Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

Journey said:
All fixed now? I know someone else who has just had an AIO fitted, and it's taken then 3 weeks now to fix it, the fix was replacing it!
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Yes and no. It’s working in that it’s functioning but the telemetry from the PV isn’t working.

Fortunately the AIO uses the grid CT so it working to charge/discharge so it’s just the data that’s broken.

GivEnergy are coming out themselves to look at it.

I suspect the issue is within the gateway somewhere, all the data is being passed to the inverter in the battery and up to the cloud, except the PV. The PV meter is working, we can see the manual reads.

The installers remade the data cable a few times and checked for loose connections but couldnt fix it. They did get it working for a few mins but they had the new data cable outside of the glands and when they removed it and put it back through the glands, it didn’t come back on.

The other issue was with the battery, a firmware bug was casing a communication error between the battery and inverter causing it to error out. The hot fix didn’t work and they ultimately resolved it by rolling back the battery firmware back to version 6 (from 8). They will give me the heads up when version 9 is out which should fix the issue.

I just need my MPAN now from the installer so I can start getting paid for my export. That takes a few weeks doesn’t it?
 
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Help me understand how to use Octopus Agile with my battery and solar panels.

I understand Octopus Agile half hour pricing etc. What I cant get my head round is the practical implementation of it day to day.

At present Im on Flux and charge my battery at the cheap rate between 2am and 5am and avoid if possible using high energy appliances at the peak of 4pm-7pm

With Agile I presume I look at the cheapest rate the day before and charge the battery then? If the rate drops again then I can either charge the battery or use high energy appliances at the cheaper rate during the day? All using the Givenergy app?

Looking at Agile over the last few days I can charge the battery overnight cheaper or for longer that I'm getting with Flux.
 
Agile would require you to receive and analyse/automate setting up charging based on the data.

It's a pain, is Go not better for you? Consistent and easy to manage cheap charging, OK peak rates.

I imagine Flux will be better again though sort of March/April, so you'd have to decide if it's worth switching tariff now, should move away from Flux around October sort of time for min/max.
 
HungryHippos said:
Agile would require you to receive and analyse/automate setting up charging based on the data.

It's a pain, is Go not better for you? Consistent and easy to manage cheap charging, OK peak rates.

I imagine Flux will be better again though sort of March/April, so you'd have to decide if it's worth switching tariff now, should move away from Flux around October sort of time for min/max.
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Yes, I was told Flux for summer and Agile winter when my system was installed in September. Unfortunately we had problems with the installer and I opted at the time for Flux as easier to manage.

Now Im starting to be more confident with the app and settings Im looking at options. I cant get Go without an EV otherwise that was my preferred choice.

Not come across Octopus R&D?
 
AnastieByte said:
I cant get Go without an EV otherwise that was my preferred choice.
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They don't check for Go, just sign up and tick the box, everyone seems to do it and Octopus so far haven't put in measures to check.

If your battery lasts most of the day currently, Go should be better/easier to manage than Agile, imo. Octopus R&D is not going to be 100% reliable.
 
If your inverter becomes uncontactable for any reason R&D will fail to modify your settings, as mine is on WiFi it can be flaky connectivity, even if my internet is up, the calls to adjust the inverter options can fail.

Do the maths though, if Go import fills your battery and that lasts enough time, then it will be cheaper than Agile as you can always get 9p/kWh reliably.
 
HungryHippos said:
If your inverter becomes uncontactable for any reason R&D will fail to modify your settings, as mine is on WiFi it can be flaky connectivity, even if my internet is up, the calls to adjust the inverter options can fail.

Do the maths though, if Go import fills your battery and that lasts enough time, then it will be cheaper than Agile as you can always get 9p/kWh reliably.
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He doesnt have an EV, technically they can charge you at full SVR for your usage if they find out and there are reports of it happening. Not worth it.
 
HungryHippos said:
I've never seen any reports like this, have you any examples?
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I read it on a forum thats all, anyway its all in the T&C, they could ask you for proof anytime and backdate your payments 12 months at full rate. When you factor in the lower export, not worth it. Also on those really cheap agile days you can import very cheap and export at 15p quickly wiping out any difference with GO. The only downside is its not guaranteed each day.
 
Fair, up to the poster I suppose, I'd take that back dated charge at SVR thing with a huge grain of salt though, whilst I could see Octopus correcting the tariff, I can't see them going out of their way to punish people, originally Go didn't have any theoretical requirement for any EV so wasn't even a question it asked about.

If they wanted to tighten up requirements I could see them checking for proof more rigorously as a first step.
 
HungryHippos said:
Fair, up to the poster I suppose, I'd take that back dated charge at SVR thing with a huge grain of salt though, whilst I could see Octopus correcting the tariff, I can't see them going out of their way to punish people, originally Go didn't have any theoretical requirement for any EV so wasn't even a question it asked about.

If they wanted to tighten up requirements I could see them checking for proof more rigorously as a first step.
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To be fair its pretty clear on the website now for new signups, I can see why some people dont want agile though as its not for everyone so will come down to personal choice.
 
Pyr0m@nI@]{ said:
Octopus themselves recommended I use the Go tariff.
And switched my account
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Email I received from Octopus when I was asking about Octopus Go Tariff

"Regarding the Octopus Go tariff, I'm afraid it is specifically designed for customers with electric vehicles and requires an EV charger installation. As you mentioned that you don't have an EV or charger at the moment, you may not be eligible for this tariff. However, I would be happy to provide you with more information on the Octopus Go tariff and assist you with any other questions or concerns you may have."
 
Don't know what else I can say.
I spoke to them on the phone, asking about the different tariffs. They know I don't have an electric car, only solar and battery and they recommended Go for winter months and Flux for spring/summer.
 
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Pyr0m@nI@]{ said:
Don't know what else I can say.
I spoke to them on the phone, asking about the different tariffs. They know I don't have an electric car, only solar and battery and they recommended Go for winter months and Flux for spring/summer.
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I think you did well with that. I didn't have that good fortune. But well done for managing to get it.
 
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