NSS

Not sure I knew you'd had those issues, Terry. That may be that you'd not shared back then, that I'd just not seen, or that my aging brain simply doesn't recall. I know I struggled physically at times with our build, so you did very well. We also downsized, or perhaps more accurately, right-sized. Though I never aimed for PH levels, our home performs incredibly well compared to our previous property. Over the first 7 years, our net energy cost averaged around -£100/pa. However, since last April, we no longer receive the RHI payments so this is the first year in which we're actually paying out for energy (albeit less than a third of what it cost us in the old house 10 years ago!) Like you, my wife's health forced early retirement (from teaching). In her case it was due to a whole bunch of complex medical issues, some of which date from birth, some that are much more recent, and (unfortunately) some that will likely have been caused by treatment she underwent in childhood. But the difference the house has made to her (and our) quality of life is absolutely priceless. I don't know how many more years we'll get, but I have no doubt it'll be more than we'd have enjoyed had we not built our bubble.

Hi @TerryE, yes, I remember you getting in around the same time as us. Good to hear you're both still enjoying your home. I don't know about you, but we feel ours fits us like a glove, and all the little things we did in order to ensure we can stay here as long as possible are proving their worth. Sadly, though Mrs NSS's lungs have stood still, her mobility has deteriorated significantly, but the house was built with the knowledge that that was likely to be the case, and that's paying dividends now. Many of us self-builders are 'past our prime' but if there's one piece of advice i could give, even to those who are fortunate enough to get the opportunity to build their dream earlier in life, it would be to think about what you may need in the future, not just what you may want now.

@ToughButterCup, long time no speak, and I'm really sorry to read of your struggles. I don't have a magic solution for you, but I can tell you what has worked for me. Firstly, I remember going to visit my parents many years ago. My old man had just redecorated their lounge. It looks great, I said. He jumped up from his armchair and dragged its twin from the corner it always sat in. Angrily, he pointed at a tiny mis-allignment in the wallpaper join in the corner, a near invisible flaw that nobody would have noticed even if it wasn't hidden behind an armchair. He was so stressed that he'd not achieved HIS perfection. But what is perfection, and does it really matter if you don't achieve it? Whilst our build was largely complete when we moved in, some of the minor details are still a little rough 8 years later. Does that bug me? Sure it does. And the perfectionist in me still rears its head from time to time, and gives me a sleepless night or two worrying as to what my old man would have said about it had he lived long enough to see it. But, if you've read my earlier post, you'll appreciate that my number one objective was achieved. I've chosen to accept that is enough of a win - and certainly enough of one to overlook those less than perfect details - and to concentrate on living our best life (whilst we still can). I'm not sure where you are with your build, but try to focus and give yourself credit for what you've already achieved, rather than what you have left to complete. And whatever else you do, don't lose sight of life, and the importance of enjoying it.

I appreciate very few will have read, let alone remembered, my original post in this thread (hence I've quoted it for context), but i thought some may be interested in an update, 8 years on. Just before we moved in in October 2017, my wife had a spirometry test on her lung function. It showed, despite having nebulised antibiotics for 18 months, that her lungs had worsened, with capacity having deteriorated to 50% (from 65% three years earlier). She stopped using the nebuliser around three weeks after moving in, and has only used it for a few days in total in the 8 years since. In late December, as part of a pre-assessment for surgery for an unrelated condition, the anaesthetist requested a new spirometry test. Remarkably, it shows that her lungs have not measurably deteriorated since 2017. I can't say for certain that the house can be credited entirely for this result, but it has certainly played a massive part, and this is one bubble that refuses to burst.

🤞🏻

Probably another dumb question, but would it be possible to tap into the supply before it reaches the existing property, connect the new build and then continue on to the existing, hence meaning it's still the last in the line? Okay, I'll get my coat.

Probably an obvious question that you'll already have looked at, but can power be brought to the plot from a different source/direction?

Cancel that, apparently Lindab no longer offer 7011 either.

Landscape gardeners have managed to damage two of our Roofart steel downpipes. Unfortunately, Roofart no longer supply in RAL 7011, but Lindab do, so just wondering has anyone tried connecting Lindab to Roofart?

