Hi all, How to automatically switch my pool pump on when I have excess solar energy.

[smithprojects]

 

[littlespark]

We might need a bit more information.

You’re in Oz, right? So your excess PV will be much more than our Uk version of sunlight.

Simplest would be a timer. Just set the time to come on when you know it’s going to be sunny. Not through the night. Or some disk to dawn sensor that can turn off a contactor supplying the pump rather than turning on a street light.

I would think a pump needs to run as and when required through some form of sensor, rather than dependant on time of day or brightness levels.

 

[Lister1987]

Would have thought a MyEnergi Eddi would be a good tool for the job, instead of wiring to an immersion you just wire it to the pool pump.

 

[smithprojects]

We might need a bit more information.

You’re in Oz, right? So your excess PV will be much more than our Uk version of sunlight.

Simplest would be a timer. Just set the time to come on when you know it’s going to be sunny. Not through the night. Or some disk to dawn sensor that can turn off a contactor supplying the pump rather than turning on a street light.

I would think a pump needs to run as and when required through some form of sensor, rather than dependant on time of day or brightness levels.

Thanks for the reply. Yes you are correct I am in Oz and no shortage of sunlight. The way our system works any excess supply from the solar system goes back into the grid and our electricity supplier pays us for it. Payment is at a very low rate, when we use electricity from the grid we pay at a much higher rate. I hope this makes sense. At the moment my pump is on a timer and only works during midday. Here is my problem if it's overcast I pay the higher rate as solar does not produce enough supply. If we are home and my wife is busy in the house and I am outside in the shed welding and pump comes on I am paying the higher rate. So here is my thought if I had a system that can sense that I am feeding the grid allow the pool pump to come on. But as soon as it detects we need to draw from the grid as we are exceeding our solar capability it disconnects the pool pump. I chose the pool pump as it is irrelevant when it comes on and it is a high demang

Would have thought a MyEnergi Eddi would be a good tool for the job, instead of wiring to an immersion you just wire it to the pool pump.

This sounds interesting not sure if it is a UK thing as I am in Australia. I will defiantly look into it. Thanks.