Solar Panels with Digital Meter Questions

[Eucid]

Hi,

I've just installed a 1.5kw system and it seems to be going well. The only thing is our meter doesn't go backwards (not sure the legalities of that anyway) and while we are at work we don't use the energy produced.

My wife is having a baby at the end of the month, so our day time energy will increase as she will be having at least 9 months off.

I'm just wondering what people would suggest doing? Paying around 300-500 pounds for a feed in tariff? Getting a smart meter (we are with E-on)? Or are there other suggestions?

Thanks in advanced!

[Mr. Fox]

Assuming MCS accredited equipment/installer?

If DIY, forget FITS (what is the £300-500 for? Certification? Export meter?)

E-on won't bother fitting an export meter for small PV (re-metering costs more than it would ever save) and will just assume 50% of what's on the generation meter was exported, so if the house is going to be occupied during the day, that's all good.

A meter that runs backwards (with no 'backstop') would be entirely E-on's problem, if they're too tight to change it. I think the legal term for having one is 'Lucky'.

[Blue Peter]

Hi,

I've just installed a 1.5kw system and it seems to be going well. The only thing is our meter doesn't go backwards (not sure the legalities of that anyway) and while we are at work we don't use the energy produced.

My wife is having a baby at the end of the month, so our day time energy will increase as she will be having at least 9 months off.

I'm just wondering what people would suggest doing? Paying around 300-500 pounds for a feed in tariff? Getting a smart meter (we are with E-on)? Or are there other suggestions?

Thanks in advanced!

Try i-boost which detects if you are exporting any electricity and if so switches on an immersion heater to heat your hot water (until it reaches the target temperature),


Peter.

[Eucid]

That i-boost looks good, but we don't have an immersion heater. My father in law does though, so I will let him know.

It is a DIY system.

I didn't think there would be much else to do. I guess I will just have to schedule everything to charge/run in the day time.

Thanks!

[Clark]

What type of water heating system do you have? You can also suggest solarimmersion, a power diverting device similar to iboost. Check this thread as well - http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/forum/vie ... &highlight

[kenneal - lagger]

If your system is DIY you can't get the FIT. The system has to use MCS accredited fittings and installer before FIT can be claimed.

I hope you're using the proper inverter which switches off if the mains goes off! If not you could be in real trouble if you get a power cut.

(Edited to use fittings instead of cit spelt with a k which automatically turns into DODGY - damned spammers!!)

[Eucid]

If your system is DIY you can't get the FIT. The system has to use MCS accredited DODGY and installer before FIT can be claimed.

I hope you're using the proper inverter which switches off if the mains goes off! If not you could be in real trouble if you get a power cut.

Yeah it's a decent inverter, plus I've installed a cut off switch before and after the inverter. It's the same set up as my farther in law's system, which is properly installed with FIT. Plus it goes in to a new consumer unit (installed by a professional who wired in a 30amp kilm for us).

Regarding the boiler, it's a combi boiler. So iboost type things can't help us really.