Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 3, 2022 14:40:08 GMT
This thread of mine seemed to interest people in the old country so I thought I'd recreate it here, considering the current energy crisis.
So. Who else has solar panels? Or is planning on installing some? Truthfully I feel like a bit of a genius with mine now. Although, a genius wouldn't be leasing them. But even that seems like it was one of my better decisions.
My constant irritation is the lack of a battery, and having to make the most of the sun 'live'. I've rigged it to power our immersion heater but when the water gets hot the electricity is going to waste back to the grid. I try my hardest to use the washing machine, dishwasher and tumble drier during daylight but that's a bit of a pain in the bollocks. If anyone can think of an energy storage solution I'd be all ears.
You guys using any other renewable energy solutions?
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Post by dfunked on Mar 3, 2022 14:50:31 GMT
Just lots of unnatural gas.
I'd bloody love to, but don't think this house will be a long term one so not really sure if it's worth the faff. I'm sure you'd be absolutely laughing if you got some solar panels installed last year because I can see prices shooting up along with the demand.
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robthehermit
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Post by robthehermit on Mar 3, 2022 14:55:34 GMT
Was having a chat with a neighbour who has solar panels earlier. They were complaining that their standing charge was going up by 50% and their electricity would soon cost them £3 per day.
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Post by snackplissken on Mar 3, 2022 15:00:46 GMT
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Post by rawshark on Mar 3, 2022 15:29:00 GMT
Came here literally just to make the gas joke and I’m legitimately gutted I arrived too late.
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 3, 2022 16:24:58 GMT
You could say you generate wind
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mikeck
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Post by mikeck on Mar 5, 2022 18:50:44 GMT
The new house we bought last year has them installed but the developer has still not got the proper documentation for us to get onto a specific tariff to sell the energy back.
I don't really see any cost savings by having solar at the moment (but went from renting a two bed house to owning a three bed townhouse so it's hard to compare).
I wish I was seeing the savings I expected to.
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 21, 2022 12:03:23 GMT
Can anyone solve this problem for me.
I have a plug socket that is rigged up to turn itself on when there is spare solar, and turn off when there is no spare solar. I won't go into how I did this but it is working. The problem I have is that the plug socket is in the airing cupboard so its physical location is limiting.
Is there a device I can use that I can plug into this socket that could inform a device elsewhere to turn on and off in tandem?
Forget about the solar part for now if it confuses the issue. I just need a random plug socket's on/off status to match the power status of another plug socket elsewhere, automatically. Presumably with some sort of adapter on the power supply.
I considered using smart plugs and setting up an Alexa routine to fire when the solar smart plug goes on/offline, but apparently Alexa can't fire routines based on on/offline status.
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mrpon
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Post by mrpon on Mar 21, 2022 12:17:18 GMT
What app? Kasa? Tuya? They all have "turn on/off this other device when this condition is met" type things.
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 21, 2022 12:31:26 GMT
My smart plugs are Smart Life, controlled through Alexa. I'll have a quick look to see if Smart Life can do this itself
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 21, 2022 12:32:54 GMT
Ooh yeah looks like I can! Nice one
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Post by brokenkey on Mar 21, 2022 15:02:22 GMT
Can anyone solve this problem for me. I have a plug socket that is rigged up to turn itself on when there is spare solar, and turn off when there is no spare solar. I won't go into how I did this but it is working. The problem I have is that the plug socket is in the airing cupboard so its physical location is limiting. Never mind the how - why? |
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 21, 2022 15:28:00 GMT
So I can have devices turn themselves on only when there is free energy. Obviously nothing with complicated electronics but I’m planning to have my electric radiator come on throughout the day in my game room which tends to drop cold
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Post by dfunked on Mar 21, 2022 15:34:45 GMT
Aren't smart plugs usually piddly little things? I wouldn't fancy putting anything heavy duty like an electric heater behind one, anyway.
