Man of Honour
I've turned off my night time charge now that we're getting enough solar - I need to automate it with HA based on solar forecasting - I just haven't found the time to do it yet.
Should, but not in all cases. gave up and phoned them today to ask why mine was taking so long to switch - oh you've got two accounts thats strange. Waiting an update from the accounts team. Planning to do similar, but probably only go to about 50% SOC as I lose out on solar generation by 10-20% when the suns at full power through having a 6.3kW array but only a 5kW inverter, however it can cope with 6.5kW DC/AC combined outputs. Like FF I want to get some HA automation set up to adjust this as well as to adjust the rates of discharge so the car doesn't take charge from the battery which it does currently.It should switch over pretty quick as you're already being paid for export by Octopus.
- I set my battery to charge between 2 and 5am, which takes me to about 85% SOC
- After 5am house runs off the battery until solar kicks
- At around 98% battery charging slows and export starts
- Between 16:00 and 19:00 I discharge the battery to no less than 65%
- Battery will then see me through to the 2am charging slot.
Once the second battery is on-line which will give me 29kWh of storage, I'll double the charge rate from the grid, and decrease the minimum SOC probably to about 50% as I'd like to keep some in reserve just in case of a power cut.
At the moment I draw 15kWh from the grid every day, and need to export 12 at the day rate to have zero electric bill for the day, so far I've done much better than that.
I've turned off my night time charge now that we're getting enough solar - I need to automate it with HA based on solar forecasting - I just haven't found the time to do it yet.
I've found solar forecast to be very unreliable, and I just find it so much easier/convenient to charge the battery in the off peak period. Todays solar forecast was supposed to be much better than yesterday, but just looking at the weather showed that was not going to be there case.
4pm and the sun is blazing now! perfect timing!
Yes...especially if you export to the grid. i dont have batteriesis it worth switching to their flux tarrif if i dont have battery storage? im just on one of their flexible tarrifs at the moment
do you have solar and can you minimise your energy use between 4pm and 7pm? if not then i doubt it.... most people use a lot of energy (cooking tea etc) around then so i imagine you will lose more in the peak hrs than you gain off peak.is it worth switching to their flux tarrif if i dont have battery storage? im just on one of their flexible tarrifs at the moment
i have solar, but yeah not likely to reduce much around those times.do you have solar and can you minimise your energy use between 4pm and 7pm? if not then i doubt it.... most people use a lot of energy (cooking tea etc) around then so i imagine you will lose more in the peak hrs than you gain off peak.
is it worth switching to their flux tarrif if i dont have battery storage? im just on one of their flexible tarrifs at the moment
what size is your system, average import from the grid daily?? whats your base draw??i have solar, but yeah not likely to reduce much around those times.
you need to look at your solar generation between 4pm and 7pm year round and work out how much you typically import in those times vs how much you export in the day.i have solar, but yeah not likely to reduce much around those times.
it may not be as easy as just get a battery...he may need a new inverter ( if string inverter only) the cost?? etc etc......you need to look at your solar generation between 4pm and 7pm year round and work out how much you typically import in those times vs how much you export in the day.
no easy answer but my gut feeling - which could be wrong as Welshman disagrees - is unless you have a pretty sizable array then you will lose...... if you DO have a sizeable array then why no battery? get one then the issue is moot
Other option is a separate inverter for the battery as others have done, but each install is different, swapping out some inverters is very simple, others more complicated, also could be an old FITS system, so as you say possibly not simple - I doubt it will be a hybrid inverter.it may not be as easy as just get a battery...he may need a new inverter ( if string inverter only) the cost?? etc etc......
yeh an AC coupled set-up could work, a little bit costly just to switch to flux though lol....but could help in the long run with not importing as much from the grid.Other option is a separate inverter for the battery as others have done, but each install is different, swapping out some inverters is very simple, others more complicated, also could be an old FITS system, so as you say possibly not simple - I doubt it will be a hybrid inverter.