Hi everyone!

I'm completely new to solar and energy management and know next to nothing yet. For full transparency, I'm in my latter 20s and just started at Plentify, a home energy management company, so I'm trying to immerse myself properly rather than just nod along.

My parents have a Microcare inverter at their place, so I've picked up bits and pieces from them, but I'm renting myself so no inverter of my own. Currently, my "energy management" is manually switching the geyser on and off when I leave for and get back from work, which I'm sure there's ample alternatives to this.

Really keen to actually understand this space properly. If there's a YouTube channel, article, or even just a thread on here that you'd point a total beginner to, I'd really appreciate it.

Also happy to be told my geyser routine is hilariously inefficient too.

:)

1 hour ago, emma_hobson said:

Hi everyone!

I'm completely new to solar and energy management and know next to nothing yet. For full transparency, I'm in my latter 20s and just started at Plentify, a home energy management company, so I'm trying to immerse myself properly rather than just nod along.

My parents have a Microcare inverter at their place, so I've picked up bits and pieces from them, but I'm renting myself so no inverter of my own. Currently, my "energy management" is manually switching the geyser on and off when I leave for and get back from work, which I'm sure there's ample alternatives to this.

Really keen to actually understand this space properly. If there's a YouTube channel, article, or even just a thread on here that you'd point a total beginner to, I'd really appreciate it.

Also happy to be told my geyser routine is hilariously inefficient too.

:)

If you have permanent WiFi at home the easy way if allowed would be to fit a smart MCB at the geyser and you can program your on/off cycles and also via the APP on your phone override it at any time. These units can also measure the power used by the load connected through it.

And if you don't have wifi maybe something like this will work!

Communica South Africa

MAJ MTD8

Major Tech MAJ MTD8 Timers & Counters Timer 24Hour 7Day ON/OFF Programmer24Hour 7Day ON/OFF Timer Programmer Overview The MTD8 is a 30A 16 On/Off Digital Programmable Timer that is easy-to-use, quick

6 hours ago, emma_hobson said:

Hi everyone!

I'm completely new to solar and energy management and know next to nothing yet. For full transparency, I'm in my latter 20s and just started at Plentify, a home energy management company, so I'm trying to immerse myself properly rather than just nod along.

Hi Emma, and WELCOME to the Forum.

You already have two options for your geyser - I am controlling mine via a CBI Astute smart controller such as this: https://www.voltex.co.za/product/cbi-astute-smart-controller-asc-wifi-enabled that works via Wi-Fi. As long as my home router is on, I can access the controller from work and switch the geyser on or off as I like. I can also check the power used for the day, and check daily historical power usage for some months.

Best way to learn is to ask questions right here on the Forum.

6 hours ago, emma_hobson said:

Really keen to actually understand this space

I will give you the short version:

The more warm water you use, the more energy you use. The warmer the water in the geyser, the more losses you add to your system. Controlling time is a poor way of controlling hot water temperature and quantity in the geyser. Geyserwise and some smart thermostats measure water temperature inside the geyser.

7 hours ago, emma_hobson said:

but I'm renting

In your situation, you should consider what you can hide from the landlord. I suggest installing an Elon thermostat:

ELON SMART WATER THERMOSTAT https://leroymerlin.co.za/elon-smart-water-thermostat-81504247?sfdr_ptcid=32806_617_759128507&sfdr_hash=7335bbd6c20f0137a8f17f884afc1515&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17335597113&gclid=CjwKCAjw0o3SBhBVEiwAh28-jSaEDa18r5LEgEY0IkANeWI_WTyUOj0ZvL4DGkbWcgE9jZvnfXWOXhoCy1UQAvD_BwE

12 hours ago, HennieL said:

Hi Emma, and WELCOME to the Forum.

You already have two options for your geyser - I am controlling mine via a CBI Astute smart controller such as this: https://www.voltex.co.za/product/cbi-astute-smart-controller-asc-wifi-enabled that works via Wi-Fi. As long as my home router is on, I can access the controller from work and switch the geyser on or off as I like. I can also check the power used for the day, and check daily historical power usage for some months.

11 hours ago, frivan said:

The more warm water you use, the more energy you use. The warmer the water in the geyser, the more losses you add to your system. Controlling time is a poor way of controlling hot water temperature and quantity in the geyser. Geyserwise and some smart thermostats measure water temperature inside the geyser.

... And, of course, if you are primarily interested in saving money, and if you pay "peak" and "off-peak" rates, then it makes sense to only switch the geyser on during the "off-peak" times.

Once you can generate your own solar electricity then obviously your geyser should be switched on during good sunshine periods when you are generating free electricity, and off at night and/or during heavy cloudy days when it would require grid electricity. Most of us on this Forum are probably in this latter category of users. My geyser is set (through the smart controller) to switch on at 10:00 and off at 14:00 during winter with normal good weather, but I manually change this via my smartphone app as required to make use of any sunshine and/or bright indirect lighting.

Tell us a bit about the company you work for - how do they manage home energy?