Solar Power

[Digit]

The biggest consumers of domestic power are electric hobs and ovens, tumble dryers, electric kettles, and immersion heaters.
Regrettably ladies have a tendency to fill kettles to make a cup of tea, and that can really add up, to use the washing machine with half loads and/or on Eco, (which should be E-con,) and tumble dryers rather than putting washing out side to dry.
If any or all of these scenarios apply you should be able to cut your costs dramatically.

Roy.

 

[Tusses]

we ditched the tumble drier and got a used spin drier and a clothes horse.

Also in the winter when we have the wood stove on, we have a cast iron kettle on top which heats the water for washing washing up and we pour it in the washing machine so it doesnt have to heat the water so much.

much more efficient than trying to generate your own

saved loads off the lecky bill !

 

[Digit]

When I moved to Wales I soon found that the average house wife had no idea how much electricity any appliance used nor did they care.
The favoured washing machine was the Hotpoint top loader that used enough hot water for a bath!
The older ladies in general asked, 'will it boil?' and the younger ones wanted machines that fitted the décor!
Any body who thinks they are saving by using the low temps is fooling themselves as most machines do not take in hot water on the lower settings, instead taking in cold water and heating it electrically, so if you have the immersion heater on, you are wasting it, and if you have central heating the hot water will not be used by the machine.
Half loads use more that fifty percent of the water and a commensurate increase in electricity.
But attempting to persuade the ladies to change the habits of a lifetime is a forlorn hope generally.

Roy

 

[wizer]

But attempting to persuade the ladies to change the habits of a lifetime is a forlorn hope generally.

 

[Gill]

When I moved to Wales I soon found that the average house wife had no idea how much electricity any appliance used nor did they care.
The favoured washing machine was the Hotpoint top loader that used enough hot water for a bath!
The older ladies in general asked, 'will it boil?' and the younger ones wanted machines that fitted the décor!
Any body who thinks they are saving by using the low temps is fooling themselves as most machines do not take in hot water on the lower settings, instead taking in cold water and heating it electrically, so if you have the immersion heater on, you are wasting it, and if you have central heating the hot water will not be used by the machine.
Half loads use more that fifty percent of the water and a commensurate increase in electricity.
But attempting to persuade the ladies to change the habits of a lifetime is a forlorn hope generally.

Roy

Can we assume you're either divorced or a bachelor?

Gill

 

[Digit]

You certainly can Gill, you'd be wrong but you certainly can assume that! :lol:
I am also not a mysogonist but was speaking from 10 yrs of practical experience.
But will you tell me why you chose whichever model of washing machine you have and if you use half loads and Eco settings! :lol:

Roy.

 

[Gill]

I was trying very hard not to use words like 'misogyny' or 'bigotry'.

Wasn't this conversation about solar power?

Gill

 

[Digit]

I was trying very hard not to use words like 'misogyny' or 'bigotry'.

I'm delighted to hear it! As I was speaking from years of experience, and my livelihood depended on my understanding of my market, how does that equate to either of those descriptions.
I once had the task of introducing a new factory wide bonus that required a change in working practices but was left to a vote by the workforce. The ladies voted overwhelming against any change and the men voted for it, coincidence Gill, or is that factual statement some form of bigotry?

Roy.

 

[Rich]

I have met Roy and his wife, she is a smashing girl and they are happily married, Roy would'nt dream of telling his wife how to do the cooking or washing etc, but, he would advise her how to get the optimum performance fron any given electrical appliance, Roy is a very, very knowledgeable electrical engineer, this does not make him a mysogynist, nor a bigot, just a chap who knows what he's on about.

Regards, Rich.

 

[Digit]

The bribe's on it's way Rich! :lol:

Roy.

 

[Anonymous]

Can we assume you're either divorced or a bachelor?

Gill

We?

 

[Digit]

I informed my ever loving this morning of Gill's comments. She burst out laughing and said, 'cantankerous old sod, yes, but bigoted and mysogonist, no!'
There you are Gill, straight from the mare's mouth! :lol:

Roy.

 

[wizer]

*sigh*

 

[Digit]

But to return to the subject. Was your bill estimated WiZer or read from the meter? Our local supplier fouled ours up to the tune of 1600 pound. Do you know what you are being charged per unit? How many units you have used?
Service companies are notorious for getting things wrong.

Roy.

 

[selly]

wizer.

cut to the chase. forget about pv - too expensive and no they won't increase the value of your house.

not then. you have absolutely got to find what you are using up and where. fit some consumption meters on your electricity kit and find out what uses where.

turn all washing machine down to 30 degrees.
boil only what water you need
check your immersion is not on all the time - it is off isn't it?

 

[wizer]

Thanks guys, consider me informed.

I have gone through the house with a fine tooth comb, we use what 'we' 'need'. The meter was read before and after the bill.

 

[RogerM]

Wizer - absolutely agree that PV is not the way forward at the moment, although Solar hot water is worth looking at provided you can do it for under £2,000 - definitely possible using the Navitron system.

You really need to get on top of where the power is going. For instance, did you know that even with a modern washing machine, the machine uses 6 - 10 watts whilst it is plugged in? Research has shown that if you do one 30 deg C wash and one 40 deg C wash per week, the machine uses as much power on standby as it does on both washes. Also even if your WM has both H & C fill (most only have cold fill these days ) it will only draw hot water from the tank for washes of 60 deg or above, and heat water from cold for 30 and 40 degree washes.

A simple watt meter like this one could pay for itself pretty quick as it will enable you to see how much power is consumed over a fixed period by any device.

 

[wizer]

Thanks Roger, I have one of those meters and I know what appliances are using the electric.

 

[Tusses]

so Wiser ...

looking at your replies so far, do we take it you know why your consumption and bill is high and you are not interested in reducing your electricity consumption, and you want us to get back on topic on free power generation ?

Rich

 

[wizer]

Nearly Rich, except I now know that PV panels aren't worth it for the money.

Wind power isn't an option. I may look into Solar heating, but imagine the cost to be quite high and the work to be severe due to not having a tank in the loft.

Either way you would be right to assume my query has been resolved.