Solar panels question

[graduate_owner]

Hi, does anyone have experience of the immersion heater gizmos, the ones that divert excess generated energy to heat the water instead of exporting it? They look like a sensible purchase but I'm wondering about which make/model to get, or indeed if there is any difference between makes. Also, how easy are they to install for a competent person, and what information do the readouts provide?

Any comments?

K

 

[JustBen]

electronic-switching-device-t79879.html

This might help

 

[graduate_owner]

Thanks JustBen

K

 

[RogerS]

There's an echo in here

 

[joethedrummer]

Just looked into these things and it seems to me,,,,,
make one,,,about 90 quid
buy one,,,about 180 quid
electric,,,,about 15p/kw
you have to have a lot of "spare" electricity to use to make it cost effective
smart meters are being rolled out so the "deemed" 50% will go

I just turn on the immersion heater in the tank if the sun is shining about midday,,,,,no cost and its only on for about 20 mins before the stat turns off.

Roger,,,seems I just replied to the echo,,,

 

[RogerS]

Don;t forget though that smart meters are NOT mandatory. You can refuse to have one installed. So getting round the deemed 50% perhaps.

 

[joethedrummer]

Don;t forget though that smart meters are NOT mandatory. You can refuse to have one installed. So getting round the deemed 50% perhaps.

Roger, hello,, I believed that the energy suppliers could replace their meter when they fancied and have an ongoing campaign to change to smart meters so that they could possibly observe unusual changes in consumption.

 

[RogerS]

Don;t forget though that smart meters are NOT mandatory. You can refuse to have one installed. So getting round the deemed 50% perhaps.

Roger, hello,, I believed that the energy suppliers could replace their meter when they fancied and have an ongoing campaign to change to smart meters so that they could possibly observe unusual changes in consumption.

They might like to do that but they cannot force you to accept a smart meter.

See here http://stopsmartmeters.org.uk/latest-br ... art-meter/

 

[joethedrummer]

Don;t forget though that smart meters are NOT mandatory. You can refuse to have one installed. So getting round the deemed 50% perhaps.

Roger, hello,, I believed that the energy suppliers could replace their meter when they fancied and have an ongoing campaign to change to smart meters so that they could possibly observe unusual changes in consumption.

They might like to do that but they cannot force you to accept a smart meter.

See here http://stopsmartmeters.org.uk/latest-br ... art-meter/

Roger, hello,,, just contacted my energy supplier to get their angle on this and they promised an email reply within 48 hrs,,,,, being able to refuse a smart meter could well change my attitude to a Solariboost purchase,,,,
many thanks for the web address,,,,

 

[graduate_owner]

This is the way I see it -
I generate on average about 3200 units annually, and assuming half usage/half export then I export 1600 units annually. Since 1 litre of oil is equivalent to about 10 kWh, that means 160 litres of oil saved annually, if I use all the exported energy in heating my water (I have 2 hot water cylinders because of the length of the house - 80ft). So I could save about 160 x 50+ pence per litre (and not likely to come down, has been as high as 70 something pence) plus 8% VAT. At 55p per litre I save somewhere around £95 per year on oil.

If export meters are fitted then it means I lose 1600 x 3. something pence which is about £50 so takes the edge off things a bit, but if that doesn't happen for the next 2 years then I'll have made my money back more or less.

So I'm sure it's worth getting one. It's just a case of which one.

K