The running load or standing load as it is sometimes known is the amount of electricity your house uses whilst you are not home. This is usually the devices you cannot switch off like fridges, clocks etc.
For us this list is a bit longer....
Computer Equipment
- Server PC with UPS
- Broadband Router
- Network Switch
Appliances
- Cooker (clock / timer)
- Fridge Freezer
- Chest Freezer
Safety Equipment
- 6x Mains Powered Smoke Alarms
Everything Else
- Sky Digibox (for Sky+ scheduled recordings)
- Alarm Clock
- Alarm Radio
- Power usage meter
- 3x Rodent Repealers
All of this adds up to a load of aprox 350w.
In order to cover this standing load with power generated from a Solar PV system we must generate more than 350w during the day. Covering your standing load is a good idea because the day period is often when electricity is most expensive. The current price of power in Guernsey during the day is 14.5p per unit.
Installing a system that can senate more power than is being used is a good idea but only to a point. Over sizing the installation slightly will help to compensate for dull days. If the rate at which your local energy provider will buy power from you is reasonable then you can use you over generated power to credit for power used overnight.
So we are looking for a solar PV system that will generate 350w of power reliably.