Marvin

Yes I did all my own bricklaying, drainage, landscaping and so on, but each property has been a renovation with or without extension.

Still have my Belle mixer from 1987. Replaced the gearbox. Had the paddles in the drum rewelded. Would recommend not leaving out in the rain if you want it to last. Used for supplying concrete/mortar from manholes to foundations to brickwork to patio to paths from the start of a job to near to the finish. No off hire in bad weather, no delivery / collection charge, no being charged when a gap in the work. If you can transport it and store it then in my experience its a no brainer.

Because its ground in with sweat and hard work.

Hi @HantsBob Yes I missed that one.... This may help: with the Therminos https://sunflowltd.co.uk/guide-videos/#manual_1602311761951-4c10cc86-18f9

Definitely better than no hot water 😂

I get your point. 👍. Based on 2 neighbours experiences I would still consider very hard the decision to put a hot water tank in the loft. Because the water temperature required is low, its not just the tank but also the length of pipework that causes losses, both circulating from the ASHP and distance from tank to tap. And yes each one of these is small but the accumulation times years of additional cost of both heating and water usage due to running tap to get the hot water add up. Also, as I commented before, the heat loss from the tank not adding to the warmth in the house. I think the average temperature in the UK over the year is about 7°C.

Welcome I always learn more on buildhub. Good luck with your next project. M

And also important airtightness!

Hi @Tilbert As @Radian's reply shows, the devil is in the detail! To do with prices, heating, power, thermal resistance, and on and on, the details give the answers. Insulation v heating and cooling: Super insulation beats super heating and cooling. Generally: insulate once and pay once. Heating and cooling pay once, and then pay about one tenth more next year, and one tenth more the next year and..... (ignoring inflation) until you move out or die. Good luck.

Yes... Loft -10°C hot water 50°C Cupboard 20°C water 60°C Volume of low temp tank? Heat from loft tank escapes building through roof. Heat from cupboard tank escapes through thermal envelope. I am not convinced, unless as you say @joe90 in a very insulated room. M

Hi @HantsBob Batteries. Check with battery specification but best temp 25°C?? Certinally our Renogy ones are. Very thick copper cable required between batteries and inverter, so the nearer the two the better. Hot water tank. The last place I would put the hot water tank, is in loft because, as you say, the heat loss. Espically if you end up with a large one due to ASHP water temperature issues. Good luck Marvin

We would go off grid with that as we charge at 3kWp

Yes mileometer reading at MOT time??

Yes you need a clever charger, a data cable between the charger and the smart meter and a smart meter to make it work, otherwise your safe. Or use a plug in.

Yes I was using Banbury as an example. I do not know what part of the world @S2D2 lives in. I was using an example where IF Banbury was the location and had a completely sunny day what the suggested outcome would be IF the panels were over producing. M

Yes the idea is all "new" installations have to have smart meters and data cables so in the future the electricity supplier can control when your charger works, for your benefit. This would conflict with our EV's timed charger option and our solar power "turn on the EV charger when over 3kWp being produced by our PV system"

Hi @SteamyTea Considering that depending on what part of the world @S2D2 has the PV array will make a difference, I will us as an example Banbury UK to explain why I find it hard to believe that the panels are the reason: The peak of the height of the sun 2 days ago in Banbury would mean the sun was at an altitude of about 54.45 degrees If the: panels were at an angle of 35.55 degrees. panels face directly south. panels have no shading or dirt of bird poo on them. inverter has no power loss converting DC to AC DC cables cause no loss and you still achieve 13% over the stated power of the panels, then yes, but would it flick on and off of the excess level? Would it not rise slowly with the sun angle? Surely its more likely that the ping is caused by the inverters response? Respectfully M

Hi @pocster I've read all the posts about this inverter confusion and have come to the conclusion that it's not the inverter that's confused. To follow the train of thought (only about the original issue that is) I think requires a clear diagram with details on it. Also several questions cannot be answered because they are not specific enough, other items raised by others with there limited info just confuse the issue: I've never heard of this! There are so many variables as to why they would never reach there full potential that I can only think that something has been miss manufacturered.

Hi @MikeSharp01 Good one - perhaps that's another thing smart meters will sort out, or taxed on miles, or increased road fund licence. I bet they have thought of it but don't want to talk about it until everyone is using an EV!!!

Hi @Gill In my humble opinion the government needs tax money so the more popular EV vehicles the more taxation. Again in my humble opinion I would install as many panels as could sensibly be installed. Yor right not enough in the winter too much in the summer (unless you use for cooling...) PV, EV, ASHP and power storage for night use all work well for us.

and you do that very well...

Hi @jayc89 Yes similar problem! To do with the nozzles on the cleaner cans being different between brands in my opinion.

Hi @ProDave and @SteamyTea Well time has moved on and as suggested things are becoming tougher. Has the kWh price gone down? Will it go down before the end of the year? Yes the greed of banks has come back to bite them. Borrowing agreed now will be at a higher rate. How much did the uk borrow in February? £16.7billion. Typical 10 year bond now at 3.6% about £1.5m interest a day just for the loan ade in February! I expect that with tougher time ahead the kWh price will drop towards the end of the year. Time will tell.

Thanks for this. Who is this with? I must admit I hate making long term decisions based on short term rates, and we do not have a smart meter and I do not want one.

As I understood it if you sell to the grid (So to speak) you have to buy at a higher price? Or is this old hat now?