Retrofit solar I Boost quote

70sbudgie

gefnew said:

This what is required.

Having looked up solarimersion as recommended by @paul991 I realised that this is where this image came from.

Does anyone actually have one of these? The website looks very suspicious to me. (Loads of gramatical errors, no "about us", what looks like a few stock photos, "support" doesn't work etc etc)

gefnew

They have been in production since 2011 maybe one of the first to try to mop up excess solar.
as post earlier mine has been running since Jan 2014 no problems.
paul991 I think also has one installed.

JimLad

That is far too much to install one. Its a very easy job.

Have had mine since 2014 with no issues and it has helped me reduce my gas use for hot water to zero with its timer function.

During the day it diverts excess solar then at night during the night rate (Octopus go 7.5p) it comes on with the timer to top it up ready for morning showers.

thevilla

If you have or are planning a zappi then I'd suggest the Eddi.  I use a harvi with a 3rd party diverter (Apollo gem ) and it doesn't play nicely with the zappi.  Some play ok but mine doesn't although it works ish.

The iboost has a fan apparently which can get noisy according to some contributers here and seems to have a high failure rate.

Edit: I agree with others that you don't need an electrician to fit it if you have any DIY experience.  Very easy but isolate supply first.

70sbudgie

thevilla said:

If you have or are planning a zappi then I'd suggest the Eddi.  I use a harvi with a 3rd party diverter (Apollo gem ) and it doesn't play nicely with the zappi.  Some play ok but mine doesn't although it works ish.

The iboost has a fan apparently which can get noisy according to some contributers here and seems to have a high failure rate.

Edit: I agree with others that you don't need an electrician to fit it if you have any DIY experience.  Very easy but isolate supply first.

I would love a Zappi, but it would mean replacing my existing charger and the PV savings just don't justify the cost. (Especially because my employer lets me charge for free when I'm at work, so I charge at home only about once a month)

I understand that there are currently supply issues with the Eddi (more so than other diverters)?

I might just have to order one and then decide if I will fit it myself or ask an electrician. It is within my competence (I actually completed the 16th edition wiring regs install part) but my recent area of expertise is EHV design, so I have a very healthy respect for actually interacting with electricity and avoid it if I can.

mickyduck55

I have had 2 solarimersion's both failed just out of warranty.  Returned one for repair failed again hence bought second one... Decided to change tac and I bought a Solic as in my signature below no issues since fitting except occasional unwanted charging from my batteries. This is because the clamp sensors for the battery and Solic on occasion get their "nickers in a twist"

Others have had no issues maybe I was just unlucky

michaels

Very straightforward install  Isolate immersion supply, chop wire somewhere convenient, connect both ends to the iBoost, put the iboost clamp on the incoming mains lead at meter, pair and done.  Just but a unit and do it yourself /get a local sparky to do it should take well under an hour.

geronimo101

does anyone know exactly how they work iboost for example. No electrical theory so asking I guess a very basic question. Let’s take a 3 kw immersion element. I have say 1 kw of PV generated energy surplus ( to go to export usually) . iboost ( or another make) diverts this to my 3kw heater. How does the 3kw heater now function with 1kw without drawing extra from grid ( costing) . Does it run at a reduced level? Or what. I asked the eddi site and they said “ it waits until there is enough “ or “ you can boost from the grid” presumably up to the 3k normally required. Most of the time I would have 1-1.5kw available occasionally 3kw. Is the whole point not to draw from the grid so what’s the deal here. Cheers. 

paul991

the solar immersion will only send what you are exporting to the immersion element so will just take longer to heat up, most months we have a full tank about 2 pm 

Magnitio

70sbudgie 

Can I ask what tarrif you are on for exporting electricity and how you would normally heat your hot water? It could be that you are better off exporting the surplus electricity rather than using it for the immersion.