Plug in solar

Qyburn

Or possibly a higher capacity of panels plugged into a battery storage unit which limits output to 800W and complies with the anti islanding and other plug in solar requirements

Batteries are explicitly excluded from the proposed specification ..

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a31167d15f2a70fac7e6026/plug-in-solar-interim-product-specification.pdf

Qyburn

Having said that a really smart system could be made. Plug in AC output limited to 800W, with excess solar going to battery. Add AC socket(s) that allow higher power appliances to be fed direct, only drawing from the house if there's insufficient battery/solar power.

Ecoflow may already have this, I find their product range confusing once you move on from the basic power pack.

MouldyOldDough

These panels have a plug rather than a socket - so you can't plug a device in and power it directly from the panel - how simple this would be to rectify …

I am talking about trickle charging an ev for example - in a location without a mains electricity point…

or am I thinking garbage ?

lohr500

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82049714#Comment_82049714

Their in built safety design is to cut output if no mains voltage is detected when plugged in.

So they wouldn't work as you describe.

TroubledTarts

It's great when you time the sunshine to start loading the house so you don't use any power on peak agile.

Ectophile

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82049714#Comment_82049714

You'd need an off-grid (or "islanded mode") inverter, which these aren't. And then an EV isn't going to be impressed by a limit of only 800W under ideal sun conditions, and usually a lot less than that.

You can already get lithium power banks that can charge off solar or mains. If you get a big (expensive) one, then they can produce enough power to run a "granny lead" to the car. But not for long before their internal battery goes flat.

prowla

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82049714#Comment_82049714

There are variations for some of the products to connect to a battery which has normal mains sockets as the output, if nothing else to smooth over power availability when it's cloudy or to store charge when you're not plugged in.

EV batteries range from 20-90 kWh and a full charge will give "up-to" 400 miles, so an 800W charge for 1 hour would give you "up to" 20 miles.

My maths:

• assume least charge 20kWh,
• round 800 to 1kWh for simplicity, so 1k of 20k = 1/20th,
• assume highest range 400 Miles,
• 1/20th of 400 = 400/20 = 40/2 = 20.

The solar unit could cost you £500 and 1kWh on cheap overnight EV rate might be 8p; now 8p x 6000 = £480 (6x8 =48p, x10=£4.80, x10=£48, x10=£480), so it would take 6000 hours for the solar trickle to pay for itself.

The maths might be more favourable if you are using public charging and it's up to you if you want to be doing with the faff of plugging it in and/or whether you just like the idea (of course!).

MouldyOldDough

We had a 4 hour power outage, yesterday evening - it was extremely hot and the fan wouldn't work also the freezer was of concern !

I see that our network company (SSEN) are offering free battery packs to disabled customers (like myself) - is this a good idea ?

https://www.ssen.co.uk/power-cuts-emergencies/priority-services/home-battery-packs/

Shame there not bigger than 1kWh !

QrizB

EV batteries range from 20-90 kWh and a full charge will give "up-to" 400 miles, so an 800W charge for 1 hour would give you "up to" 20 miles.

Before anyone thinks this it true, it isn't.

The better EV cars (so ignoring motorcycles, scooters and e-bikes) get around 5 miles per kWh. Many only manage 3, or less.

800 watt-hours is four-fifths of a kWh. It would take one of the better cars 4 miles, one of the average ones 2.4 miles.

QrizB

Is this a good idea ?

If your life depends on powered medical equipment, I'd hope you already have something like that.

It's unrelated to plug-in solar PV.

Per SSEN:

If you meet the eligibility criteria for a battery, you don't need to apply for one; we'll be in touch to offer you one in due course.

If you don't qualify, you can buy one of the ones that's pictured in the article for about £500.