Solar power and usage patterns - esp laundry
Although I'm currently minus 5KWh on my electricity meter since Tuesday, I'd warn people to be sceptical of claims by some firms that you'll halve your electricity bills. I still think 1/4 to 1/3 reduction is more likely.
That's because that negative 5KWh is the electricity I didn't use. I suspect some firms take the total you generate and subtract that from your total electricity bill and quietly ignore the fact that electricity produced when you don't need it is no use (unless you're collecting the feed in tariff yourself, in which case you'll also gain financially from the unused amount). I saw a firm in Poole yesterday, making exactly that claim (with a girl on the stand who knew so little that on hearing I already had PV panels suggested that I might be able to install hot water panels on the inside of my roof...). If you're collecting the FIT, then you'll be owning your own panels. That's also a sound route to go, but you need to have the free capital.
I'm looking at the different cycles of my washing machine. I always use the 30 degree setting normally, but just for curiosity I'm trying the others to see what they power usage is like.
today I'm trying the 60 degree eco wash. I've already concluded that it's not a good one for solar power. Although the manual rates it as using just over 1KWh and I'm currently generating 1.25KW, I'm actually negative by 1.4KW. It's clear that most of the power is used at the start of the washing cycle to heat the water. Solar is best for things that use less than 1KW for longer periods of time. (though I'm still saving nearly half the power used on this wash)
Incidentally, it's clear that washing machines get their energy efficiency labels for scoring on particular points. I can think of no other reason why my machine uses less energy (according to the manual) on the 60 degree cycle than on the 40 degree cycle!
Tomorrow, or the weekend, I'll try my normal 30 degree wash and see if it's possible to do that without ever exceeding the generation rate.
I'm also intending to cook the rice for tea early today while power is still plentiful.
This entry was originally posted on Dreamwidth where it has
comments.
That's because that negative 5KWh is the electricity I didn't use. I suspect some firms take the total you generate and subtract that from your total electricity bill and quietly ignore the fact that electricity produced when you don't need it is no use (unless you're collecting the feed in tariff yourself, in which case you'll also gain financially from the unused amount). I saw a firm in Poole yesterday, making exactly that claim (with a girl on the stand who knew so little that on hearing I already had PV panels suggested that I might be able to install hot water panels on the inside of my roof...). If you're collecting the FIT, then you'll be owning your own panels. That's also a sound route to go, but you need to have the free capital.
I'm looking at the different cycles of my washing machine. I always use the 30 degree setting normally, but just for curiosity I'm trying the others to see what they power usage is like.
today I'm trying the 60 degree eco wash. I've already concluded that it's not a good one for solar power. Although the manual rates it as using just over 1KWh and I'm currently generating 1.25KW, I'm actually negative by 1.4KW. It's clear that most of the power is used at the start of the washing cycle to heat the water. Solar is best for things that use less than 1KW for longer periods of time. (though I'm still saving nearly half the power used on this wash)
Incidentally, it's clear that washing machines get their energy efficiency labels for scoring on particular points. I can think of no other reason why my machine uses less energy (according to the manual) on the 60 degree cycle than on the 40 degree cycle!
Tomorrow, or the weekend, I'll try my normal 30 degree wash and see if it's possible to do that without ever exceeding the generation rate.
I'm also intending to cook the rice for tea early today while power is still plentiful.
This entry was originally posted on Dreamwidth where it has
comments.