Michael_S Posted January 30 Posted January 30 On 15/12/2024 at 14:55, mk1_man said: Yes, I have batteries (no solar) and charge them up overnight at 5p and then run the house for rest of the day from them. So far I haven't had to pay for any additional electric so looking good. My opinion is that it is better to spend on batteries than it is on solar especially when its the winter when you need the electric for the heat pump and generally no solar at that time. I calculate my payback is 3 - 4 years however I did source some great deals on my batteries. I am planning on installing solar myself in the spring but to get MCS install the figures just don't add up and there is no guarantee of long term SEG payments? Even without batteries I would seriously consider Tomato Energy Lifestyle, it gives 6 hours at 5p kWh, 4 hours at 14p and the rest at 24p so the average is still pretty good. A lot of people on the Tomato Energy forum appear to be running this way i.e. without batteries. Did you install the battery(s) and invertor yourself? How about DNO approval?
sharpener Posted January 30 Posted January 30 1 hour ago, Michael_S said: Did you install the battery(s) and invertor yourself? How about DNO approval? PMFJI but the DNO (WPD now NGED) accepted my application for a self-install after a bit of to and fro. So it can be done. Since then they have waived their original restrictions on inverter power and export power as well. And subsequently given permission for an EVCP and a 12kW heat pump. All on an 80A supply, quite a voyage of discovery, the 16 sq mm meter tails do get a bit warm at times. 1
mk1_man Posted January 31 Author Posted January 31 18 hours ago, Michael_S said: Did you install the battery(s) and invertor yourself? How about DNO approval? Hi, yes installed the batteries and inverter (5.5 kW Sunsynk) myself. Really quite simple to do depending on your technical background. As yet haven't informed DNO although I know I should and I will before I install any solar panels. As far as I am aware I am not breaking any laws just their rules. My inverter is set to zero export and also disconnects automatically from grid when it fails to detect a grid present i.e. when there is a power cut etc so very safe. The setup means I have run all Dec and Jan at 5p 24 x 7 instead of 24p - 26p kWh Very happy 🙂 1 1
Michael_S Posted January 31 Posted January 31 (edited) 7 hours ago, mk1_man said: Hi, yes installed the batteries and inverter (5.5 kW Sunsynk) myself. Really quite simple to do depending on your technical background. As yet haven't informed DNO although I know I should and I will before I install any solar panels. As far as I am aware I am not breaking any laws just their rules. My inverter is set to zero export and also disconnects automatically from grid when it fails to detect a grid present i.e. when there is a power cut etc so very safe. The setup means I have run all Dec and Jan at 5p 24 x 7 instead of 24p - 26p kWh Very happy 🙂 I am really interested in this, currently running v2h with a 40kwh and 62kwh leaf but the 40 is basically stationary storage and would like to swap it for say 30kwh of batteries plus an inverter to give higher max output. Have seen put together yourself batts at about 1,500 for 15kwh so if I could do the whole thing for 4k I would probably cover it with the sale of the 40 leaf and then have a bit more flexibility. Don't suppose you blogged your install anywhere?! (Edit - don't really need it here, but islanding would be nice - did you look into it?) Edited January 31 by Michael_S
mk1_man Posted January 31 Author Posted January 31 I think the £1500 Seplos Mason 15kWh batteries are a great deal. They hook well to the Sunsynk also. I would go this route if I were to start again. The inverter is an easy install all depends where you locate it and the batteries in relation to your consumer unit. Mine are in the garage with simple run to the consumer unit in the utility room : 2 x 15 kWh batteries ( 2 x £1500 ) 5.5kW inverter £1000 Best thing ever. 2 2
Andehh Posted January 31 Posted January 31 1 hour ago, mk1_man said: I think the £1500 Seplos Mason 15kWh batteries are a great deal. They hook well to the Sunsynk also. I would go this route if I were to start again. The inverter is an easy install all depends where you locate it and the batteries in relation to your consumer unit. Mine are in the garage with simple run to the consumer unit in the utility room : 2 x 15 kWh batteries ( 2 x £1500 ) 5.5kW inverter £1000 Best thing ever. I am really interested, but those prices seem too good to be??
Dillsue Posted January 31 Posted January 31 4 hours ago, Michael_S said: I am really interested in this, currently running v2h with a 40kwh and 62kwh leaf but the 40 is basically stationary storage and would like to swap it for say 30kwh of batteries plus an inverter to give higher max output. Having just bought a Leaf I'm intrigued to know how you've done the V2H interface. Have you been on one of the trials or via another route??
