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bontwoody

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  1. So is the DNO approval I already have only valid for the DC coupled batteries then? If that so then what I need is another battery system option that is compatible with the SE inverter but modular in nature so I can start small and increase as needed. I assume that I can still have the additional PV panels with no batteries attached. Anyone have any ideas or experience of such a system?
  2. I cant go for the SE Battery though as it only comes in 10kWh size and is too pricey, so I need a modular system that can interface with the SE inverter if I have to go for a DC coupled system. Is there any reason why I cant go down the AC coupled route do you think?
  3. Sorry that was my paraphrasing, he actually said: "Western Power (national grid) have done the calculations and would allow an additional 3.68kWp of Solar PV to be installed with a SolarEdge 10kW DC battery attached." By eye I think I could fit 9 panels to the East side and more than that to the West if allowed so probably 5.7 at least. But does he imply that I have to have the DC battery to be allowed them? Thanks
  4. So following on from my previous post regarding adding additional capacity to my existing 2.66kW FIT system, I have now had DNO approval and a quote to install a Solar Edge panel and battery system. My intention is to leave the existing system well alone and put the new system split equally over a East/West (ish) facing roof. The installer has said that the DNO will allow an additional 3.68kW of panels with a 10kWh DC battery attached but added the phrase β€œ The proposed system that we would install would only contribute to the consumption in the home and will also store in the battery. β€œ Im happy with the quote for the panels but the battery is beyond my budget. IT does seem to make sense however to install some batteries while the VAT is zero rated. I had hoped to do something more modular with the battery system, starting at say 2-4kWh and seeing how it goes before adding more. So my questions are: Does the quoted phrase mean that the new system wont export at all, and so I must have a DC battery installed Does the DC battery have to be that big? Or could I have a smaller modular battery system and if so what suggestions are there that would be compatible with the solar edge inverter. Can I have an AC coupled battery system instead, and would an advantage of that be that I could store the excess from my FIT system as well as my new system. Would it be a good idea to oversize the new system substantially and use a smaller than 3.68kW inverter (the quote is for a Solar Edge 3680 HD Wave inverter) For information, Im just about to have a Mixergy HW cylinder installed with a PV diverter, and intend to switch away from the existing gas combi to a ASHP as soon as I can. I also have an eMonPi monitoring system that I would like to be able to monitor the new PV system with. An EV is on the cards in the future. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers Mark
  5. I'll keep my eyes open then and save some space on the roof πŸ™‚
  6. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5894a3b0be659481ff6f152c/t/606c6192a19ef13fa60b3732/1617715603447/Mitsubishi+Ecodan+Spec+Sheet+Single+Phase+Oct+2020.pdf Just found this, im not sure at what ambient temperature the SCOP is quoted but it looks more promising than you suggest?
  7. Well I have to say that wasnt my experience using a Ecodan, but i guess it depends where you live, it rarely drops much below zero in Swansea. Also the output temperature only reaches 55 right at the end. However a COP of anything above 1 is better than an immersion heater. That is a low tech version of the Mixergy I think, much cheaper πŸ™‚
  8. Its something I would love to do but Im finding it hard to justify it since I could buy a lot of extra PV for the same price. It might come down to whether the DNO ups my solar feed or not
  9. Yes, I knew that and wasnt intending to fit it myself. I was still thinking I might need an immersion top up, perhaps using an off peak tariff, but an ASHP can easily reach 55C and some of the newer ones more
  10. Thats definitely an alternative way to go, my feeling is that this would be more expensive that a mixergy cylinder and I cant see an option to add a heat pump later, unless Im missing it? Your blog is interesting, Ill spend some time looking over it. We were living on Gozo Malta before the pandemic hit.
  11. Wow, thats an impressive difference! I think I have my head around your system now. Am I correct in thinking the cylinder is heated purely from the immersion which heats the whole tank to between 25-30 degrees most days? The mixergy works on a different principle, only heating the top of the cylinder as needed. I suspect that I should be able to provide virtually all my hot water needs from solar, outside of deepest darkest winter when I might need the combi backup. I think the results you got with the system boiler configuration are because your are essentially heating the whole tank up to a usable temperature instaed of just what you need. Thanks for the diagrams, I was considering something like this when I was thinking about using solar thermal panels as well, but in the end I dont think the extra expense added up.
  12. Ok, I think I see what you are doing, so you are using the cylinder as a source of preheat before sending it to the combi? I had envisaged the opposite kind of system where the combi just heats the cylinder and hot water is taken from there. Apologises if this isnt the case, I have reasonable hands on plumbing skills but lack system experience. Im off out in a minute so Ill have another look at it later to try and get my head around it better. πŸ™‚
  13. Im looking for some advice/opinions on how to green up the heating system in my new house, a mostly stone built, 2 bed bungalow. Obviously I will improve its insulation before doing anything else. It currently has a newly installed gas combi and some solar PV. I intend to increase the amount of PV and install a heat pump and batteries at some point, but I am trying to firm up the best way to provide hot water and heating interim. Since the combi is new, Im thinking that I will go down the route of minimising gas consumption for a few years before going the whole hog and installing an ASHP. The combi is situated in a cupboard that has room for a small cylinder underneath. Although more expensive, Im thinking of getting an unvented Mixergy cylinder installed, rather than a standard cylinder. My reasons for choosing Mixergy, are that I can use a smaller cylinder, less energy to heat it for my needs and integrate it into a monitoring system easily. My idea is to get the Mixergy fitted and connect the combi to it as a system boiler. This will be a backup to using a PV diverter to power an immersion heater in the cylinder. To convert a Mixergy cylinder for a heat pump, a flat plate heat exchanger is bolted on, and Im wondering if it might be a good idea to fit this in advance, and heat the cylinder when needed via the heat exchanger from the combi. I imagine this wont be quite as efficient but will make the change over to a heat pump very simple when the time comes. For heating, Im thinking about keeping the radiators in most of the rooms, but oversizing them and testing in the winter with the combi set to a low output temperature. Im also considering a split air to air heat pump/ac in the bedrooms, which I have used before abroad and will provide cooling when necessary. All opinions considered and that’s in advance for any input.
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