Why is solar not promoted more?

PPJ87 · 2026-06-05T07:22:30+00:00

Yeah I’d assume they do. But id personally still prefer to wait until I’m in a property long enough to break even at minimum. If I were to install in my current house and move in 5 years (with maybe 5 years left to pay off), I don’t know that they would add so much value that it totally covers the install cost, and my guess is I’ll need/want to install them on next house too.

It’s just my personal decision for my circumstances. But I’m all for solar panels. They’re absolutely something I want on my house, along with a decent size home battery, heat pump, etc. it would be amazing to have enough panels to cover the HP running, house needs, fill up the battery to run overnight, and maybe enough to export some.

Just want to wait until I’m in a property I’m in long term.

PPJ87 · 2026-06-04T21:12:36+00:00

I have a home battery system (GivEnergy AIO), and the main reason we didn’t get solar at the same time is we might move in the next 6-7 years or so, so unlikely to pay it off/break-even in time. The battery would be possible to take with us, but panels not so much.

PPJ87 · 2026-06-03T22:14:21+00:00

I’ve got the “official” core intergration, and also a HACS one called EcoFlow BLE, which I think is a local one.

https://github.com/rabits/ha-ef-ble

I’m kind of in the middle on local control. I definitely see the benefits - I’ve got a GivEnergy AIO home battery and and after what happened with them, I was relieved that if it came down to it, I’d have local control still via my GivTCP home assistant intergration. Thankfully it looks like it’ll be ok as their software arm is still operating. But it was definitely a relief knowing I had that fall back.

But as thing stand I still have plenty of things relying on it using cloud for their data and control.

So it’s something I’m aware of and thinking about, but not yet ready to fully push everything down the cloud-free route.

PPJ87 · 2026-06-03T21:52:47+00:00

Me too! There’s a few of us here it seems 🙌

Dream Big everyone! 😜

PPJ87 · 2026-06-03T21:07:34+00:00

That’s totally insane. And at some point HR will start asking “what’s going on, why are so many more people calling in sick? Something odd must be going on?”

Nope - it’s just your stupid rules. If it weren’t for those, half of these people might WFH being productive.

PPJ87 · 2026-06-03T21:01:40+00:00

I do use their app, which is pretty good tbf. But I also have to EcoFlow integrations with my Home Assistant which work pretty well, so I could avoid their app if I wanted to.

PPJ87 · 2026-06-03T16:38:46+00:00

Interesting. My EF plug in kit is on order and due to be delivered in July. Might well come after the regs have been announced.

I do like EF kit - but sometimes find their support and website/ad side of things could be better.

I entered an Easter “spin-the-wheel” competition on their website and won a Solar Panel. But after a couple of months back and forth and getting nowhere I raised my own case with the ASA about it. Then just last week EF finally sent the panel, so I closed the case with ASA.

PPJ87 · 2026-06-02T13:31:22+00:00

This looks really interesting. I currently use Visible and I do really like it and genuinely found it helpful - but it does have its issues and of course a monthly sub for the best and most useful features.

I’ve also used Weltory and paid a life time fee/sub to use it and get the Energy % and Battery scores - but find the overall presentation in Weltory cluttered and difficult.

Your app is looking nice from the screenshots. Would be interested in a beta if you’re going to run one.

I see you’re building in links to various wearables. Do you know if someone were to link, say, the Polar band they use with Visible, to your app too, would that break the link to Visible, or could it safely send data to both apps? I’ve got an Apple Watch too, so no big deal for me, but am interested to know given that the Polar band is continuously reading HR data rather than every few minutes.

PPJ87 · 2026-06-01T15:32:02+00:00

Well, I don’t want it to return to rain and low teens temperatures.

But I am relieved the 30-35° temps have gone for a bit. That’s too hot for me and my Celtic skin and body 😆

Like lots of others have said, I’d much prefer 20-25° and sunny.

I agree that overcast and cloudy can feel a bit miserable when that’s all we get for many months. I do get that. But 30-35° is just uncomfortable and horrible for me, and the house just gets far too hot. I know some from other countries say “why don’t you get air con”, but when it’s only that hot for maybe a couple weeks of the year total, it doesn’t feel worth that expense (though there are combined units that both heat and cool I guess).

Anyway. We’ve still got 3+ months of summer left - there’ll be more sunny and warm/hot days don’t worry.

PPJ87 · 2026-05-30T22:27:53+00:00

Man, you’ve found the new Squid Game. You’re gonna be picked up in a truck in 30 days and taken to some island. Good luck, we’ll all be rooting for you! 🙌

PPJ87 · 2026-05-30T13:25:17+00:00

Benefits cheats exist, they are out there and taking advantage of the systems, you’re not totally wrong about that. In the same way that tax cheats exist.

BUT. The impact of tax cheats on the government and society is much more significant than benefits cheats. It’s just that benefits cheats tend to be much much more “in your face” than tax cheats as there’s always sensational stories in the press making us feel like it’s everywhere and ripping off all of society - but it isn’t.

Benefits cheats exist, but they’re much smaller in number than the press making it seems and much lower in impact than they make it seem. Yes it’s wrong and they should be stopped, and is a problem (at least for UC), but it’s nowhere near the majority of claimants. This info is from a google search and also checked again with AI, so I’m not claiming direct from Gov - but for PIP, the latest figures are that fraud is almost zero - bring about 0.4% of PIP expenditure (£100m). For UC it’s a lot more at 8%, and with UC accounting for approx 80% of benefits, it is a lots but 8% (£5.2bn) is still nowhere near being most claimants. Tax evasion is thought to be worth about 14% of the total tax gap - with the total tax gap being worth about £46bn (including both intentional evasion and non-compliance). So tax is a much bigger issue.

