Random Renewables Thread

ELM327

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119461#Comment_120119461

Yes, I only fill with as much as needed. If I'm using the 900w kettle it means loads are at a premium!

bullit_dodger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119607#Comment_120119607

I use Alexa pretty heavily with a variety of smart plugs and can confirm "The case of the missing TCP/IP packet" - LOL. Where you go...

"Alexa turn off the living room lamp". Alexa responds with "OK" and then ..... nothing happens.

You say it again, and it works fine. Suspect that it's on the Alexa side of things as if you do it programmatically, or through the smart plugs phone app, works every time. Not a deal breaker, more an annoyance than anything - and easily rectified. Just thought I'd share so that you know it's not you in isolation.

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119613#Comment_120119613

If you fill the same amount in the 3000W kettle, surely you'll agree that it will boil much quicker than twice as quick as the 900W kettle? 😂

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119643#Comment_120119643

Yeah, I customise the message Alexa responds with for that reason. Then if I hear 'ok' I know it thinks it's doing a different voice command and I say it again. Less words in a voice command are better I’ve found.

Btw, my wife wasn't sure if I was a nutter or genius when I first asked Alexa to turn off the dishwasher (it runs on a timer on the smart plug) 😊

Can even get Alexa to check how much battery is in our EV - that's a bit hit and miss but that's fully down to the Nissan cloud getting the updates from the car, not Alexa. There's a lot Alexa can do automation wise

bullit_dodger

Yeah, the GivEnergy system that I have has a "Alexa Skill" plug in, so I can ask Alexa the SOC and give some basic commands. Pretty neat.

Ok, for me as a software developer sitting at my PC for hours on end, it's more of a gimmick as I could easily just go to the webportal and make any configuration changes there. Still kudos to them for doing the work.

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119933#Comment_120119933

That's still handy for others in the house. They could ask for battery SOC and then turn on a heater if was at a decent level

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119643#Comment_120119643

This reminds me of a presentation about how software engineers manipulate human behaviour

The idea is when you buy something online and after you pay you get the confirmation page, it's actually meaningless. There's no way they have processed your order through the various databases in the time it takes to load the page.

It's only when you get the confirmation email that the order is processed, the confirmation page is only there to tell you the website has received your request

Similar thing happens with Alexa, when she says okay it doesn't mean the command has been processed, it's only her acknowledging that she heard a command

Fun trivia, the same theory is why McDonald's have 3 stops at the drive through while everyone else has two. The orders don't get filled any quicker because there's the same number of workers, but it creates the illusion of progress for the customer

ELM327

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119698#Comment_120119698

Havent tested it as generally I fill the kettle vs put just over 1 cup in the 900w, but realistically the 900w should be 9/30 the speed of the 3kW kettle!

What I have noticed in testing is that the comparison wouldnt be linear. The 900w kettle pulls 950-1000w draw from the inverter from the power on to the click off. The usual kettle draws 3.5kW and then tails off gradually.

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120120917#Comment_120120917

Which one of you is going to test it and provide the two "boil curves"! 😀

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120120917#Comment_120120917

Could well be. Fact is that it takes a certain amount of energy to bring a certain amount of water up from x temp to y temp. And elements are 100% efficient. So if it takes 100Wh to bring your cup up to the required temp, this is usually provided a lot quicker from a 3000W power source than from a 900W power source 😂

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120121015#Comment_120121015

It's worth keeping in mind that while the element is 100% efficient, not all the heat gets transferred to the water, some will be lost to the surroundings

Probably not much overall, but I suspect those flat plate kettles are a bit less efficient than the ones with the element inside

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120120986#Comment_120120986

I think I saw someone had already done that in the UK for electric vs gas a while ago

Would love to see an update video, I'd say a cup of tea requires a mortgage these days

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120121183#Comment_120121183

The element is submerged in water. Where else do you think the heat is going? 🤣

Maybe that's enough of the kettle discussion anyway...

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120121343#Comment_120121343

I have to say, this thread is really living up to its name 😁

Gerry

just as FYI, after being unable to contact Sse to renew my smart meter plan, spending several half hours on hold and not getting a callback, I got the message through to them by switching to Energia. Wish I'd done this sooner, its all they listen to.

SSE emailed next day and offered 15% to renew for the year which takes a lot of the annoyance away. I'm still annoyed about how difficult they have made this and having a 4% discount for the worst bill of the year, so I'm going to ring customer service and see about getting some more credit.

THE ALM

Nice ground mount system from about 9mins, the Cornish Rocker.

An 18th Century Home Meets 21st Century Technologies | Everything Electric Show - YouTube

Nice smooth looking adjustment on it with a couple of nuts to loosen and tighten.

The devils

Very good 👍 enjoyed that ALM.

THE ALM

Would be interesting to see the price on it, I would have plenty of room for it.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120187750#Comment_120187750

Also you dont need a airtight house/high ber etc to have a heatpump.

Also Panels working away perfectly being 12 yrs old.

The new Ground mount is really nice, Thats really clever design, Counter balanced,

The joints and such look fairly standard, Shouldnt be "that" expensive

Manic Moran

Well, we've had a couple of power cuts, so I decided to put my backup supply to a stress test.

Fitting a powerwall (etc) to the house is something like $12,000 I don't want to spend. This camping battery is $1200, not counting the $400 I have for a panel to extend things a bit.

Runs both fridge-freezers at the same time (combined about 450watts max), seems that it'll last about four hours. If it's a long cut, run the fridges a bit, unplug and charge, run again.

Jonathan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120188556#Comment_120188556

Check out engineer775 on YT. He has a couple of videos using the Sol-Ark 15k which has an inbuilt transfer switch. Could be a nice solution.

THE ALM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120188340#Comment_120188340

That is an old house alright, the thermal mass in the wall would be a help I would imagine once up to temp.

slave1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120188626#Comment_120188626

Love that guy, nice big installs, lots of ground mounts

silver_sky

...

paulbok

Anyone come across suppliers here selling plug in integrated roof panel kits?

Have only found a crowd in the UK but would expect importing from there will be a nightmare/ cost prohibited

https://www.iqbuildersmerchant.com/in-roof-integrated-solar-panel-kits-10251-c.asp

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120205953#Comment_120205953

What about using a service like this https://www.deliverme.ie/faq and collecting or get a quote on delivery.

idc

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64402524

Maybe not the right thread but know some of you have tried infrared panels. Just saw this article. Instead of a panel embedded in strip of wallpaper on ceiling

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120213156#Comment_120213156

I think they're a decent idea but personally I don't like the feel of them. I feel like I'm being cooked, like when you open the grill on full blast or sit close to a fire

I do like how easy it is to use them as diverters. While a heat pump is more efficient in theory, I suspect if it was cycling a lot it might lose a good deal of efficiency and wear out quicker. Infrared panels at least are 100% efficient all the time

jkforde

great, more power to any innovation, as long as the embedded energy and waste don't negate their apparent eco-credentials!

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120213274#Comment_120213274

Your panel is too powerful and / or you are sitting too close to it 😁