Member postings for Michael Gilligan

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When I moved here, mid-2022, there was no option to swap suppliers … none of them were taking-on new customers

… even my previous supplier wouldn’t move my contract to another property

We have lived through some interesting times recently !!

MichaelG.

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Incidentally … I forgot to mention; If mine is anything to go by these certificates are near-useless

It is however, interesting to dig a little deeper into the drop-down details for your own property, on the web-page

**LINK** https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate

Some of the estimated savings look hardly worth the disruption they would cause

… perhaps that’s why people in the U.K. haven’t prioritised energy-efficiency until quite recently.

MichaelG.

Thanks for that, Russell

… I have downloaded the PDF

MichaelG.

Still discussing roof structures … but it will [hopefully] be a 5m wide x 7m long mono-pitch at just over 10° so we are currently looking at ‘raised-seam’ steel covering, possibly with thin solar panels bonded on … alternatively, I need to find out if there is anything like the Marley ‘solar tile’ idea can work with such panels.

Keep it coming chaps … sometime soon I will need to decide how to spend the last of my hard-eared cash.

MichaelG.

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https://www.lindab.com/product/in-focus/solarroof/

https://www.marley.co.uk/solar-roof-tiles/solartile

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 27/09/2023 16:26:31

Thanks for the link, Juddy … but I will probably fall at the first hurdle

There is no practical way that I could do the requisite insulation upgrade until I have built the extension !

The place is a small detached dormer bungalow and the ‘loft-space’ currently has no access … there are wardrobes (sic) under the eaves, and no loft hatch …. I dare not even look until I have a big extension in which to put the contents of those two small rooms.

This is not the first ‘financial loss’ on this project, and I am sure it won’t be the last

MichaelG.

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Extract from my EPC

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Edited By Michael Gilligan on 27/09/2023 16:09:14

Thanks for the comments

Just to be clear … the heat-pump device that I mentioned on the other thread is a self-contained system that heats a tank of water to 55°C using solar. Details are linked there.

They [predictably enough] tell a good story about it, but as the cost looks to be upwards of £5k and the estimated savings were, according to energysavingtrust, about £65 per year … I thought better of it.

My estimated 100year amortisation of the cost was probably too short, given that even the tank is only guaranteed for 25years.

My ambition is to have everything as ‘passive’ as it reasonably can be … to avoid noise-pollution and maintenance.

Solar PV with a battery, underfloor electric heating in the extension, and an ‘instantaneous’ electric heater for tap water. … It should be possible to get the floor slab and the high-mass internal leaf of the walls up to a reasonable temperature, and then trickle-heat with solar. The battery can supply boost heating of air as necessary.

That’s the theory anyway

MichaelG.

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A significant contributing factor to any ‘guesstimating’ is that the cost of electrickery includes a daily standing charge … so, the more you use the cheaper it gets … and in my case [currently using 1.8 units per day] the ratio is certainly non-trivial

Unit Rate = 30.650p per kWh

Standing Charge = 60.93p per day

MichaelG.

As I may have already mentioned, I hoping to get Planning consent to extend the little bungalow, and will be aiming to greatly improve its energy efficiency.

It currently has oil-fired central heating and mains electricity.

The Energy Rating is presently E (46) so there is plenty of scope for improvement.

Although improving the insulation, and changing the heating are ‘no-brainers’ the electricity side is more interesting, and I would welcome a ‘sanity check’

I am paying £55 per month, Direct Debit to Shell Energy, and my account is increasingly in credit. … consumption in the period from 04-Aug-2022 to 04-Aug-2023 was a mere 658 units, which covers Lighting, Cooking, Fridge-Freezer, Washing Machine, Domestic Appliances, Shower.

To my surprise, that only averages a little over 0.075 units per hour

When I lose the oil burner; heating and water-heating will both need to be electric: But by incorporating good insulation and high thermal mass in the extension, and appropriate air-circulation throughout the dwelling, I am guessing that my consumption might only double [or perhaps triple] and that a Solar PV array will provide much of that.

This all sounds too easy … so what have I missed ?

MichaelG.

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P.S. __ The present enthusiasm for heat-pumps seems unconvincing when we look at the time needed to amortise their cost [see my comment on another recent thread]

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=188049&p=3

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 27/09/2023 13:49:15

Many thanks, Jason

… Much appreciated

MichaelG.

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Edit: __ although the surface detail is a little blurry, it’s quite evidently a brittle fracture … suggesting excessive and poorly controlled hardening.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 27/09/2023 10:22:02

Pete,

as per Gerry’s opening remarks

”the main support post”

MichaelG.

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Edit: __ I obviously don’t know which model he has, but the general principle is presumably like this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256201549864

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 27/09/2023 06:53:06

This is probably no help, Duncan … but I remembered that SketchUp [which I abandoned years ago] has a plug-in which does this very easily.

Here’s a link to a good explanatory page: **LINK**

https://alexschreyer.net/projects/centroid-and-area-properties-plugin-for-sketchup/

which may contain some relevant morsel

MichaelG.

RagBolts are an interesting variation on the theme

MichaelG.

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However … I think it’s true that cap-head screw is a very widely accepted term for such items.

Either that or socket head cap screw

https://nationalstocknumber.org/nsn/5305-01-295-8163

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 26/09/2023 21:30:43

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… which you can grow in the greenhouse !
Is this an example of perpetual motion[s]

?

MichaelG.

Reality check : https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/solar-assisted-heat-pumps/

https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/solar-assisted-heat-pumps/

MichaelG.

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Correct me if I’m wrong, but that looks like something close to 100years to amortise my cost 

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 26/09/2023 19:43:27

SAHP … They tell a good story, but seem very coy about the pricing

**LINK**

https://cozyenergy.co.uk/solar-assisted-heat-pumps/

MichaelG.

The mop tail threading would be a similar exercise [but coarser] to making a fusee for a clock

… a web search for ‘fusee engine’ should provide some inspiration.

MichaelG.

If you are willing to clean it abrasively ... I would recommend using a Garryflex block , preferably lubricated with Autosol polish.

MichaelG.

Not straying too far off-topic, I hope

Does anyone have experience of these: **LINK** https://sahp.info

Solar Assisted Heat Pumps for domestic hot water

… I am tempted by the SAHP 130

MichaelG.

You’re welcome, Bill

… and as a special treat Archive.org has it for online viewing, or download

**LINK**

https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.11974/page/n13/mode/2up

MichaelG.