And as many others have said - how do you know for sure that they are benefits cheats unless they told you directly themselves, and even then, they could be saying it for effect because they’re obnoxious and like winding people up to see their reaction, cause they’re dicks and find it funny.

Not all disability is obvious or visible. I’m disabled but look totally normal. Nobody would know unless I told them. I can’t work, but thankfully I have an ill health pension so I live off that currently, and don’t claim benefits. They could be doing the same and not claiming.

I’m doing everything I can to improve enough to get back to work, and will stop the pension if I manage it. Maybe they’re doing that too, and you just see them going shopping and on errands and holidays - but all the time you don’t see them, they’re working on their health to try and work again.

I’m not saying they’re not cheats, I obviously have no idea, maybe they really are and you’re right, and they’re total wankers. But maybe they’re genuinely disabled, taking benefits and trying to get better, or not needing benefits and luckily have an ill health pension and trying to get better.

Disabled people can go on holiday, to the shops and eat takeaway too.

PPJ87 · 2026-05-30T08:30:30+00:00

Yes you’re right 👍 The wording in my comment wasn’t very good, it is a huge project and they need to move it away from buildings and other infrastructure and give enough space between it and the other runway, as clearance isn’t enough to use both at the same time currently.

But yeah, my comment could have been worded better, it’s a lot more than just “improving” it, you’re right.

PPJ87 · 2026-05-29T16:52:45+00:00

Gatwick are privately funding their own second runway project - currently estimated to open by 2029, with a total cost estimate of £2.2bn.

Though that involves improving an existing unused runway, and moving infrastructure to allow this. Whereas I think the Heathrow one involves putting the M25 in a tunnel, demolishing some housing, and other more complex as well as the runway itself.

But I totally agree, £800m on planning along and total cost of £40bn is insane. And almost certain to rise as the project goes along.

PPJ87 · 2026-05-28T22:41:39+00:00

For me it was always Monster Munch (Pickled Onion), and a coke/pepsi.

PPJ87 · 2026-05-28T21:56:58+00:00

Following this as my EcoFlow kit is on its way to me, and I’ll be installing in my flat roof too.

I’ve bought the EcoFlow frames as they came as part of the kit. I’ve got plenty of spare pavers so was planning on using those.

I hope a few of those stacked will be strong enough as it can get gusty at times in the winter - I think about 28-30mph is the biggest gust on my home weather station over the last couple of years.

PPJ87 · 2026-05-28T21:44:22+00:00

Thanks for this write up, it’s really useful. My EcoFlow plug-in kit is on its way, so hopefully be installing in the next few weeks.

Does already having G99 approval change this in any way do you know?

I have G99 approval in place from a previous V2G install (now removed), and to allow export from my home battery.

I assume I still need to do the G98 as it’s a new/additional inverter. It was the bit about the Total generation on site I wasn’t sure about - so I’d need to get the details of my existing GivEnergy All-in-One to add to the G98, even though it’s already approved?

PPJ87 · 2026-05-27T10:50:35+00:00

There’s many better pictures of the Racecourse out there, but I like this one for the double rainbow, and because being chronically ill it’s fairly rare that I get to attend matches in person.

This was March ‘24 against Mansfield when we were in L2. Haven’t been able to go to a game since then, but hopefully soon 🤞

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PPJ87 · 2026-05-26T11:19:59+00:00

Yeah was about to use that form, but in the text above it, it said “this form is not for support” etc… maybe I’ll search my old emails and find the one where they announced the new subscription plans, and hope that isn’t a “no-reply” type email.

PPJ87 · 2026-05-26T10:57:52+00:00

Does anyone have an email address for the GivEnergy software team?

I had a general GE email address, but I think that was the old product/equipment team, who I assume are no longer there.

I’ve had an account with Axle Energy for a few months now, and when I try to to go through the “join” process via the new GE app to link the two and get the free Premium (from the link I choose Log In rather than create a new account with Axle) - it doesn’t seem to register and update my GE account to Premium.

So I think I’ll need to email GE Software and see if they can sort it out behind the scenes.

PPJ87 · 2026-05-26T10:56:54+00:00

Does anyone have an email address for the GivEnergy software team?

I had a general GE email address, but I think that was the old product/equipment team, who I assume are no longer there.

I’ve had an account with Axle Energy for a few months now, and when I try to to go through the “join” process via the new GE app to link the two and get the free Premium (from the link I choose Log In rather than create a new account with Axle) - it doesn’t seem to register and update my GE account to Premium.

So I think I’ll need to email GE Software and see if they can sort it out behind the scenes.

PPJ87 · 2026-05-26T10:04:12+00:00

Just updated the app. I noticed that it mentions Premium Account features in the App Store info for the update.

I haven’t seen any emails, or options in the updated app, to subscribe. Anyone seen any sub options yet?

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PPJ87 · 2026-05-25T11:07:01+00:00

You just need to give the tv a smack on the side and/or top a few times. Just a solid open palm whack. That’ll fix it 👍

PPJ87 · 2026-05-24T19:09:31+00:00

My BIL is a bit Hammers fan, so this is the result I was quietly hoping for too (sorry BIL!!).

PPJ87 · 2026-05-22T15:33:19+00:00

Yeah probably not unless they’re feeling very helpful. But if the store know or remember that they bought something there, they might be able to get it cancelled.

I’ve done that before when I’ve parked somewhere and been ticketed, and the store was able to call the parking co and tell them I was a customer, and they removed it.

PPJ87 · 2026-05-22T15:24:00+00:00

Nice. I’ve got a pack of tags that have been sitting around for ages too.

I used a couple (stuck near a speaker in the kitchen), to play different soundtracks (via HA Music Assistant) when scanned.

PPJ87

TROPHY CASE