New install

[Antlen]

Hi we already have a solis inverter with 3.6kw solar.
We are east west facing with trees so our total yield last year was 2.393 MWH.
We have a ashp
An ev and a plug in hybrid
An immersion and an electric Aga.
We are planning to add a battery storage system as our total power uses last year was 16000kwh.
We are on octopus go so charge the cars, immersion, dishwasher, tumble dryer and washing machine at night during the cheap rate.

My idea is to charge the batteries during the 5 hours at night then draw from the batteries in the day and export the solar.
Also to export anything left in the batteries before charging again at the cheap rate.

National grid have said we can export 5KW

My new set up is in my signature
Please does anyone have any opinions on it and anything to ask the installers before 9th March.

Also any opinions on the ai management systems like infinity or Capture.

Sorry it’s long

[MaterialBarracuda48]

Well you sure use a lot of power!

I know the EV can chew up loads for sure (early estimate is our annual will be 6,000 kWh)
Are your EP12's going to be placed outside? If yes, you should build something before Winter to keep the temperature up, the heating cells will struggle.

You are nearing your install date, if it is still the 6th.
Fingers crossed.

[Antlen]

Yes still the 6th.
We are lucky in Cornwall it rarely gets lower than o° hopefully they will Cope with that.
Thanks for the reply btw

[MaterialBarracuda48]

They will cope with the temperature, just either be throttled on charge/discharge is all when they hit single digits.
Once you get to Winter, you can decide if you need to build an enclosure then.

So best of luck for the 6th, hope it goes smoothly.

[Antlen]

Can I ask does the battery get the energy for the heater from the grid or from its own reserves?
I know that the car has battery heating but luckily never been needed but that takes it from the car.

[MaterialBarracuda48]

Can I ask does the battery get the energy for the heater from the grid or from its own reserves?
I know that the car has battery heating but luckily never been needed but that takes it from the car.

There are 3 ways for the heater to work:

PV generation can power the heater
Grid
Self-use when above a certain SoC % (Not seen this actually working yet mind you)

The last one would be great as it used some of it's stored energy.

[Antlen]

Great
Thanks so much for you advice

[MaterialBarracuda48]

You are welcome,

I suggest adding Will's videos to your favourites https://www.youtube.com/@iameccles/videos

Take the heating for example, he made this one, so you will need to follow it to set it up.



I recommend you ask your installers to have loaded the latest firmware versions before they leave site too, and make sure in the App that you can see the power flowing from solar/battery & load.

[Antlen]

Thanks for that. I have subscribed to his channel.
I will ask them when they come Monday.
I’m also thinking of leaving octopus go and joining eon next. Who are you with?

[MaterialBarracuda48]

Still with Octopus IOG and the 12p fixed export, as I have not been inclined to look about currently.
Gas tracker has been painful to watch the last few days mind you

I cannot exactly recall why, but I think I was with eon many years back and seem to have a gut feeling as to why I don't wish to join them again.

[Antlen]

Unfortunately my charger isn’t compatible with iog so I’m with go. My contract runs out in April so instead of 7p cheap rate it’s going up to 8.5p for 5 hours. EON is 7.5p for 6 hours.

[MaterialBarracuda48]

Yeah the savings will be worth the jump by the sounds of it.

[Antlen]

Hopefully. We will see. I’m going to stick with octopus for the moment