Free Octopus Electricity

[mikgle]

That's the issue, isn't it. On the 10th it started to rain just before the magic hour and I thought I wouldn't be losing much if I went for it. Then at ten to one the sun came out and I lost a whole hour of maximum solar generation, and the usage they'll have registered for me will only start once the solar generation was exceeded.

It was a lot duller on the most recent day, but it's only worth it to me if I can charge the car during the hour, and the car was already on 97% at that point.

Do you have a home battery with an export tariff? you can ensure you discharge your battery prior to the free hour, or at least to some degree.

Ive found the link for the Greener days forecast, its on your account home page, scroll down to Links and it should be there. You can sign up to email notifications here too. This week its Thurs and Friday, TWO greener days! Then at least you will have some idea when the free hour may be available, or at least its good to charge up on these days and probably get an elongated cheap charging period too..

 

[Rolfe]

I can't see how that would work. If the day is sunny I'm already exporting to my limit from 12 till 1. If I discharge my battery that's just energy given free to the grid, because I won't get any more export payment for that hour. I'd have to discharge it much earlier in the day, before there was much solar generation, then hold it in limbo until one o'clock. Too much hassle, not likely to happen.

I'm actually going off road-tripping tomorrow morning for a week, due to the absolutely fantastic weather forecast. So I'll just let the solar export itself and be happy!

 

[rjhfandclf]

I'm actually going off road-tripping tomorrow morning for a week, due to the absolutely fantastic weather forecast. So I'll just let the solar export itself and be happy!

When I first read that, I thought that you said had you were going "off-road tripping". You might have needed X-Power 4WD for that!!!

And we do exactly that with solar generation when we go off to France for long periods at a time, when we generally earn ca. £100/month towards winter bills. Also, when at home, I do set my battery to discharge in preference to using solar, as with our Octopus Fixed export + 'Cosy' rates (we have an ASHP as well) we get 15p/kWh for all export, and pay 11.5p to buy in - so only re-charge up the battery during the three spread-out periods of the day (all prices before next capping increases soon due everywhere). NB My EV charging usage at home is minimal, so I only do that at cheap rate times - which total 8 hrs/day, so more than enough for me not to have to raid solar!

 

[mikgle]

We had a 100A label on the fuse. We acquired our battery ( sonnen) from Centrica who ran a local energy project down here for a couple of years. They came in and bought the feed upto spec, new cables throughout and put isolation switches in, bless 'em. Since then we've had a parallel feed put into a Wallbox Pulsar Max charger.
The fuse still has a 100A label on it but I'm not convinced following subsequent conversations I've had. More likely as you say, 80.
If only I understood more ( qualified 17th edition regs , 12 years ago- ahem ) .
This is one of the bigger problems I can see with trying to roll out electrical everything to the general populace. At least 90% has not a Scooby.
Verrrry potentially dangerous situation. ??


Had a quick look around, can't find anything. Any idea how I can subscribe to their green day emails please ? I'm on IOG

Had a quick look around, can't find anything. Any idea how I can subscribe to their green day emails please ? I'm on IOG

Think its on your octopus account home page.. if you scroll down there's a Greener Days section.

Next greener day fcast is tues 24th sept..

 

[Griffian]

Next greener day fcast is tues 24th sept..

Yep. I was going to charge tonight and it's changed to Tuesday.

 

[mikgle]

Im plugged in now and its cheap rate from 1pm to 4pm and from 11pm..

Think its on your octopus account home page.. if you scroll down there's a Greener Days section.

Under "Quick links"

 

[Bam Bam]

I like to fill up when it is greener.

Good habit to get into!

 

[Rolfe]

When I first read that, I thought that you said had you were going "off-road tripping". You might have needed X-Power 4WD for that!!!

And we do exactly that with solar generation when we go off to France for long periods at a time, when we generally earn ca. £100/month towards winter bills. Also, when at home, I do set my battery to discharge in preference to using solar, as with our Octopus Fixed export + 'Cosy' rates (we have an ASHP as well) we get 15p/kWh for all export, and pay 11.5p to buy in - so only re-charge up the battery during the three spread-out periods of the day (all prices before next capping increases soon due everywhere). NB My EV charging usage at home is minimal, so I only do that at cheap rate times - which total 8 hrs/day, so more than enough for me not to have to raid solar!

There was one point where I was slightly tempted, but I gave myself a shake and said, maybe with an X-Power. Also, there were a couple of Land Rover type things parked at the bottom of the track, with empty trailers that had obviously been used to transport off-road vehicles to the spot. Fair warning, really.

