by ericmark »
Sat Feb 27, 2021 1:37 pm
I don't know how the iboost works, I assume some sensor to show when over 3 kW is being exported which switches it on, and some sensor (likely same one) to say using current from the DNO to turn it off.
I can't see how as set up that links into central heating.
There are systems like this [attachment=0]Torrent pipe example.PNG[/attachment] where multi energy sources combine, but the heat store may use water but is not a simple cistern, it is rather special. But for what you have can't see how the central heating has any connection with the iboost the only connection is you likely want to keep water at 60 degs only with central heating so there is an option for the immersion heating to lift it to 80 degs.
You do seem to realise the existing system is in a real mess, for the extended time an immersion heater can run for the 13 amp fuse in the plug can over heat, less likely with the now no longer permitted plug you show with no pin insulators, but normally there will be a dedicated supply for an immersion heater and if plugged in a 15 amp unfused plug is used and the MCB/fuse in the consumer unit/fuse box is either 15 or 16 amp, so the plug will not over heat, today using a FCU is more common, so the fuse can cool by transferring heat to a larger unit. All fuses get hot, that is how they work the melt the wire inside.
I am sure you realise that wiring needs a lot of tiding up.
Theory is a solar panel should supply around 7 kW, in practice that is rarely the case, early solar panels were not metered, and the owner got a payment assuming they were pushing a fixed amount into the national grid, and so using the power produced by the solar panels was free energy, today the rates paid has dropped and the panels are metered, how they are metered not so sure, but with solar power often being less than 3 kW a 3 kW immersion heater is likely too big, I have seen systems with three 1 kW immersion heaters which came on and off as the supply from panels altered.
But as to if some thing like iboost works is down to both the tariff and the efficiency of the panels.
My bother-in-law had twin tanks like shown in his last house, solar water, solar electric, solid fuel, and LPG could all heat the water store, and with central heating turned to 12 degs C when he visited Germany for weeks at a time, the heating cost nothing and he had two hot tanks which could reheat house to 20 degs C before his return using geofencing.
However he has not installed it in his new house, main reason it costs around £20k to install. And that will pay for his oil until the day he dies with loads left over, so simply no point. The major cost is to reinforce the floor to take the weight of the storage tanks, his last house it was installed from new.
So I did look for iboost but only found adverts to sell it, did not find anything on how installed, I know the building management system in brother-in-laws old house was rather complex, it needed to insure if a fire is lit, then the water does not boil, even if there is a power cut. This should not be a problem for you, water needs to be less than 20 or more than 60 degs to avoid legionnaires, but other than that no real problem using solar to heat domestic hot water.
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