How is Solar PV saving me money?

[Leighton Gill]

Hi All,

First post here, so hello there.
I'm not an electrician so please excuse my ignorance in the subject.
I recently installed a Smappee energy (and solar) monitor system, and I'm really pleased with how it works.
However, I have noticed that the load on my meter does not drop when my solar pv array is generating power.
Therefore, I am struggling to understand how this is saving me any money on my electricity bills, as they will calculated based on my meter readings.
I have attached a picture (from the Smappee website) of my configuration if this helps to clarify what I mean.

I hope you can clarify this for me!

Thanks in advance.

View attachment 35815

 

[yellowvanman]

check your clampmeters are installed correctly

 

[LeeH]

The CT's may be directional. Look for an arrow on them.

 

[LeeH]

They are. Did you watch the video?

Support - Smappee - http://www.smappee.com/be_en/support

 

[Leighton Gill]

Hi there and thanks for the replies.
I'm sure I installed them with the arrows facing the correct way, but I'll double-check tomorrow.

 

[LeeH]

Hang on a minute...

The load won't drop, as the load is constant if you're producing or not.

You are monitoring both and the unit might not give you a differential as a numeric value. Just maybe something telling you that you are using more then you are producing or vice versa.

 

[Leighton Gill]

Hi Lee,
So if the load doesn't drop, does that mean mt solar isn't saving me money? Or am I misunderstanding how it works?

 

[LeeH]

You are monitoring load and generation.

If you are using 1000w AND generating 500w you are saving 500w.

Your meter only tells you both and does not deduct what you generate off the load value.

My geosolo has graphical green and red bar that shows red when I'm using more then I'm generating, and green when I'm exporting excess generation. The latter is bad as you get paid wether you put it back onto the grid or not, so make sure you use all of what you generate. (Unless like me you have an old meter that goes backwards.)



Does that make sense?

 

[LeeH]

This is a screen grab of the online portal showing BOTH. The physical meter shows the same.

When I'm over generating the excess gets diverted into the hot water tanks immersion so my 2 bars always stay level until the tank is up to 80 degC approx.

View attachment 35837

 

[Leighton Gill]

Hi Lee,
Ok thanks - but I'm still not clear how my actual bill is lower.
To use your example, if I'm using 1000w and generating 500w, but the meter still registers 1000w of use, then that is surely how the energy company calculates my usage and bill?