Hi Dave, how are you doing? The warranty was 3 years. The recon unit would be of the latest version, but I have similar concerns, hence my second question. I've spoken to the installer, who says he's come across this issue before and, in his experience, it's not something that can be easily (or economically) fixed. Online searches suggest it can sometimes be caused by a loose terminal or broken contactor, or a faulty relay, but I wouldn't have a clue what to look for, and even if I did I wouldn't have confidence in being able to safely dismantle and fix it.

Hi all, long time no post, but I still loiter. As the subject says, our Myenergi Zappi has failed (output failure error), irritatingly just 16 days out of warranty. They're offering to supply a recon unit "as a goodwill gesture" at a cost of £349 + VAT, but I'd have to arrange fitting myself. As those who remember me will know, electrics is a black art to me, so my questions are.... 1) how easy would it be to swap out the old for new, ie does it need to be a specialist fitter or could any competent sparky do it? 2) should I be considering an alternative solution? Thanks in advance for any advice 👍🏻

Whilst I can't prove it, I suspect they are busily adding qualifying text where it previously wasn't provided. My guess is that it was there for previous variants, but was left off of documents covering the 2026 model year updates. Whether that is because they had intended to improve the charging rates, but then didn't, or because someone dropped a clanger - who knows.

In theory, yes, but that's not the point. Here's the document that appears if you put my model details or reg no into Volvo support, or pull it up in the vehicle itself. https://www.volvocars.com/uk/support/car/xc60-plug-in-hybrid/article/0ed816eed33d98cac0a8cc377bc12bc7-83c0c849d91ad5fac0a8cc3751bbe62b-8664b2fa77a7e089c0a8296870d1a409/ No mention of needing 2-phase.

19kWh, so 5 hours as opposed to 3.

No diagram, and nothing more than the statement above. I made a formal complaint to Volvo and they referred me to a document, dated November 2023, for the 2024 model and said it was the applicable document, not the one embedded in the online manual for my 2026 model and dated April 2025. They have refused my complaint and I have now complained to the Motor Ombudsman (though not holding my breathe), so am gathering evidence for that and for a potential legal action. I really don't like being taken for a fool.

Thanks @-rick- @Nickfromwales . In the manual it simply states that the max charging rate on a home charger is 6.4kW, but in a pdf buried on their web site it states that the car has a "2 phase on board charger" and that home-charging on a single phase supply is "limited to 3.7kW"

Thanks for that, Rick, but what I'm trying to establish is just how rare 2-phase is in the UK? My contention is that, if it's as rare as I believe, quoting charging rates based on 2-phase is both misleading and disingenuous.

Long story short, I bought a new Volvo PHEV and it doesn't charge at the expected rate on our Zappi home charger. Volvo contend that to achieve the higher rate (6.4kW) you need a 2-phase 16amp supply. My contention is not merely that the technical manual does not state this, but that single phase is the standard domestic supply in the UK so why would they quote a charge rate based on a supply type that is (at best) rare. What I am struggling to identify is just how rare? Any wisdom on the matter would be greatly appreciated 👍🏻.

Sounds to me like you're making the right decision. There'll be other opportunities, you just have to wait for the right one, or at least the one that gives you a better feeling about achieving your goals.

Okay, that sounds like a possibility, thank you. I'll speak to the dealer when I collect it tomorrow 👍🏻

Not via the Octopus app, no. They say the app cannot recognise more than one vehicle, and the only way to charge the second one us to do so manually, which (to benefit from the 7p rate) presumably means plugging it in after 11.30pm.

As per the title, is anyone doing this? My new PHEV arrives tomorrow and Octopus tell me I can't charge it as well as my wife's EV via Intelligent Go (not simultaneously of course).

7.5 years in, total net energy cost is -£730. However, last RHI payment was received a couple of months ago, so I may now look again at whether it's worth us adding a battery.

We never open windows. In fact, but for the requirement to have openers for means of escape, we could have saved a bundle by having all fixed panes. After 7.5 years living with MVHR, I can't imagine ever going back to living without it.

Unless you glue them to the glass, I doubt they could be considered a "glass coating" 😉