saying hello!

Introductions

Please introduce yourself. This lets other members know who you are, we try to be a friendly community. It also helps to keep the forum free from spam bots by proving you are human (or at least sentient).
ivan
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2024 12:18 pm

saying hello!

#1

Post by ivan »

Hi everyone,

Some of you may remember me!
I discovered the forum a short while ago and have just signed up

Ivan
37kW PV, 60 Solar Vacuum tubes, 27kW Wood Pellet Boiler, 20kWh Pylon battery via Sofar ME3000 inverter, 18kW ASHP, 9kW GSHP
VW e-golf, Tesla S P85D
c.270 vacuum tube small commercial heating system +200kW pellet heating system with 4000litre thermal store
User avatar
Fintray
Posts: 1553
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 6:37 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: saying hello!

#2

Post by Fintray »

Hello Ivan, long time no "see" I met you back in 2006 at one of your solar thermal courses.
3.87kWp PV
10.24kWp PV SolarEdge system
Tesla Powerwall 2
100 x 47mm Navitron tubes (still being installed!) Now likely to be removed for more PV.
MK2 PV router DHW diverter
Morso 5kW WBS
Vaillant AroTherm 10kW ASHP
Nissan Leaf
User avatar
nowty
Posts: 5774
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 2:36 pm
Location: South Coast

Re: saying hello!

#3

Post by nowty »

Lovin the sig ivan, but I think you need a larger battery stack. :mrgreen:

But I guess you have the solar tubes and pellet boiler so less need for one.

Have you got any thermal stores ?
Last edited by nowty on Fri Nov 15, 2024 8:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
18.7kW PV > 109MWh generated
Ripple 6.6kW Wind + 4.5kW PV > 26MWh generated
5 Other RE Coop's
105kWh EV storage
60kWh Home battery storage
40kWh Thermal storage
GSHP + A2A HP's
Rain water use > 510 m3
User avatar
Fintray
Posts: 1553
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 6:37 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: saying hello!

#4

Post by Fintray »

nowty wrote: Fri Nov 15, 2024 8:27 pm Lovin the sig ivan, but I think you need a larger battery stack. :mrgreen:

But I guess you have the solar tubes and pellet boiler so less need for one. :facepalm:
Has the secret list been updated yet? :D
3.87kWp PV
10.24kWp PV SolarEdge system
Tesla Powerwall 2
100 x 47mm Navitron tubes (still being installed!) Now likely to be removed for more PV.
MK2 PV router DHW diverter
Morso 5kW WBS
Vaillant AroTherm 10kW ASHP
Nissan Leaf
User avatar
nowty
Posts: 5774
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 2:36 pm
Location: South Coast

Re: saying hello!

#5

Post by nowty »

Fintray wrote: Fri Nov 15, 2024 8:41 pm
nowty wrote: Fri Nov 15, 2024 8:27 pm Lovin the sig ivan, but I think you need a larger battery stack. :mrgreen:

But I guess you have the solar tubes and pellet boiler so less need for one. :facepalm:
Has the secret list been updated yet? :D
What do you think ?

Does ivan have all the solar flat for max generation in cloudy conditions ?, I seem to remember someone having 30+ kW of panels in that configuration.
Last edited by nowty on Fri Nov 15, 2024 8:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
18.7kW PV > 109MWh generated
Ripple 6.6kW Wind + 4.5kW PV > 26MWh generated
5 Other RE Coop's
105kWh EV storage
60kWh Home battery storage
40kWh Thermal storage
GSHP + A2A HP's
Rain water use > 510 m3
User avatar
Fintray
Posts: 1553
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 6:37 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: saying hello!

#6

Post by Fintray »

:xl:
3.87kWp PV
10.24kWp PV SolarEdge system
Tesla Powerwall 2
100 x 47mm Navitron tubes (still being installed!) Now likely to be removed for more PV.
MK2 PV router DHW diverter
Morso 5kW WBS
Vaillant AroTherm 10kW ASHP
Nissan Leaf
Moxi
Posts: 2249
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2021 3:46 pm

Re: saying hello!

#7

Post by Moxi »

Hi Ivan, are you still dabbling with grass clippings and home brew digesters ?

Moxi
ivan
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2024 12:18 pm

Re: saying hello!

#8

Post by ivan »

Nice that you haven't forgotten me!! Glad to see the chocolate teapot emoji has endured the transition!

I've been dabbling in all sorts of things over the last few years. There are a few things I regret that I haven't got round to pursuing, but there's still time! Haven't done anything with digesters recently (though there are a couple of huge ones not very far from here). I did an interesting experiment a couple of months back - turning grass clippings into food, but that's another story! Lots of projects to update you guys with over the next few months if you're interested.

Yes, I definitely need more home batteries (or a hack to use my tesla's 85kWh battery!). One of the next projects is to try to get a second Sofar inverter running so that I can cope with loads >3kW after dark (which is how I found the forum - via a interesting post by tinbum). The Sofar inverter is a really nice unit - not as clever or flexible as the sunsynk, and won't integrate with Octopus - but it's really easy to set up and configure, and seems to work almost flawlessly.

Sadly, my Father passed away a few years ago, having worked together with me on a daily basis for about 15years. That was very hard for me, and it came at a very hard time, and no-one to take on the additional workload. I've got through it now, but I still have a serious lack of time and things move painfully slowly, especially where projects are concerned!

Four and a half years ago, a neighbour accidentally set fire to our property, but the situation was saved by the local fire service. I was shocked to find out that our local station consisted of 8 firefighters working on-call, and between them providing cover for around 250square miles 24 hours per day, 365days of the year. So I felt an obligation to join, to repay that debt. Since then, I have provided 150-160hours cover each week, and more often than not, it's me that's driving the fire engine!

I've got a couple of other businesses that keep me busy 7 or 8 days per week - we've got two holiday lets, and the Mushroom spawn/kit business - running now for a bit over 10years (A few of you guys already know this as we've bumped into each other in this capacity). If anyone went to the Green Gathering this year or last year, you may have seen us in the permaculture area.

So if you're happy to indulge me, I'll try and pick up where I left off...........
37kW PV, 60 Solar Vacuum tubes, 27kW Wood Pellet Boiler, 20kWh Pylon battery via Sofar ME3000 inverter, 18kW ASHP, 9kW GSHP
VW e-golf, Tesla S P85D
c.270 vacuum tube small commercial heating system +200kW pellet heating system with 4000litre thermal store
Oliver90owner
Posts: 399
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2021 3:48 pm

Re: saying hello!

#9

Post by Oliver90owner »

Hello Ivan,

Good to see you on the ‘alternative’ forum after all this time.

The four second hand 175W Sharp solar panels you sold to me are still going strong.

RAB
ivan
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2024 12:18 pm

Re: saying hello!

#10

Post by ivan »

I know. It seems a blink of an eye. Time really flies!
37kW PV, 60 Solar Vacuum tubes, 27kW Wood Pellet Boiler, 20kWh Pylon battery via Sofar ME3000 inverter, 18kW ASHP, 9kW GSHP
VW e-golf, Tesla S P85D
c.270 vacuum tube small commercial heating system +200kW pellet heating system with 4000litre thermal store
Post Reply