Smart Metering Trial

Posted on 08/06/2023 08:53 by young thomas

I'm camping 'off grid' currently and solar is definitely an easy way to be independent.

However, the desirability of some users to retain the use of mains powered hairdryers, kettles, microwaves or other short burst high powered items will require more electronic kit and complexity/cost. 

those wishing to use mains devices like these without a generator will need a large inverter and some decent batteries to back it up....lithium is the current 'big thing' but these batteries aren't cheap and charging them (from solar or other sources) requires a proper regime....

kitting out one's van to operate off grid won't be just for avoiding the the clubs metering process, most who go this route will be using other non EHU sites or locations for longer stays (THS sites) and the choice to 'just plug in' to a metered supply won't be there....

so, this investment will be for all locations and this is why some will use a generator over the other more complex kit required to make one truly independent for several weeks...

I spent 10 weeks or so recently in Spain without turning on the battery charger, relying on solar for our power, worked well...

one observation which slightly surprised me, compared to our current location, is that in Spain despite the very hot daytime sun, due to the low sun height in winter mornings the batteries didn't get up to fully charged each day until around 10 or 10:30, here in the SW in June with a much higher sun, batteries are back to full (after a bit of tv last night) by 8:00...

a single simple solar panel of, say 120+ watts will easily recover the previous evenings usage of tv, lights, water pump etc....

 

Posted on 08/06/2023 10:13 by peedee

That is the mindset of the current majority of users, metering will change that in much the same way as the price of energy in the home has.

peedee

Posted on 05/06/2023 09:28 by young thomas

I'm just looking at prices for a 'commercial' we use...now 'electricity' isn't sold by metering but by the 'service' of having hookup...and it varies by the type of pitch you choose....

4 nights grass pitch...the saving/cost (depending how you look at it) is almost £40, a tenner a night...

4 nights HS super pitch...difference is almost £67, £17 a night.

4 nights Premier pitch...difference £92!....£23 a night!

to illustrate further....the middle option Hs Super pitch with leccy costs roughly £45 a night, comparable with a club pitch, yet the reduction per night for not hooking up is £17!...brings pitch down to £28. In this sunny weather surely a no brainier for anyone with a solar panel?

They must be using a different 'algorithm' to CC🤷🏻‍♂️

 

Posted on 08/06/2023 09:55 by JollyKernow

Morning

Re your second paragraph. I think you should replace "the desirability of some users" with "the overall majority of users". 

 

JK

Posted on 08/06/2023 10:21 by Hja

We have a lithium battery and 120 w solar so are quite happy off grid. Probably not enough for winter, but we don’t camp in winter. I am not sure why there is a need for generators at all. Why not use power banks? Then you have you mains sockets if needed. If we find that we need to use the Remoska or a hair dryer then that is the route we would take. It can be charged at home before leaving, or from the 12v dashboard socket in car or van while on the move.

Posted on 08/06/2023 10:21 by Hja

We have a lithium battery and 120 w solar so are quite happy off grid. Probably not enough for winter, but we don’t camp in winter. I am not sure why there is a need for generators at all. Why not use power banks? Then you have you mains sockets if needed. If we find that we need to use the Remoska or a hair dryer then that is the route we would take. It can be charged at home before leaving, or from the 12v dashboard socket in car or van while on the move.