Just Joined the Intelligent Octopus Tariff

[nowty]

So I am off to see my newborn grandson (did I really just say that ! ) and pick up SWMBO who has been in London for 3 weeks. So I need 100% battery to get there and back comfortably.

So I plugged it in this evening and had the timer set on the Wallbox charger to 11:34pm so I don't get stiffed for 3 minutes at peak rate. However when I plugged in this evening, the charge plan is not starting till 3.00am and finishing at 7.00am. So I am potentially getting an extra 1.5 hours of cheap rate.

Wohooo, you'd think, but I am not convinced my charger will start automatically as it didn't last time and although I have set it to timer mode, I have not checked that it works yet. Cannot risk not having a full battery in the morning so I am going to "Bump" the charge at 11:34pm tonight so I still only pay cheap rate and guarantee its full in the morning. I could move the vehicles around to plug it into the dumb charger but too much faff in the dark and the rain.

I need to do some more experiments to make sure the timer mode works on my wallbox.
But at least its an example that extra cheap rate slots are given out by our friendly Octopus !

[nowty]

Instead of doing a "bump" charge, I altered the time to when I need the vehicle for from 7:00am to 4.00am. The Octopus APP changed the charging regime to start at 11:30pm.

Again the wallbox charger did not start, in fact I could not manually start it as it had gone into a disconnected mode. After a couple of mins messing with the wallbox APP it started up, so all should be well for the morning but I seem to have lost the additional cheap rate slots.

[nowty]

Alright I'm back in Nowty Towers, the car used 33% to London and 33% back with 33% still left in the tank which implies a total range of 250 miles at mostly motorway speeds. Thats a little disappointing as I was hoping for 300 mile range as its not mid winter.

Anyway just plugged in and our friendly octopus is offering 2 extra cheap hours from 9:30pm tonight. I think I'll bank those.

EDIT - Timed mode on the wallbox charger still did not come on automatically, so had to unlock it again, but its now running and everything in the house is on, car charger + dishwasher + washing machine + heat pump + extra storage heater boost, currently 15 kW and rising.

[Joeboy]

Congratulations on the new addition to the family!

[Stinsy]

My understanding is that speed dramatically effects range. If you were driving at 80 your range would me much lower than 60.

[nowty]

I plugged the car in a few mins ago and to my surprise its being charged now and finishing at 9pm, 2.5 hrs before my normal cheap rate even starts so 3 hrs of extra cheap rate.

Quite surprised its doing it over the usual severe peak time period.

Then realised I had to quickly change my battery inverter plan and then I'm going to have to change it again at 9pm to go back on battery until 11:30pm. This is something I had not taken into account before, but might as well take advantage of every 5p slot as I can this time of year. Roast chicken cooking (with home grown onion and herbs) and washing machine on. And might as well pump a bit more into the storage heaters.

[Tinbum]

I'm on Go and i have just noticed my meter reading has been going up even with the supply to the house isolated. Only a tiny amount so I guess they must charge you for the electric the meter uses.

[nowty]

I'm on Go and i have just noticed my meter reading has been going up even with the supply to the house isolated. Only a tiny amount so I guess they must charge you for the electric the meter uses.

You don't see that in their FAQs do you !

[nowty]

I plugged the car in a few mins ago and to my surprise its being charged now and finishing at 9pm, 2.5 hrs before my normal cheap rate even starts so 3 hrs of extra cheap rate.

Quite surprised its doing it over the usual severe peak time period.

I just noticed the news tonight is saying then gas price has gone up again 30% in a single day !

So maybe the normal peak period today is still cheaper whilst there is some wind, pumped storage and hydro not doing too bad today.

I note Heysham 1 nuke has gone down again, might as well put it out of its misery. UK nukes now generating under 4GW, near record ever low.

[Tinbum]

Hasn't it gone down now as Putin was going to increase production.