solar/mains switch on 13a socket

[alfier]

I have some solar panels producing up to 10 KW and I wish to switch a 13 amp socket on when solar is being generated and off when solar stops and sockets return to mains. Any idea of a switch that will do this?

 

[littlespark]

If it’s all set up correctly, all your sockets, lights etc will use the solar power if there is any. The excess being fed into grid.
Only when the sun goes down will you use mains electric.

 

[tims22]

If the solar generation also feeds the rest of your sockets rather than just this one special socket, then one option might be to use an automation tool such as Home Assistant along with a smart socket and appropriate monitoring tools for your solar system. Then you'd be able to define an automation based on the amount of solar generation and turn the socket on or off as you wanted. One thing to consider would be whether you'd want to switch it instantly off if generation dropped vs a delayed reaction as generation can change dramatically when clouds blow over etc.

 

[alfier]

still looking for an item which does this.

 

[pc1966]

The likes of Solarimmersion and 'Solar iBoost+' devices do this for immersion heaters for those on generation-based tariffs (where you are paid for power even if you use it yourself, not feed-in tariffs where you are paid for what you contribute to the grid), but they are power-controlling AFIK so not simply turning an outlet on/off.

 

[alfieme]

If the solar generation also feeds the rest of your sockets rather than just this one special socket, then one option might be to use an automation tool such as Home Assistant along with a smart socket and appropriate monitoring tools for your solar system. Then you'd be able to define an automation based on the amount of solar generation and turn the socket on or off as you wanted. One thing to consider would be whether you'd want to switch it instantly off if generation dropped vs a delayed reaction as generation can change dramatically when clouds blow over etc.

thank you, sorry for the delay but I was in hospital.Now I just need to read up on the above as at 84 a bit slow now