I have a 250w panel attached to a chinese gridtie, it has been working well for some time now.
On overcast days it produces about 50w which is enough to run my computer which draws around 50w 24/7. On the occasional sunny day, the output rises to over 200w and the excess leaks out onto the grid. The meter turns backwards, but only rewinds the 10ths of units, not the whole units. I guess there is something in the mechanics of the meter that makes this happen.
Recently the electricity board came and swapped my meter. When I asked why, they said it is normal to swap meters every few years.
The old meter had a spinning disc and went backwards if I was making more than I was using. The new meter is a small plastic box that doesn't seem to care which direction the power is flowing, it just registers the fact.
The upshot of which is if I don't use what I'm making, I now get charged for letting it leak out onto the grid.
Any ideas for detecting this condition and switching on extra loads to prevent this? I would rather waste the electricity than get charged for giving it away.
On overcast days it produces about 50w which is enough to run my computer which draws around 50w 24/7. On the occasional sunny day, the output rises to over 200w and the excess leaks out onto the grid. The meter turns backwards, but only rewinds the 10ths of units, not the whole units. I guess there is something in the mechanics of the meter that makes this happen.
Recently the electricity board came and swapped my meter. When I asked why, they said it is normal to swap meters every few years.
The old meter had a spinning disc and went backwards if I was making more than I was using. The new meter is a small plastic box that doesn't seem to care which direction the power is flowing, it just registers the fact.
The upshot of which is if I don't use what I'm making, I now get charged for letting it leak out onto the grid.
Any ideas for detecting this condition and switching on extra loads to prevent this? I would rather waste the electricity than get charged for giving it away.