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Jonathanprentice
Rank 5
June 19, 2023
Solved

Importing energy from the grid for usage despite having solar panels and energy storage?

  • June 19, 2023
  • 17 replies
  • 8597 views

Good afternoon,

My first post/question. 
 

I have aded solar panels and battery storage unit. 
 

Does anyone experience other solar panel users that grid power is used, not much but say overnight with full battery I use 50watts. Not much but want to know other opinions. 
 

Thanks. Jonathan 

    Best answer by BPLightlog

    Hi @Jonathanprentice and welcome to this customer forum. 


    Some of what happens to your solar PV and battery power depends on how the system is set up. Generally, this will be to supply the property first and then charge batteries second. The third phase is to send excess to the grid. 

     

    What can happen depending on your system, is that as power demand changes, the system can’t always keep in step and so you might see occasional draws or feeds into/from the grid. Power switching is still behind some of the demand frequency and as the whole system needs an immediate balance in place you might see what you describe. 


    One other thing to bear in mind is that the system might be programmed to top up the battery charge overnight if it is below a threshold. 
    Just for interest, what type of system and inverter control do you have?

    17 replies

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    June 19, 2023

    Welcome @Jonathanprentice ,

    Nice work getting solar! We’ve got something to give you for that, so please bear with me while I ask the forum moderators to press a few buttons in Control so your Profile can be updated.

    If I understand your question correctly, your Solar panels will always be used first if sufficient juice is available, followed by your Battery. If you’re not using much Solar juice, then some of that can be used to charge the Battery for later, such as overnight usage.

    Anything that exceeds what the Solar Panels and Battery can give you will come from the National Grid and be charged for. It’s also worth noting that a small amount of Grid power is needed to manage your two systems.

    Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
      BPLightlog
      Super User
      BPLightlogSuper UserSolved
      Super User
      June 19, 2023

      Hi @Jonathanprentice and welcome to this customer forum. 


      Some of what happens to your solar PV and battery power depends on how the system is set up. Generally, this will be to supply the property first and then charge batteries second. The third phase is to send excess to the grid. 

       

      What can happen depending on your system, is that as power demand changes, the system can’t always keep in step and so you might see occasional draws or feeds into/from the grid. Power switching is still behind some of the demand frequency and as the whole system needs an immediate balance in place you might see what you describe. 


      One other thing to bear in mind is that the system might be programmed to top up the battery charge overnight if it is below a threshold. 
      Just for interest, what type of system and inverter control do you have?

      Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
        J
        Rank 5
        JonathanprenticeAuthor
        Rank 5
        June 19, 2023

        3.3kw panels

        3.6kw solex  inverter

        5.8kw solax battery 

          BPLightlog
          Super User
          BPLightlogSuper User
          Super User
          June 19, 2023

          3.3kw panels

          3.6kw solex  inverter

          5.8kw solax battery 

          That sounds similar to mine although I have a LuxPower inverter and Pylontech batteries. 
          I presume you use SolaX cloud to monitor the system?

          Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
            J
            Rank 5
            JonathanprenticeAuthor
            Rank 5
            June 19, 2023

            Yep really happy with the system. Saving so much money. Did loads of research first. Used good company.  Thanks for the advice

              J
              Rank 5
              JonathanprenticeAuthor
              Rank 5
              June 19, 2023

              Yes I have the solax cloud. Not bad app. 

              Can I ask a question. How come I have 3.7kw system but I can draw 4.0kw or sometimes more. Don’t understand that. 

                BPLightlog
                Super User
                BPLightlogSuper User
                Super User
                June 19, 2023

                Yes I have the solax cloud. Not bad app. Can I ask a question. How come I have 3.7kw system but I can draw 4.0kw or sometimes more. Don’t understand that. 

                Perhaps a combination of solar plus battery?

                Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
                  J
                  Rank 5
                  JonathanprenticeAuthor
                  Rank 5
                  June 19, 2023

                  Thanks for the help. 
                   

                  just out of curious I use 140 watts per day if I’m not in the house all day, so go away for a day. Is this normal. How much do other people use for this situation!

                    BPLightlog
                    Super User
                    BPLightlogSuper User
                    Super User
                    June 19, 2023

                    If you mean 140Wh (so 0.14kWh) then that sounds rather good to me. We tend to use between 1 and 2 kWh as we have a 9kw shower which draws more than the system can supply. 

                    Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
                      J
                      Rank 5
                      JonathanprenticeAuthor
                      Rank 5
                      June 19, 2023

                      If you mean 140Wh (so 0.14kWh) then that sounds rather good to me. We tend to use between 1 and 2 kWh as we have a 9kw shower which draws more than the system can supply. 

                      Tell me about it my wife had a shower in our 10kw electric shower and my heart skipped a bit when the smart meter shot up.!!!!

                       

                      thanks for the advice 

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