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 21, 2022 15:37:03 GMT
I intend to use the radiator at about the 1KW mark anyway so hopefully that should make it more sustainable, but I see your point
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 21, 2022 17:54:04 GMT
What app? Kasa? Tuya? They all have "turn on/off this other device when this condition is met" type things. Ah didn’t work, same limitations as Alexa |
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mrpon
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Post by mrpon on Mar 21, 2022 18:45:26 GMT
What about the SmartThings app? That's normally a hub for all smart devices and has similar routines you can configure I the Automations section.
Or is it specifically the offline status you're interested in? Might struggle with that with an off the shelf solution.
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 21, 2022 20:01:08 GMT
Yeah I specifically need stuff to happen when a device goes on/offline.
It doesn’t exactly have to be a smart device, just a dumb thing that forwards the on/off signal to somewhere else
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Post by technoish on Mar 21, 2022 21:00:04 GMT
Why don't you just turn it on manually when you are there and cold?
If you aren't in the room, I don't think it is good use of the energy at all to turn it on when not needed. Better to sell the excess back to grid.
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 21, 2022 21:21:23 GMT
I don’t get to sell it back to the grid, the leasing company profits from that
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mrpon
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Post by mrpon on Mar 21, 2022 22:19:36 GMT
What about temperature control? Turn on when temp drops to a certain threshold?
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Post by TheSaint on Mar 21, 2022 22:40:13 GMT
Have you checked IFTTT?
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 21, 2022 23:20:37 GMT
Not really but I’ve heard about it before. I’ve had a glance and I’m not sure it could do it.
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 21, 2022 23:25:32 GMT
What about temperature control? Turn on when temp drops to a certain threshold? We’ll the radiator has a thermostat but it would just keep turning itself on regardless of the sun and cost me money to run it. Tbf the radiator was just an example of how I might use it. It really seems like a simple solution should be out there and I just need a nudge in the right direction. There are remote controlled plugs around and I wondered if I could bodge one of those but I’m not sure how to use mains power to open/close a simple switch |
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Post by spacein_vader on Mar 22, 2022 0:47:24 GMT
This sounds like the one to me. IF this socket is on THEN put this one on. Simples. |
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Post by technoish on Mar 22, 2022 0:56:08 GMT
I have definitely heard of people using solar diverters to use excess energy to heat their hot water. Do you have an immersion heater?
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geefe
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Post by geefe on Mar 22, 2022 7:06:47 GMT
I've been quoted just under 4.5k for 7 panels of 390w, giving a total of 2.73kw which is the best quote I got out of 4. That's fitted, as well.
The price of batteries is the setback. Company I'm using exclusively install Tesla, which is around 8 grand for a 13.5kw draw down. In theory, that gives you a day and a half of electricity. But I'd rather get a smaller battery (as they have a life of around 5-8 years) to see how it goes and then get a new one when the technology improves.
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Post by Dougs on Mar 22, 2022 8:22:54 GMT
The aspect of our house just doesn't lend itself to solar, sadly. NE facing garden, meaning panels would need to be on the front of the house (which my wife has vetoed) and even then would only get the sun for half the day.
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 22, 2022 9:21:22 GMT
I have definitely heard of people using solar diverters to use excess energy to heat their hot water. Do you have an immersion heater? Yep already got one. This is what I'm using for this project actually, I rigged up a plug socket to the secondary output. I'll look into IFTTT again thanks guys |
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Mar 22, 2022 9:28:23 GMT
I've been quoted just under 4.5k for 7 panels of 390w, giving a total of 2.73kw which is the best quote I got out of 4. That's fitted, as well. The price of batteries is the setback. Company I'm using exclusively install Tesla, which is around 8 grand for a 13.5kw draw down. In theory, that gives you a day and a half of electricity. But I'd rather get a smaller battery (as they have a life of around 5-8 years) to see how it goes and then get a new one when the technology improves. Does that mean the Tesla battery stores 13.5kwh or does it mean something else? 13.5kwh seems excessive to me so I'd be considering the smaller battery too. The economy of the batteries used to be a bit iffy because really, they are only providing a time shift capability which in theory you can mitigate yourself. That being said nowadays I reckon there are worse things you could be investing in |
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