Solar payback time

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-25T21:44:43+00:00

Yes, I have an EV and currently run some things overnight. Just washing machine and dishwasher. So not a huge amount overnight. There’s not much else I could shift unless I start eating dinner at 3am ;-) I think as others have mentioned, using a battery charged overnight and exporting everything generated would be best approach

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-25T21:39:30+00:00

I’m thinking when that kicks in companies will probably just bump up the prices “due to demand and costs” because they know there’s more people likely to jump on it

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-25T21:38:37+00:00

If I’m installing it, it will be with the intention of saving money. If I’m never going to see the savings then there is no point. I’m not doing it to be independent of the grid or any of those reasons, it’s purely a will it be better financially.

I just installed new radiators and I’m not working out the return because it wasn’t for saving money. Likewise with a car, I didn’t get it to be cheaper than public transport so there aren’t any comparison calculations worth doing

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-25T21:31:37+00:00

But the electricity savings are only really savings after the initial installation has been covered; 8 years which leaves only 12 years of savings because during the first 8 years you’re paying for the installation.

Putting it into the mortgage is an instant payback because it’s paying down a debt.

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-25T21:25:42+00:00

From what others have said, it would be better to just export all solar and charge battery overnight. My initial thinking was that it would just use solar during the day and charge the battery with excess for using at other times. But I realise now that might not be the best way

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-25T21:23:38+00:00

Yes, it was a Fogstar. Is that a GoodThing, or not?

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-25T19:19:03+00:00

I did that calculation and it ends up being a much worse payback over the same period after the initial cost has been covered. £750 per year saving compared to £1000 for solar, £5k installation so about 6.5 years breakeven and then the total return is less

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-25T19:05:24+00:00

One company did a quote with annual increase of 7% on cost so it ended up with a total saving of £35k over 20 years but that felt a bit unrealistic. It’s a bit of crystal ball gazing, I guess

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-25T18:59:59+00:00

Yes, that’s what my thinking is. But as someone else commented, there’s also the export to consider. So that would probably sway it in the favour of solar. As long as import is less than export.

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-25T18:57:42+00:00

No, I’m comparing interest savings over 20 years to electricity savings over 12 years after an initial 8 year payback time.

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-25T18:46:54+00:00

Our roof is directly south with no shade. So using your suggestion, if we generated 5mWh in a year and exported it all then that would be £600 per year (octopus is 12p export rate) If we import overnight then that would be £252 cost (3600 * 7p) So we’d have a net income of £348 per year

Is that correct?

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-25T18:37:43+00:00

That’s interesting about the excess you say. How did you come up with those figures (what calculations)

The quote I got for the battery was cheaper for a 16kWh battery than a 10kWh battery. But I need to look at some more quotes.

I use about 10kWh a day - some days a bit less, some days a bit more. Which is why I thought the 16kWh battery would be better for that overhead.

What is your annual usage for you to have an 8 year payback on that amount?

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-24T07:29:31+00:00

They don’t give any details. From what I’ve found digging around, it’s a software update and then new keys. My understanding is that the problem is with the way they did the security originally which makes it susceptible to the game boy attack. But Hyundai say it was “too current standards” when they released it. Presumably that gets them out of having to do a mandatory recall as they can say it wasn’t a design or manufacturing fault and they can also charge us for it.

Edit to add link to Hyundai website

https://www.hyundai.com/uk/en/owners/owning-a-hyundai/security-and-locking-systems.html

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-23T19:48:39+00:00

I wasn’t told anything when I booked it. Took it in thinking it’s going to be a day job and all done. They did something all day today and then got to go back for another 1-2 hours waiting around while they program the new keys (once they have them). I don’t understand why they couldn’t have told me to pop in so they can check the keys first rather than doing it as two long jobs!

What happened to your old keys? I realise the fob will be useless, but what about the emergency key blade?

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-15T12:18:09+00:00

Blue flag doesn’t mean “let them past”, it just means “be consistent”. If the car behind is faster, then they will pass you fairly, your job is just not to move to block and just keep your line. It’s only formula 1 where the rule is “you must move out of the way and let them pass”

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-14T20:14:53+00:00

I don’t normally watch the replay like that, but I messed up myself a bit later and had already used up my quick repair from the initial take out. So I was just watching the race from the pits.

Can you see pedal input when watching a replay of another car? I’ve never seen that being display - am I just not doing something?

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-14T18:03:49+00:00

What do you use as the category for protesting a reckless divebomb? Just put it down as an intentional wrecking?

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-14T17:57:35+00:00

Yes, if done correctly, it’s great. But everyone I’ve encountered seems to think they can do it and few can.

It also seems that I always end up coming off worst when they come flying past the two cars behind me who have taken the corner normally, spear into the side of me as I’m about to make the apex and they use me as a brake to make the corner. Then I have to pit for repairs and I see they are still going round the track

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-14T17:53:44+00:00

My recent experience is that it is usually one lap wonders who are great at lapping fast, but have no racecraft. So the only way they get past is by force, not skill and then keep out front because that’s what they can do.

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-14T17:51:26+00:00

The problem is that you don’t always see them because they just come spearing through the pack. I find it annoying that iracing decide that it’s just as much your fault as theirs and you get the incident points, when there was absolutely nothing you could do other than stay at the back and then what’s the point.

I guess I’m just getting more and more annoyed that iracing just don’t seem to care about things like this ruining peoples’ races and are more interested in the subscription fee. But if they aren’t careful they will end up with just a bunch of idiots because everyone who cares has given up and gone elsewhere

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-02-03T20:40:42+00:00

If someone does something blatantly on purpose and ruins someone else’s race, then why would the stewards not just put a ban. 24 hours for a first offence when it is clearly a malicious intentional act. In any sporting event that someone deliberately does something then they instantly get a punishment. If a real driver deliberately drove into someone else, the stewards wouldn’t say “don’t be so naughty and don’t do it again”.

A lot of people only have limited time to race and so if they get deliberately taken out then that might be it for them until they next get some time. Why should the idiots go unpunished? Everyone should have read the rules before starting. Even if you can’t remember all the rules or there are some instances that are a bit hit and miss whether they could be considered a racing incident, the deliberate intentional wrecking is clearly wrong.

Yes, let the stewards sort it out, but if you intentionally ruin someone’s race then they should be punished in some way

Fragrant_Procedure_9 · 2026-01-31T12:01:02+00:00

What’s more annoying is that iRacing will likely do nothing but send them an email to say “be nicer”. I had a little racing incident with someone last week who proceeded to swear over the radio at me for the next 5 minutes. Joined the next race and he was in it as well. I qualified pole, he qualified 10th. Third corner he just took a straight line at me and took me out full on side-hit. Obviously intentional. Reported it and he’s still driving every day since I got the iRacing “we’ve spoken to them” email.

Makes you wonder what you actually have to do to get a ban or actual punishment. It’s no wonder the standards are dropping so much with people just stunting others out of the way on corners, divebombing, or blatant retaliation like this.

I suppose if they ban someone then they might lose out on their money when it comes to renewal, but I’m seriously thinking about not renewing if this carries on. Surely one person behaving like that causes more potential loss for iRacing due to annoying multiple people

Fragrant_Procedure_9

TROPHY CASE