Any Zappi tips?

[GaryMG4]

As per the title, despite being a strong advocate of using the granny before buying a 7kW EVSE, I've ordered a Zappi. I'm interested in learning any tips for maximising solar excess (I'm on the FiT scheme), whether the Zappi will do a full (10-100%) balance charge. in the summer I hope to do the majority of my charging using the solar am I likely to run into issues with Octopus smart charge? I'm currently on Go but will switch to IGo once set up.

 

[Jomarkh]

As per the title, despite being a strong advocate of using the granny before buying a 7kW EVSE, I've ordered a Zappi. I'm interested in learning any tips for maximising solar excess (I'm on the FiT scheme), whether the Zappi will do a full (10-100%) balance charge. in the summer I hope to do the majority of my charging using the solar am I likely to run into issues with Octopus smart charge? I'm currently on Go but will switch to IGo once set up.

Hi, if you are on IOG then export atc15p/kWh and charge the car overnight at 7p.

 

[GaryMG4]

Hi, if you are on IOG then export atc15p/kWh and charge the car overnight at 7p.

Hi, I'm on solar FiT so get paid 23p to generate, even if I then use it!

 

[JohnV6]

Yes but you get 2 bits the fit for generation and the assumed bit of 50% export. You can change the export and octopus not fit system will pay you 15p just for that. But of course it depends on what you use

 

[GaryMG4]

Yes but you get 2 bits the fit for generation and the assumed bit of 50% export. You can change the export and octopus not fit system will pay you 15p just for that. But of course it depends on what you use

True, not sure how I calculate my actual export, but for each deemed kWh I get 7.1p if I put that in the car I save 7p so get 14.1p benefit without having to.
My numbers for last year work out that I bought 3900 kWh for around £650 (plus standing charge) of which 2122 kWh went in the car and received £870 in FiT payments so overall it has worked out OK

 

[GaryMG4]

Well I'm pleased to report that Jamie from Octopus installed my Zappi, he did a neat job and tidied up properly once done. The whole process went smoothly, on connecting to the car (and app) it started charging at the 2.5kW solar excess. A couple of minutes later I switched to IOG and it carried on having decided a schedule and promptly boosted the charge to 7.1 kW. I was impressed to see Octoaid recognised the new tariff immediately and gave the live cost as 34p per hour as the boost was around 4.65 kW. Now its clouded over so waiting for the next smart slot at 10pm.

 

[tsedge]

Regularly check for firmware updates and apply them. I have had numerous problems with IOG due to it needing the latest firmware and changes made. In the end I stopped using the IOG smart hours feature, disconnected it from the Zappi and I just charge in the core cheaper hours now using the Zappi's scheduling. Works every time, which it never has with IOG in control.

 

[GaryMG4]

I must admit after trying out options over the last couple of weeks I don't see much benefit from smart charge. I don't have a battery to game the system, so I'd only be time shifting the things that I already time shift to the overnight slot. Plus 6 hours is plenty for a normal charge and if I want to 9-100% charge then I don't want Octopus to pause it mid flow.

 

[tsedge]

I must admit after trying out options over the last couple of weeks I don't see much benefit from smart charge. I don't have a battery to game the system, so I'd only be time shifting the things that I already time shift to the overnight slot. Plus 6 hours is plenty for a normal charge and if I want to 9-100% charge then I don't want Octopus to pause it mid flow.

Yes, that makes sense. For me smart scheduling works most of the time but it really annoying when I wake up and it hasn't charged the car. I think you are supposed to use it once a month minimum to keep the IOG tariff going.

 

[JohnV6]

Yes you are.

 

[GaryMG4]

Yes I was aware of that and plan to slip a smart charge every so often.