I’m curious as to what people are doing with their spare solar power.

I’m in the US and on NEM2. I already have batteries and discharge them when the rates are favorable.

But I still have a lot of leftover juice. My partner recently bought an EV but doesn’t drive much.

I set up a home lab and even bought a small bitcoin miner that turns on when electricity rates are favorable.

  • Iced Raktajino@startrek.website
    15·
    2 days ago

    I just got my two 314 AH batteries and 10KW inverter yesterday, so I’m not at the “spare solar power” point yet, but a lot of people will have a second electric water heater (in “front” of the main one) that acts as a dump load and pre-heats the water before it gets to the main tank.

    I’m looking at getting a Slate EV truck hopefully next year, so that will also charge from my installation.

    Grid-tie and exporting surplus PV generation isn’t an option for me due to electric company shenanigans.

    I suppose when I do get to the excess PV point, I might just buy additional batteries

    • Brkdncr@lemmy.worldOP
      4·
      2 days ago

      If you have the space a hybrid water heater would help a lot. Electric water heaters with resistive elements are usually the biggest power draw.

      I have a small closet that is outside where my water system components are at that makes hybrid a bad idea.

      • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
        3·
        2 days ago

        What i do is run my hot water tank when rates are favorable (evenings and weekends). I live alone so I’m easily able to micromanage when hot water is needed.

        I’m not on solar yet, i want to but I’d need a long time to make it worthwhile vs my current bills and I have bigger priorities to throw money at for now.

        Maybe in a solar scenario you could not power the hot water tank at all unless being charged by solar, letting it use more energy throughout the evening and able to take more energy during the day while solar is producing vs having it be topped up by the grid after use in the evenings.

      • Iced Raktajino@startrek.website
        2·
        2 days ago

        I’m eventually going for a hybrid heat pump model but I mentioned a cheap electric resistive one as a preheater because it’s easy to use as a dump load

        • Brkdncr@lemmy.worldOP
          1·
          2 days ago

          Not sure how this benefits much. A 2nd electric heater is a decent amount of wiring to deal with, extra breaker space on your panel, conduit, etc.

          A bigger heater would have the same effect without the extra costs of install, plus the added benefit of less surface area to lose heat.

          If you’re going through the effort of installing a 2nd water heater just buy a heat pump one.

          Another method would be to set your temp higher during lower rates, and lower during higher rates. You’ll save a tad bit of electricity if you make use of that hotter water before it reaches the lower temp. I don’t think it’s enough savings to make a difference though.