Would you recommend home energy monitoring to aid with selecting size and orientation of solar pv system?
I assume it could help behavior modification to drop usage and change usage time to match future pv.
It does not seem common practice to be done prior to installation.
Monitoring energy use prior to solar pv purchase.
(5 posts) (4 voices)-
Jonathan
MemberPosted Tuesday 16 May 2017 @ 9:35:28 pm from IP # -
The good news is that most new installations seem to come with a monitoring package via wifi built in. If it doesn't choose another brand.
And most people get a power bill which reflects past usage so you can at least compare any new bills with previous ones.
Worst case you can read you power meter daily or weekly to see if any changes you make are having any effect.
Posted Tuesday 16 May 2017 @ 9:42:52 pm from IP # -
Benny
MemberIt sort of depends on your usage and your character Jon. If you use a lot of electricity (say over 15u/day) then it would be useful. Are you going to try and buy a system that gives minimum payback time and size it to just cover your daily needs ? ie is money a factor ? Or can you afford to just buy a pretty big system and easily cover your usage + allow for a future battery system.
Its always useful to know what is using your power and getting more efficient is certainly the smartest way to reduce usage - but are you a "gadget" type person ? Would you look at it consistently and adjust your behaviour ?
You can do your own basic audit by just reading your meter a few times a day for a week and at least you'll know what you use in the daytime and what at night. Most people just look at total usage, estimate day time use and size the PV by that - or if considering batteries, size the system by the total use.Posted Wednesday 17 May 2017 @ 3:46:21 am from IP # -
It doesn't go down to individual appliance level but if you have a smart meter most power companies will give you access to your power consumption each hour over each day.
That info should give you a good idea of:
how the pv panels will reduce/eliminate power used during the day
an idea of how power can be shifted to daytime to get the advantage of PV power
allow you to estimate how much power on average you are likely to feed inPosted Wednesday 17 May 2017 @ 8:06:31 am from IP # -
Jonathan
MemberThe main reason is ensuring a good return on investment, ideally close to 15%. Considering the enphase micro inverters on panels, and thus could easily add more panels when batterys or usage become economical.
With on $0.06 feed in tariff no point in producing more than require.
It seems that many people once they get solar and the accompanying monitoring system reduce their energy usage. Hence thinking that changing habits first and then purchase appropriate size pv system. We would be pretty big on gadgets and reading it so happy to look an energy monitor.
No smart meter. Still old style meters.Posted Wednesday 17 May 2017 @ 9:12:22 am from IP #
