I have existing solar panels and economy 7 heating - is it worth getting batteries?

smart_taunton_bloke

Petriix said:

If you don’t have a smart meter, how are you paid for your exports? I thought the FIT scheme ended in 2019.

Without smart meter data it's basically guesswork as to whether a battery makes sense, although (at current prices) you'd normally need to be a very high user for the sums to add up favourably. 

Thank you. We are not paid at all at the moment. A smart meter would need to be in the bedroom so am reluctant to get one installed.

I've only just had the time to look into this again and want to get it sorted before next winter. Another big factor here is the storage heaters. Yes they work great, but don't really like the fact that I can't have the heat on an unexpectedly cold summer morning.

Plus the bedrooms need electric oil heaters really and if I could have these but use the stored energy battery energy from the economy 7 rate in the winter I think it would make a big saving.  

Alnat1

I'm assuming your electricity meter is already in the bedroom, as a smart meter is usually fitted where the old meter is.

If so, what concerns do you have that a smart meter being there would be any different to a non-smart.

smart_taunton_bloke

Alnat1 said:

I'm assuming your electricity meter is already in the bedroom, as a smart meter is usually fitted where the old meter is.

If so, what concerns do you have that a smart meter being there would be any different to a non-smart.

I've heard that they can be too noisy to have in a bedroom? 

vic_sf49

Are you thinking of a boiler being too noisy in a bedroom, not a smart meter?

powerful_Rogue

smart_taunton_bloke said:

powerful_Rogue said:

Seems rather expensive. I paid £2400 for an additional 6.5kWh battery when I had my install done in October.

Just had a quick look online to see how much an inverter would be, and this company offer a 6.5 kWh battery, inverter and installation for £4761.

Thank you. Yes that is a much better price! I will get in contact with them. I wonder why they are so much cheaper? I have emailed them. thank again. 

I don't think it's because they are much cheaper, just that the people you got the quote from overpriced it drastically.

smart_taunton_bloke

vic_sf49 said:

Are you thinking of a boiler being too noisy in a bedroom, not a smart meter?

No, I've heard the smart meters make noise, just a small amount than can be heard when everything else is quiet. I imagine that could drive someone mad if they are trying to get to sleep! 

markin

smart_taunton_bloke said:

vic_sf49 said:

Are you thinking of a boiler being too noisy in a bedroom, not a smart meter?

No, I've heard the smart meters make noise, just a small amount than can be heard when everything else is quiet. I imagine that could drive someone mad if they are trying to get to sleep! 

Mines totally silent, The old style with the disk spinning made lots of clicking. Is it in a cabinet that could be sound proofed, Or... covered in tin foil, if that is also a concern you have.

Ditching night storage for oil heaters would be a mistake, A/C 'heat pumps' are different and can almost match the price of Gas as they can output 3kwh of heat for every 1kwh input  Vs any other electric heater that is simply 1 to 1 input/output.


To heat with oil rads from a battery with no sun i would at a guess say you would need at least a 24kwh battery.

Scot_39

smart_taunton_bloke said:

Petriix said:

If you don’t have a smart meter, how are you paid for your exports? I thought the FIT scheme ended in 2019.

Without smart meter data it's basically guesswork as to whether a battery makes sense, although (at current prices) you'd normally need to be a very high user for the sums to add up favourably. 

Thank you. We are not paid at all at the moment. A smart meter would need to be in the bedroom so am reluctant to get one installed.

I've only just had the time to look into this again and want to get it sorted before next winter. Another big factor here is the storage heaters. Yes they work great, but don't really like the fact that I can't have the heat on an unexpectedly cold summer morning.

Plus the bedrooms need electric oil heaters really and if I could have these but use the stored energy battery energy from the economy 7 rate in the winter I think it would make a big saving.  

Can't you just rely on daytime boost override from the Quatums on cold days - the largest Quantum is as I understand it effectively a 1 kW fan heater off the 24/7 live input if activated ?

Wont completely heat a room from cold quickly - but will help raise it's temperature a bit.

(Or would they auto adapt to that pattern too quickly ?)

smart_taunton_bloke

Mines totally silent, The old style with the disk spinning made lots of clicking. Is it in a cabinet that could be sound proofed, Or... covered in tin foil, if that is also a concern you have.

Do you sleep in the room though? I have heard they are not silent - although I do hope I am wrong!. It woud be in a cabinet with a plastic cover. I could possible soundproof it. What do you mean about the tin foil? 

Ditching night storage for oil heaters would be a mistake, A/C 'heat pumps' are different and can almost match the price of Gas as they can output 3kwh of heat for every 1kwh input  Vs any other electric heater that is simply 1 to 1 input/output.

I have thought about this, but we have no radiator pipes so would cause a lot of upheaval in the house!

To heat with oil rads from a battery with no sun i would at a guess say you would need at least a 24kwh battery.

OK thank for the info. We would need 6 - 8 radiators running to heat the house properly. 

smart_taunton_bloke

markin please see comment above - thanks for your help