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Solar Panels UK - is it worth it?
- Thread starter jdwuk
- Start date
How does it work with your in-house display? Does it correctly show usage adjusted to what the panels are putting in or does it become useless?
And for those on FIT does the price move in reverse?
ACarneiro
Active Member
Yes, you need something like Tesla Gateway which will stop your system feeding into the grid when there is a power cut.
I’m sure such “gateways” from other manufacturers exist, but I wouldn’t be able to advise.
Your solar installer would be the best person to ask.
I’m sure such “gateways” from other manufacturers exist, but I wouldn’t be able to advise.
Your solar installer would be the best person to ask.
RedMod3
Member
The Tesla Gateway disconnects the Grid from your house in the event of a power cut and puts you in Island Mode so your solar would still work with the PWs; you can simulate this with the Go Off Grid option, see pic. Your ability to do this will depend on the features of the system you bought.
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RedMod3
Member
Good point. On our system, we use Time Based Control and when we had one PW, the PW didn’t always charge to 100% overnight in summer. But now with 2 PW it always charges to 100% so I can end with maybe 50% left before the GO cheap rate cuts in.
This is not what I expected, but I prefer this situation as if I get close to 100% on a sunny day, I’ll boost the immersion heater for an hour of two and if plug the Tesla in.
I’m not willing to spend extra money just to save 5p per kWh either.
4.5kW of panels and 5.2kWh of battery storage going in on the 15th. Relatively insulated from the gas price spike due to oil-fired heating, but being able to shunt a component of the hot water heating to solar will help electricity bills.
Same FIT are so rubbish now. About time the existing tariffs were scrapped and it went to a fairer version of an export tariff for everyone. Can't imagine someone who's paying £500/month for electricity next year is going to be thrilled that their bill is directly paying someone else to use their own power.
Same FIT are so rubbish now. About time the existing tariffs were scrapped and it went to a fairer version of an export tariff for everyone. Can't imagine someone who's paying £500/month for electricity next year is going to be thrilled that their bill is directly paying someone else to use their own power.
9.5kWh batteries? A GivEnergy system?
If so, then you need the sparky to wire in the EPS. All connected circuits will need to be totally separate from the existing consumer unit, including earthing. This is to ensure that the batteries do not feed current into the grid and fry a poor line worker somewhere.
Do you get frequent power cuts?
Yes indeed, I got a quote for a second PW just for interest and they said £9675!
I believe there are four options for the GivEnergy EPS. Option 3 which I've opted for, allows you to link your existing house electrics in full. However the system doesn't have auto fail-over and involves a simple manual switchover. I prefer this as it means I can check which appliances are running and that they don't overload the system. I have critical circuits (servers, CCTV etc) on UPS so that option works for me. Power cuts here are very infrequent but I've gone belt and braces as the future energy landscape looks a bit dodgy.
The thing is if enough people on a street submit 3.68kw notifications, whether they end up installing it or not, the DNO can't refuse these by law and the cost of any infrastructure upgrade falls to the DNO. Just saying...
I’m fine with 3.68ke max export but DNO should allow more generation locally as long as you can guarantee sticking below 3.68 export - eg inverter clips if you’re not using/storing it
HenryT
Active Member
Not quite sure I know what you mean here - if its the smart energy meter display thing it's next to useless and we have it plugged in but rarely look at it.
The data from the inverter is better though and does show you exactly what's going where if you look at the display on the inverter. It also updates an app and web page but that seems to be updated every 5 mins or so. Sort of info from that is pretty good - see below;
This shows its pretty dull outside and the panels are producing very little, but the house is running off the battery and donating 5w back to the grid.
The second chart shows incoming on the top section and outgoing on the lower section. You can zoom in and focus on particular bits if needs be and also get aggregated data over different periods.
Only problem I have with it is that unless I go in the garage to have a look at the inverter, I'm usually looking at what happened a few minutes ago, rather than what is happening now. The other problem is that sometimes the data has gaps as a result of a dodgy wifi connection.
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All the details are here:
Same here, trying to belt and braces in the event we get power cuts this winter, will ask the sparky on Monday for option 3, happy for it to be manual but would prefer it to cover whole house ccts, hopefully not too much extra work at the time of install.
All systems are givenergy, battery and inverter
Thanks for the tips all
All systems are givenergy, battery and inverter
Thanks for the tips all
I'd contact the installer asap. My outfit are planning to send a sparky a day ahead of the main install as the EPS is not trivial apparently. There will be additional gear needed too.
You also need to be careful with the load when the EPS is in action, too great and it will trip.
Last thing to know is if you have an AC coupled inverter, you have the battery capacity but that's it when it's discharged. With a hybrid inverter you can keep going via solar recharge. I haven't researched that yet, but that's what I read. It will no doubt be obvious to those who know how these things are configured.
PITA
Model 3 Performance
I've done the belt and braces as well.
Solar Array feeding two Powerwalls, Tesla Gateway powering 7kW ev charger (Grid tied) and 7kW Commando ev charger (Backup side), plus 22kW ev charger on 3 Phase supply (Grid tied).
Dual fuel central heating (gas or electric), and dual fuel water heating (gas or electric).
Took me a while to sort it all out, but I'm now ready...
RedMod3
Member
Wise choice; we will have up to 40kWh of energy stored with a max 10kW discharge and the capability to charge our two EVs with with either of our two 7kW chargers or a granny charger. We have not used the grid between 4:30am to 12:30am (20 hours) for many weeks now.
We too will be ready for regulat up to 10 hour power-cuts should they occur.
ACarneiro
Active Member
I would be very surprised if we had regular power cuts. It’s going to be a tough winter but the grid will shed industrial loads before domestic ones.
Why is everyone talking about powercuts?
Winter is not going to be pleasant due to the end-user costs of power. Plenty of people will be unable to pay the outrageous costs. However, that won't result in rolling blackouts.
Or am I missing something really obvious here?
Winter is not going to be pleasant due to the end-user costs of power. Plenty of people will be unable to pay the outrageous costs. However, that won't result in rolling blackouts.
Or am I missing something really obvious here?
RedMod3
Member
Re powercuts:
news.sky.com
I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Six million homes could face winter power cuts due to energy shortages - report
Under plans drawn up by ministers, electricity could have to be rationed for up to six million homes at the start of next year, mostly at peaks in the morning and evening.
news.sky.com
I'd rather be safe than sorry.
ACarneiro
Active Member
I generally take alarmist media bites with a significant amount of salt…Re powercuts:
Six million homes could face winter power cuts due to energy shortages - report
Under plans drawn up by ministers, electricity could have to be rationed for up to six million homes at the start of next year, mostly at peaks in the morning and evening.
I'd rather be safe than sorry.
