KatyJ

Hello. My first post, thank you for taking the time to read. I'd appreciate any comments / advice, particularly from those with experience of sunamps North West Scotland 3 x Self Caterings. One bed, one living / kitchen (elec oven, microwave, fridge freezer), one bathroom with shower and bath. Approx 50m2 2 x elec radiators and 1 towel rail per unit 1 x wood burning stove per unit 1 x 210L megaflow per unit (2 x 3kW switches each) Elec units per year 20,000 including other buildings / laundry etc. I'd like to drive down our usage considerably and take less from the grid. Have already placed all electric radiators on WiFi switch. Guests can boost for an hour using a button to supplement the wood burner but can no longer put heating on permanently and go out for the day leaving the windows wide open;) Exploring 3 x Sunamps with 1.2kW (?) panels to each Unit to trickle charge through the day, with the hope that, in my inexperienced mind whilst trying my best to educate myself, the following can be achieved; During our busiest months, our long daylight hours, the solar will contribute a high percentage / all of the hot water demands We won't be needlessly boiling a 210L tank twice a day regardless of how much / little our guests use. Some don't take a bath everyday, some not at all, some morning and night (!!!!) It's part of what we sell, they can relax in the bath with a stunning view, protected from the outdoor climate The losses are less so we will straight away save elec units per day this way The Sunamp only converts power to hot water on demand. So if someone washes the dishes, has a shower etc, the entire 210L doesn't then have to be boiled back up to temperature when the timer comes on for 2-3 hours twice a day? I now believe 210L is a lot of hot water even for a bath and a shower or two, if just two people? Two baths? So we hopefully will no longer be converting that amount of energy to water when it's not required. I read that a bath is just 80L of water - is that right I find it hard to imagine though understand mixed with cold water We can set the Sunamp on a timer to charge from the grid / not drop below a certain charge so guests won't be disappointed if no hot water? This is a bit I'm yet to understand. We could leave a boost button that if their water runs out at night and they know they will need a shower first thing in the morning that the water will be hot again for them? Not got a meter - don't ask. One day, hopefully. Not guaranteed the night time useage will be around for ever so I'm not banking on this at the moment regardless. Priority is get the units we seem to burning through lowered as much as possible. Is it possible to install solar panels direct to SunAmp and off line / off grid from the on grid system? The panels aren't the most expensive part of the package, so if we added more panels it wouldn't impact any G98/G99 etc? Is 1.2kW solar trickle charging during summer months going to help general usage or do realistically need more? I realise could put solar panel to charge our current cylinders. I believe we would need at least 3.6kW array per cylinder to get sufficient charge though as it's not best suited to trickle charging, the SunAmp can use every bit of charge from the panels though, regardless how small W per hour. Changing to Solar thermal / heat pumps (please don't talk to me about heat pumps) will require a new tank regardless. So offset that cost against the SunAmp? Legionella - it won't be such a concern for us and our risk assessments / management water under the 60 degrees is no longer stored in a tank If anyone is willing to pick the above apart (I'd appreciate kindness at the same time - I fully admit I'm a learner!) I'd be extremely grateful for any advice, thoughts. Thank you, Katy