Newbie to Solar, Batteries, etc.

Just looking for some advice...

Just about to have my GE batteries installed 2 x 9.5kWh and I am going to switch supply to Octopus. So far that is easy, but then I start to look at the various tariffs and quickly get lost!

I don't have an EV, just 7 kWh solar and the 2 x 9.5 batteries and looking to be able to top the batteries up overnight during a cheap rate.

I dont want to have to dig into the system, APIs, etc. I just want a solution that is set and forget.

Can anyone point me to the right tariff for this?

Thanks

Phil89a Similar setup. I would recommend Intelligent. Longest off peak period to get those two batteries fully charged at the lowest cost over the winter plus the possibility of extra cheap periods you can take advantage of if you have the time to keep an eye on it. When you get an EV you will be ready to take real advantage of the benefits.

Std Flux if you want to export and import, or Cosy which give you 2 bites at importing. Both of which you can set and forget.

If your battery capacity greatly exceeds your daily usage, id set (on ocotpus flux) to charge to your daily amount every morning.. then let the extra capacity charge from solar and spill into export. ie if you use 12 kw/h daily charge the battery to say 70% on the nightly cycle, last 30% may happen from solar, and next night won't be such a large charge.. and you'd have a good chance at exporting during the day and peak.
I think, its always best to get as much as you can from solar or self consumption, but you don't want to leave yourself short and run into the standard tariff.

Thanks guys. I don't think my battery capacity will significantly exceed my usage - we use between 15 and 20 kWh daily.

Does that change any recommendations?

There's a spreadsheet from 'Gary does Solar' which you should be a to find on Google, where you can input different parameters and tariffs and work out which would suit you best. He's done a few YouTube videos too which are quite useful about the different tariffs.

cluelesscris You have to have an EV or suitable charger for Intelligent.

Zakalwe Supposedly.....

TimHutchings Agree with Flux for import and export when there’s excess solar. Winter, more complex as the overnight period is comparatively short.

And for Cosy part of the conditions is that you need to have a heat pump. Octopus may well ask for your MCS certificate

cluelesscris Certainly, for Intelligent -- you have to complete a test charge. 'Supposedly' may apply to 'Go' ........

SimonP I plead the fifth amendement . . .

SimonP i tried to complete the test charge today. Octopus would not let me, as im on the fixed export at 15p/unit. Ill have call to see how to do the test..

Ah, yes, you have to make do with the export guarantee of 4.1p (I think) if you want Intelligent. Or Go.

Thanks everyone; not so easy a choice it seems.

On the surface the tariffs look good for Solar and Batteries but the overnight periods are too short to be any good in the winter. Seems without an EV it is very limited 🙁

Well.

You should be able to charge at your inverter rate for 3 hours onnflux..so 10.8 kw/h on 3.6 or 15 on a 5kw. Ignoring efficiency. Which I think is 94%? That power ideally wants to get you through the peak period. Most people will be using their electricity from around dinner time onwards...and very little after lights off. And you will have a certain amount of solar generation in the daytime

Phil89a If you have a second generation smart meter, consider Economy 7 for winter combined with Octopus Agile for any export. It can take some persistence to get ECO7 set up, but you get 7hrs charge time.

Karen
Agreed. eco 7 for winter for me but after the trouble i had last winter with eco7 on Octopus I will be checking smart meter data scrupulously !

positor1 haha, yes Octopus strugle to be able to tell me exactly what my E7 were. Their website is no help either. The last thing any of us want is to charge our batteries on peak rate.