How are you using your appliances with solar?

Niv

waqasahmed said:

Niv said:

waqasahmed said:

Niv said:

waqasahmed said:

powerful_Rogue said:

I have 6.4kWp split between East & West. (50/50) Also 13kWp battery.

I charge overnight between 2am-5am and set washing machine/dishwasher to come on between these times as well. It's 20.51p per kWh.

That way when the sun comes up, it tops the battery back upto 100% and i'm then exporting at 23.18p per kWh. It's just gone 4pm now, battery on 100% still and now exporting at 36.85p per kWh.

If I had a smaller battery, I would still do exactly the same.

Why so? I mean I get using flux if you've got a big battery capacity but with my piddly 3kw battery, I'll be paying more than without if.

I'm currently on Octopus tracker 

I have calculated that flux works out for me even without a battery so I agree with powerful rogue here, small battery or big I would work in the way they do. 

May I ask how so? I mean, even with flux, I need more than 3kw of capacity? I mean not every day is super sunny 

I currently do not have have a smart meter  for import from grid so have reviewed energy usage in March 2022 as a base for units used per day (we use an average of 8.5units per day ~3100 per year). Recently had solar installed so have the meter for that to sense check. I rounded up to 10units per day for my calcs and as I did not know my usage profile I assumed 6 of the 10 units were used at the more expensive rate, I ignored the cheap rate entirely. I then calculated my daily electricity cost and using the modelled annual solar production for my system calculated the value of the units produced (to keep it conservative used the standard export rate and not any at the higher rate. I then minused one from the other to work out a ballpark annual electricity cost. I then did the same for outgoing fixed and standard SEG.

I am sure some will rip me apart for my method but I I used the same assumptions for each model so the error should be consistent. I am trying to work out what is actually best and not bias it towards any particular outcome so any improved model is welcomed. 

This is fair indeed. I think I'll move to flux for electricity, only when I've got more battery capacity  

I am constantly conflicted about getting a battery. Maybe get a salt one in a few years haha

thevilla

It's likely the govt will reduce vat on battery installations.  There's a review of the tax discrepancy between buying alone or with solar.  Of course knowing this fossil fuel promoting govt they may just tax both! 🤔

Anyway, apparently Tesla prices are on the way down so the rest must follow.

Niv

thevilla said:

It's likely the govt will reduce vat on battery installations.  There's a review of the tax discrepancy between buying alone or with solar.  Of course knowing this fossil fuel promoting govt they may just tax both! 🤔

Anyway, apparently Tesla prices are on the way down so the rest must follow.

Thats useful to know, that element of the review had passed me by to be honest. Lower / no vat on a battery would make me far less twitchy about not getting one at install!

waqasahmed

thevilla said:

It's likely the govt will reduce vat on battery installations.  There's a review of the tax discrepancy between buying alone or with solar.  Of course knowing this fossil fuel promoting govt they may just tax both! 🤔

Anyway, apparently Tesla prices are on the way down so the rest must follow.

Battery prices are probably going to plunge especially when BYD are selling cars with a decent range using sodium ion batteries for just $11K or so

thevilla

waqasahmed said:

thevilla said:

It's likely the govt will reduce vat on battery installations.  There's a review of the tax discrepancy between buying alone or with solar.  Of course knowing this fossil fuel promoting govt they may just tax both! 🤔

Anyway, apparently Tesla prices are on the way down so the rest must follow.

Battery prices are probably going to plunge especially when BYD are selling cars with a decent range using sodium ion batteries for just $11K or so

Yes that's true. I'm hoping leccy prices drop this year in combination with lower battery prices making home batteries a much better financial bet.  I'm assuming the market will be less exploitative and demand will settle down.

69bertie

SuzeQStan said:

I wonder why special permissions needed for greater capacity inverters.

Its mainly to do with your local electricity network. You can only feed in so much. Its one reason I have the setup I have. Yes, I could have applied to export more but there would be a wait and there was no guarantee it would be approved. But having 12x420w panels and a 9.2kw battery. No prior approval required round these parts.