Hi all,
I am looking at getting an Apollo GEM device to my house to divert all unused electricity from our solar pv system to be stored as hot water, but would like some assistance from anybody out there who can give advice please.
The GEM device is detailed here: http://www.apollosolarproducts.co.uk...How_GEM_Works/
We also have a 4kw pv system and LPG boiler which is used for heating and for charging the Megaflow 260 litre hot water cylinder.
I turn off the LPG boiler for (hopefully!) 6 months of the year and instead I use the electric immersion for hot water on the premise that the excess generation from my pv system will reduce the cost significantly for generating hot water.
My idea is that I get the Apollo GEM device and set it up as follows over the months which our LPG boiler is switched off:
5am-6am - use the boost over-ride on the programmer to heat water to 60 degrees therefore using the minimum amount of paid for power to get to acceptable heating levels for showers in the morning
6am-5pm - use the GEM device to store the tank up to 80 degrees therefore maximising the free power usage and minimising the cost of heating the water later in the day and the following morning
5pm-6pm - switch back to the programmer to heat to 60 degrees so we have a suitable amount of hot water for dishes and the remainder of the night. This would obviously only kick-in if the stored water temp is below this.
In the winter we would have the GEM device operating all the time at 80 degrees, with the LPG boiler heating to 60 degrees, therefore switching off the boiler when we are getting free solar power.
I think this must be the most efficient way of running the device, but my question is this.....:
Can I fit the temperature probe on/in my Megaflo cylinder to monitor this? It has a metal outer sheathing with insulation between this and the actual wall of the water tank. The paperwork for the GEM device states to stab the probe in to the insulation of the tank if possible, but would it be safe/advisable/possible to do this on my cylinder? If not, can i get a probe to do the same job?
My plumber stared at me blankly when I asked his advice on this earlier today and I'm impatient to wait for the Megaflo manufacturer telling me that I shouldn't do it if I call them tomorrow!
If anybody is interested, I have narrowed by choice down to the GEM device and SolarImmersion http://solarimmersion.co.uk/shop/sol...nergy-manager/
But the GEM device is proving my favourite because:
- the inbuilt programmer allows me to set the above times whereas the SolarImmersion device has a single on/off designed for use with Economy 7;
- the thermometer probe allowance on the GEM device;
- the ability to site the GEM programmer upstairs near the bedrooms/bathrooms for easier access rather than adjacent to my consumer unit which is in a low-down cupboard by the front door.
- a 5 year warranty with the GEM device compared to 1 year with SolarImmersion
Also, the GEM doesn't have issues with waves like Solar iBoost and Immersun devices which are very much frowned upon on all reviews (plus the GEM Will squeeze out power at a lower level than these also).
The negative against the Apollo GEM is the fully installed price is a little higher than the alternatives, but I reckon the extra savings I would make using the variable temperatures and on/off times would sort this difference pretty quickly.
Thank you all for reading this, I hope you can help.
I am looking at getting an Apollo GEM device to my house to divert all unused electricity from our solar pv system to be stored as hot water, but would like some assistance from anybody out there who can give advice please.
The GEM device is detailed here: http://www.apollosolarproducts.co.uk...How_GEM_Works/
We also have a 4kw pv system and LPG boiler which is used for heating and for charging the Megaflow 260 litre hot water cylinder.
I turn off the LPG boiler for (hopefully!) 6 months of the year and instead I use the electric immersion for hot water on the premise that the excess generation from my pv system will reduce the cost significantly for generating hot water.
My idea is that I get the Apollo GEM device and set it up as follows over the months which our LPG boiler is switched off:
5am-6am - use the boost over-ride on the programmer to heat water to 60 degrees therefore using the minimum amount of paid for power to get to acceptable heating levels for showers in the morning
6am-5pm - use the GEM device to store the tank up to 80 degrees therefore maximising the free power usage and minimising the cost of heating the water later in the day and the following morning
5pm-6pm - switch back to the programmer to heat to 60 degrees so we have a suitable amount of hot water for dishes and the remainder of the night. This would obviously only kick-in if the stored water temp is below this.
In the winter we would have the GEM device operating all the time at 80 degrees, with the LPG boiler heating to 60 degrees, therefore switching off the boiler when we are getting free solar power.
I think this must be the most efficient way of running the device, but my question is this.....:
Can I fit the temperature probe on/in my Megaflo cylinder to monitor this? It has a metal outer sheathing with insulation between this and the actual wall of the water tank. The paperwork for the GEM device states to stab the probe in to the insulation of the tank if possible, but would it be safe/advisable/possible to do this on my cylinder? If not, can i get a probe to do the same job?
My plumber stared at me blankly when I asked his advice on this earlier today and I'm impatient to wait for the Megaflo manufacturer telling me that I shouldn't do it if I call them tomorrow!
If anybody is interested, I have narrowed by choice down to the GEM device and SolarImmersion http://solarimmersion.co.uk/shop/sol...nergy-manager/
But the GEM device is proving my favourite because:
- the inbuilt programmer allows me to set the above times whereas the SolarImmersion device has a single on/off designed for use with Economy 7;
- the thermometer probe allowance on the GEM device;
- the ability to site the GEM programmer upstairs near the bedrooms/bathrooms for easier access rather than adjacent to my consumer unit which is in a low-down cupboard by the front door.
- a 5 year warranty with the GEM device compared to 1 year with SolarImmersion
Also, the GEM doesn't have issues with waves like Solar iBoost and Immersun devices which are very much frowned upon on all reviews (plus the GEM Will squeeze out power at a lower level than these also).
The negative against the Apollo GEM is the fully installed price is a little higher than the alternatives, but I reckon the extra savings I would make using the variable temperatures and on/off times would sort this difference pretty quickly.
Thank you all for reading this, I hope you can help.
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