"I postponed installing solar panels for many years until battery storage." was a common phrase after 2016. PV (photovoltaic) solar panels and battery storage allow homes to squirrel away power to offset the cost of an installation. This addition means the magic of solar panels comes with evening use.
In a nutshell:
65% of energy costs are racked-up in the evening. Battery storage lasts approx ten years and another decade at around 80% of the original capacity. Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) chemistry is preferable to Cobalt batteries as they increase charge cycles and switch device flow seamlessly. 5.8-24 KW storage options.
How many evening hours?
Several, but this depends on your home's consumption and appliance demand.
How long do the batteries last?
Typically, 6000 recharging cycles from a drain to full charge, but up to 8000 dependent on the drainage routine. The system will switch between devices on-demand and seamlessly automatically.
Can I still use Economy 7?
Yes. Ensure to make the installation team aware that you have Economy 7, so they can draw from the grid rather than the battery after 11 pm.
Is it easy to install?
Battery storage installations come with minimum fuss. DIY installations aren't possible because of Part P electrical requirements. Work alongside a local sparky to self-install.
Learn more about solar battery storage.
Enjoy a hot bath and plentiful amounts of free hot water daily. Traditionally, flat-plate solar heating panels and evacuated tubes were popular until the advent of PV-heating converters. Divert your surplus power generation towards heating your water tank with this savvy addition to your PV solar panel system.
In a nutshell:
This nifty device means you don't have to pay to import expensive electricity for hot water. Water heating is typically 25% of a household's costs. Water temperatures raised to 75 deg Celcius between March to October.
What savings can I expect?
DIY installations are only possible when working alongside a Part P-qualified electrician.
What savings can I expect?
This answer depends on the size of your PV system and the amount of hot water you use, but a four-person family with a 4KW PV panel system can expect to save approx 70% of water costs per year.
Do I need a hot water tank?
Yes. A hot water tank with an immersion heater element. The management system will adjust the coil input according to demand throughout the day.
Can I still use Economy 7?
Yes, The system has a built-in timer that allows three easy-to-use options. These heat converters can be programmed to take advantage of your off-peak supply.
Learn more about solar tank heating.
Charging with solar panels can bring the sun's power to charge an electric vehicle without the cost of drawing from the grid. EV charging draws significant amounts of power, so ensure a free charge via your PV solar panel system by not importing that costly power demand from the grid.
In a nutshell:
I use my washing machine or charge my car when the sun shines. Solar charging is the only answer to expensive EV charging. A transmission line's resistance is 66% when generating electricity for a charge point from the generation source. Therefore, divide a Tesla's charging amount of 56 kW by 33% to acertain the power to charge - 169 Kwh!
Will solar panels give me all my mileage?
If you can charge during sunshine hours, it is entirely plausible to generate the majority of your mileage from the sun. However, this depends on other household demands during charging.
Do I need planning permission?
No. Domestic charging is compliant with all building regulations and suitable without planning permission.
Can it be used with all modern vehicles?
Yes. Every electric vehicle currently on the UK market can charge quickly from our two leads console during the day. Even using a standard 13 amp standard socket could fully charge overnight too.
Can I use a charging point for other reasons?
Charge points double up as a traditional electrical socket. This additional extra is ideal for home or garden maintenance, charging mobility scooters, etc.
Is your charge point future-proof?
Yes, it's easily upgradable to a full three fast-charge mode, when intending to upgrade to the number of electric cars in any household.
How long does a charge point last?
The robust design allows us to guarantee the installation for ten years, but the life expectancy is easily double that.
Learn more about solar car charging.
Stuart Lovatt
Power My Home Solar Panels
Sundial House, Panton Road, Chester CH2 3HX.
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