Solar panels , would you ?

[larmen]

Would it be a fire hazard.. esp if you forget to remove it in the summer... i have never checked, but i assume the batteries would be warming up during cycles.

I checked with a work colleague who has the same system we have. They have it indoors in a cupboard. She says they have to air it regularly or it goes off in flames. she was probably dramatic. On the other hand, hers cycled well in the last week when ours 'froze' out..


If you look at Robert Llewelyn on fully charged, he has his Tesla power walls in the garage. So have others. I think it's possible, but there are restrictions. People used to install them in lofts as well.

 

[Mudball]

I checked with a work colleague who has the same system we have. They have it indoors in a cupboard. She says they have to air it regularly or it goes off in flames. she was probably dramatic. On the other hand, hers cycled well in the last week when ours 'froze' out..


If you look at Robert Llewelyn on fully charged, he has his Tesla power walls in the garage. So have others. I think it's possible, but there are restrictions. People used to install them in lofts as well.

Ours is in our Garage too and its not insulated. thought there is sufficient space for air circulation, it can get cold in there. It hasnt cut out (so far).

The other thing that i have been actively considering is to get a small fire extinguisher off Amazon and put it there. Will good to have something as an option - though i hope i never have to use it..

 

[cliveb]

The other thing that i have been actively considering is to get a small fire extinguisher off Amazon and put it there. Will good to have something as an option - though i hope i never have to use it..

If your Lithium battery in the garage catches fire, a small extinguisher isn't going to help.

 

[larmen]

Octopus want to increase my DD from 110 to 188. does anyone have this? Online I can't reduce it down below 158 so I sent them an email.
I think they don't take the solar export into account at all.

Currently sitting at -169, but this will come down big over the summer

 

[doublebogey7]

Octopus want to increase my DD from 110 to 188. does anyone have this? Online I can't reduce it down below 158 so I sent them an email.
I think they don't take the solar export into account at all.

Currently sitting at -169, but this will come down big over the summer

Octopus, not unlike most energy suppliers, like customers to always have a credit balance, so I expect it is your debit balance that is causing the problem. Plus import prices likely to be increasing whilst export prices are reducing. Have you calculated your likely whole year costs for the next 12 months?

 

[chellie]

Octopus want to increase my DD from 110 to 188. does anyone have this? Online I can't reduce it down below 158 so I sent them an email.
I think they don't take the solar export into account at all.

Currently sitting at -169, but this will come down big over the summer

No issue here with them. I've just kept ours at £60 per month despite being in debit at the moment.

 

[larmen]

On the top of the bill there is an annual estimate.
Mine says £1073 for gas, £1139 for electricity.
If you add them together and divide by 12 we are getting £184.

Now, gas we got fairly constant, dropping about £100 since January 2025 as we became for frugal.
But electricity we used to be under £600 until last August, then that estimate suddenly jumped up by £650 to £1200 and stayed in that region ever since.

In my estimation the data before last August was already high. It took into account what we draw but didn't take off any export.
The data since September is not even taking into account that we don't draw that much.

That's why I think the £110 are OK, but they want £180 based on their £2200 estimate

 

[chellie]

On the top of the bill there is an annual estimate.
Mine says £1073 for gas, £1139 for electricity.
If you add them together and divide by 12 we are getting £184.

Now, gas we got fairly constant, dropping about £100 since January 2025 as we became for frugal.
But electricity we used to be under £600 until last August, then that estimate suddenly jumped up by £650 to £1200 and stayed in that region ever since.

In my estimation the data before last August was already high. It took into account what we draw but didn't take off any export.
The data since September is not even taking into account that we don't draw that much.

That's why I think the £110 are OK, but they want £180 based on their £2200 estimate

I'd just contact them via Instagram perhaps for a better response.

Edited to add our usage for gas and electric is estimated at £1100 per year for both.