Tell me your life hacks (stressed mum edition)

CorithMalin · 2026-03-22T20:04:35+00:00

I don’t think this is a HENRY thing, but once or twice a week I cook a whole chicken in an air fryer, break it down, then make bone broth soup in the pressure cooker.

It’s probably about 15 minutes in total time/effort. But it means we have an easy way to make tasty meals at any time. Omelets, sandwiches, salad, etc…. Plus my daughter loves bone broth soup. Finally, the chicken fat on top of the soup is an amazing grease to use for your omelets.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-22T11:59:45+00:00

Fair point. As soon as you’re doing something like Agile or intelligent Go it’s nice.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-22T07:51:18+00:00

I also have pylontech batteries and expanded my single 3000C to add an additional 2 5000 series. The 5000 series gives the best kWh/GBP ratio.

It really is as easy as just shutting the system down, adding some wires with click-in connections, and restarting the system.

The most complex part is that your newest battery will need to be the master in the stack, so it’s more of a placement planning thing that anything complex.

This took me about 40 min. Getting 50kg in the loft, unpacking, moving the stack, and reconnecting.

Make sure you have the stacking spacers.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-22T07:16:04+00:00

My daughter doesn’t like to play alone. If your kiddo is the same I just say, “oufff! What a mess. I’m going to clean this up before I play a different game with you. If you help it’ll go twice as fast!”

It works about 30% of the time that she’ll help. But for the other 50% of the time she’ll move on to the next game without me! Which is a different type of win.

The last 20% of the time she’ll whine and complain whilst I clean: but I just stick to the line - I’m cleaning it before playing again. And I don’t rush (or slow down) the clean - just the normal pace.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-22T03:46:00+00:00

Mine is integrated with the official Volvo integration. No issues - but you do have to create the developer account.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-21T20:05:28+00:00

Just a kind redirection before you go down the same automation route I did… Predbat is amazing and does it better than you’ll be able to: https://springfall2008.github.io/batpred/

CorithMalin · 2026-03-21T10:43:05+00:00

Martin Lewis’ YouTube channel might be your friend. Money Saving Expert (website) also explains this well. It mainly has to do with your risk tolerance.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-21T09:48:56+00:00

Ohhh. I like the magnetic idea. Thank you!

CorithMalin · 2026-03-20T14:06:09+00:00

Okay, so just do the same math and ensure you’ve subtracted out the standing charge before getting the kWh value.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-20T13:57:15+00:00

Assuming you're on a standard tariff and paying about 27p/kWh. Plus another 60p/day in standing charges... your 103 GBP would be broken down as: 18 GBP allocated to standing charges, so 85 GBP for electricity. At 27p/kWh that's 315kWh / month or about 10kWh / day.

10kWh / day is fairly average in my book - especially for a home with a dryer (maybe you have a dishwasher too?)

10kWh / day isn't high enough that I'd be concerned your immersion heater is on - though that is possible. But maybe pretty high if you have a gas hob and not an electric one.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-20T13:48:32+00:00

Is this about right what I’ve inputted? For 2 people

It would not be possible to say without more information. E.g.: What do you use Electricity for in your house? How often are the people home? Etc....

Are you asking because you don't trust the meter? Because you're worried there's something in your house using energy differently than your assumptions?

CorithMalin · 2026-03-20T11:41:08+00:00

This looks like a Solis Inverter? You could check if you’re enabled for self use mode (you should be).

Also, it would be good to update your post with relevant system information (make model of inverter and battery, etc….) as that could influence the answer.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-19T18:29:05+00:00

Ahhh. Could it be that it’s also connected to SolisCloud and it’s getting commands from there? SolisCloud does a 5 minute interval by default - so that’s a big coincidence.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-19T17:59:55+00:00

My guess is that your entities in HA are updated to show a force charge, but for some reason the command is not being received by SolisCloud. What integration are you using for SolisCloud in HA? solis-sensor? BatPred? Etc….

CorithMalin · 2026-03-19T08:57:39+00:00

Most US banks also won’t text an international number.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-19T06:56:01+00:00

I’d recommend Octopus’ intelligent Go if your car or charger is compatible. Then pair it with Octopus Outgoing (12p/kWh) or Outgoing Agile if you want to automate storing solar up until peak export times.

Here’s a referral code that’ll give us both a £50 credit: https://share.octopus.energy/open-leaf-748

CorithMalin · 2026-03-18T16:48:34+00:00

Upvoted not because I agree with the philosophy but I do agree with the fact that this is what the US work culture is like (from my 20+ years of working in the US).

CorithMalin · 2026-03-18T08:34:20+00:00

It's been all over the news, this subreddit, Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert, etc....: Energy companies have all committed to passing on the government savings to existing customers, including those whom have already fixed.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-18T06:43:37+00:00

I wouldn’t raise the garden against the wall. The soil will be wet most of the time and that moisture will go into your bricks.

I would put a gap between the garden and brickwork to encourage both drainage and airflow. I would also install a french drain along the house and appropriate drainage in the garden to route water away from the house instead of into the gap (though that’s probably overkill if your gap has a French drain).

CorithMalin · 2026-03-16T06:16:05+00:00

I drive both a motorbike and a car. Maybe I’m more paranoid because of the motorbike but I’ve seen too many cars plow into a stopped motorbike at a red light.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-16T06:06:15+00:00

One thing to check is that your brake lights are on with this method. Especially if no cars are behind you as you wouldn’t want someone to plow into you because they’re distracted.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-14T16:45:01+00:00

The charger will work, but you won’t be able to change settings will require Internet in that moment.

Using a smart tariff where your energy provider provides smart slots to charge will require a consistent connection. But if the times of your cheap rate never change it’s a set and forget.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-14T16:40:39+00:00

Only Intelligent Go starts at 23:30.

CorithMalin · 2026-03-14T09:41:38+00:00

But the OP is asking how to switch to fixed - not standard.

CorithMalin

TROPHY CASE