mk1_man Posted February 4 Author Posted February 4 On 31/01/2025 at 19:07, Andehh said: I am really interested, but those prices seem too good to be?? 15 kWh batteries : https://www.fogstar.co.uk/products/seplos-v4-kit-and-x16-envision-280ah-grade-b-bundle?variant=41838224343099&country=GB¤cy=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1ZP7t7CqiwMVRZlQBh2loBGhEAQYBSABEgKh7fD_BwE 5.5 kW Sunsynk hybrid inverter : https://www.cityplumbing.co.uk/p/sunsynk-5-5kw-ecco-single-phase-hybrid-inverter-sun-5k-sg01lp1-eu/p/637259?srsltid=AfmBOorz9B8VK8zh8sbsArz0Xy0x8d7S0UygiiDxk4EZo2Pw2hEBDSdk 2
cjsparkey Posted February 4 Posted February 4 Apologies for jumping in on this thread, I'm just looking at ordering either one of the fogstar kits or a prebuilt unit and wondering how challenging you found the build up of the kit? 1
SteamyTea Posted February 4 Posted February 4 I know it is only just February. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09735768
Bramco Posted February 4 Posted February 4 13 minutes ago, cjsparkey said: I'm just looking at ordering either one of the fogstar kits Take a look at the ITS Technologies website -> https://www.itstechnologies.shop/. They also do kits. Last time I looked the Frogstar batteries were pretty expensive as against Sunsynk for example. I'm assuming from your handle you're a sparkey - so putting one of these kits on a wall and connecting things up shouldn't bea problem. There are plenty of members that have self installed inverters and batteries. 1
Michael_S Posted February 5 Posted February 5 On 31/01/2025 at 21:10, Dillsue said: Having just bought a Leaf I'm intrigued to know how you've done the V2H interface. Have you been on one of the trials or via another route?? Yes, trial. There are two sets of trial units, Indra who will not support second (hand) users and quasar where they can be used by a new (second hand) owner but there is basically no support if they go wrong.
Dillsue Posted February 5 Posted February 5 6 hours ago, Michael_S said: Yes, trial. There are two sets of trial units, Indra who will not support second (hand) users and quasar where they can be used by a new (second hand) owner but there is basically no support if they go wrong. I think the ex trial inverters are like hens teeth but interesting to know that the Quasar units will work outside of a trial
connick159 Posted February 17 Posted February 17 Just for Info for anyone still considering switch. I just switched from Octopus Agile to Tomato Lifestyle (battery, although we don't have one). I modelled my usage data for Jan before switching. For 896.376 kwh consumption in Jan Octopus Agile actual cost was £213.69. Tomato cost based on agile usage data = £133.80. Saving of £79 for Jan alone so... I did the switch via the tomato website. Switch took 5 days, was very smooth, no issues for us so far. 1st day on Tomato and we used 29.432 kwh - cost £3.30. Previous day on Agile we used 28.22 kwh - cost £9.20 Hasn't been many cheap days on agile last couple of months. We have a heat pump, no solar, no batteries and we try to load shift and use the ASHP over night when cheaper. We have underfloor heating in screed so we 'charge' up the slab over night and also now in the cheaper slots on Tomato which is 9:30am to 11:30 am as well as from 10pm to midnight (14p). No battery for storage or anything either so, if we did have a batt it's be cheaper still. Our kwh has gone up from around 30 to 33-35 but our cost have come down from anywhere between £7 and £9 per day down to £3:30 - £4 per day. Hope that helps anyone in a similar boat. (So far so good for our switch from octopus agile to tomato.) 2
Andehh Posted February 17 Posted February 17 Yeah, we found similar! Just hope it's sustainable for them, their latest financial statements were/are late per previous post....
connick159 Posted February 17 Posted February 17 37 minutes ago, Andehh said: Yeah, we found similar! Just hope it's sustainable for them, their latest financial statements were/are late per previous post.... Full accounts were provided on 7th Feb by the looks of companies house register. 1
Sparrowhawk Posted February 17 Posted February 17 14 minutes ago, connick159 said: Full accounts were provided on 7th Feb by the looks of companies house register. They were indeed. Fast growth. Senapt Limited who have a controlling interest are the other accounts to look at. There's quite a network of companies out there.
marshian Posted Thursday at 20:03 Posted Thursday at 20:03 https://www.tomato.energy/ why would they not be accepting new customers?
ProDave Posted Thursday at 21:53 Posted Thursday at 21:53 1 hour ago, marshian said: https://www.tomato.energy/ why would they not be accepting new customers? Often the first sign of trouble?
sharpener Posted Friday at 17:44 Posted Friday at 17:44 21 hours ago, marshian said: https://www.tomato.energy/ why would they not be accepting new customers? Bc OFGEM have told them not to? Maybe their response to the previous OFGEM investigation has not been adequate, or a new problem has been discovered. Having had successive accounts with Orbit and then Yorkshire, both of which ceased trading or were shut down, and then assigned to Scottish Power, it doesn't sound good to me.
marshian Posted Friday at 19:15 Posted Friday at 19:15 1 hour ago, sharpener said: Bc OFGEM have told them not to? Maybe their response to the previous OFGEM investigation has not been adequate, or a new problem has been discovered. Having had successive accounts with Orbit and then Yorkshire, both of which ceased trading or were shut down, and then assigned to Scottish Power, it doesn't sound good to me. It was really a rhetorical question rather than an actual question - but thanks to those who responded
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