The description of the Minim+ with LED sensor on their website says "Easy to self-install, easy to use (not designed for homes with solar PV installed)"
Another product, Solo II PV, at twice the price, is designed for use with Solar Panels.

Temrael

KevinG wrote: »

I'm confused. The description of the Minim+ with LED sensor on their website says "Easy to self-install, easy to use (not designed for homes with solar PV installed)"
Another product, Solo II PV, at twice the price, is designed for use with Solar Panels.

Yep that confused me too, not sure why they say that (other than to sell the more expensive model) heh. Saw some discussions on that on the Amazon Questions and Answers.

Because it uses the LED sensor to read your meter, it will only ever measure the usage actually being bought from the grid (which was what I wanted).

Maybe they mean it won't tell you your overall usage because you wouldn't see what the solar was covering?