That week I earned £27.05 from export and paid £6.77 for off-peak electricity. That last included charging the car up before I left. In fact only the first half of the week was sunny at home, and the last three days were pathetic. In contrast where I had gone with the car was sunny the entire time.

 

[rjhfandclf]

There was one point where I was slightly tempted, but I gave myself a shake and said, maybe with an X-Power. Also, there were a couple of Land Rover type things parked at the bottom of the track, with empty trailers that had obviously been used to transport off-road vehicles to the spot. Fair warning, really.

Sounds like a very wise decision ... A millenium ago, in the early 1960s, my first 'wheels' were my Dad's 1952 Series 1 L/R in which I recall ferrying around almost everyone I knew. They thought it fun, but it was hard work. The fuel pump stopped regularly, so I had to jump out with small hammer to bash it into action - usually in an awkward spot on the road.

55 years later I had a mental abherration and bought a 1972 Series 3 L/R (for old-time-memories' sake, although I couldn't afford a Series 1 - by then making well into five-figures!). The 'enjoyment' lasted a year when I sold it to someone from 'up-North' who said he would train down and drive it 400 miles home. When I suggested that it would take him at least two days and about a dozen stops for petrol, he accepted my logic to trailer it instead!

In contrast where I had gone with the car was sunny the entire time.

Sounds like yet another good decision!

 

[mikgle]

That's brilliant thanks. The link worked and I'm signed up for the notifications. I think I was aware of it at one point but didn't want ev charging discharging my domestic battery during the day, so have always charged the ev overnight during 2330-0530 window and charged the domestic battery simultaneously so it doesn't discharge to the car.
This could prove very useful over the winter months with the heating, so thanks again ?

You donrt actually need to charge, just plug in. If it starts charging then stop it on the app but leave it plugged in.. Octopus still sees it as plugged in and you get the cheap rate. you check it on the octo app.

 

[mikgle]

You donrt actually need to charge, just plug in. If it starts charging then stop it on the app but leave it plugged in.. Octopus still sees it as plugged in and you get the cheap rate. you check it on the octo app.

Sorry, stop it on the MG app..

 

[Tig170]

... looks like Storm Ashley is on its way!

Tomorrow's forecast has all the right ingredients for a Free Electricity session!
Shift your electricity use to Sunday 20 October: 1-2pm.

 

[mikgle]

... looks like Storm Ashley is on its way!

Tomorrow's forecast has all the right ingredients for a Free Electricity session!
Shift your electricity use to Sunday 20 October: 1-2pm.

Also Wed is a Greener Day.. these 5 day rolling forecasts are a game changer!

 

[Tig170]

Also Wed is a Greener Day.. these 5 day rolling forecasts are a game changer!

For me, on IOG its more a bit of fun, but at the end of the day, I can only take 10Kwh safely, so its a saving of 70p (in my case as everything is offset with batteries), others it might be a bit more, but just be safe!

 

[Bam Bam]

Also Wed is a Greener Day.. these 5 day rolling forecasts are a game changer!

Yeah, but last week it said Friday and Saturday were the greener days. Now it says Sunday and Monday.

We are getting low because I've only got 3 hours cheap on Flux and haven't topped up for quite a while.

The very welcome free hour tomorrow will help get us through though!

 

[Tig170]

Yeah, but last week it said Friday and Saturday were the greener days. Now it says Sunday and Monday.

We are getting low because I've only got 3 hours cheap on Flux and haven't topped up for quite a while.

The very welcome free hour tomorrow will help get us through though!

Maybe - but every little helps

 

[Rolfe]

It looks as if I should be getting some solar at that time tomorrow so I'll pass. I'll just let the car finish charging overnight tonight.

 

[Tig170]

It looks as if I should be getting some solar at that time tomorrow so I'll pass. I'll just let the car finish charging overnight tonight.

.. only if your panels are still on your house, my family home is on the solway, so do know how those westerlies come in?

 

[Rolfe]

I can imagine. 760 feet up in the Pentlands here, with wind that rushes in across a wide flat moor. The angle of the rowan tree in the front garden says it all.

 

[Rolfe]

It looks as if I should be getting some solar at that time tomorrow so I'll pass. I'll just let the car finish charging overnight tonight.

I see I exported 3.28 kwh in that particular hour yesterday. I'd have been running around like a blue-arsed fly to be 10p ahead of the game in that situation.