Home  5  Books  5  GBEzine  5  News  5  HelpDesk  5  Register  5  GreenBuilding.co.uk
Not signed in (Sign In)

Categories



Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

PLEASE NOTE: A download link for Volume 1 will be sent to you by email and Volume 2 will be sent to you by post as a book.
Buy individually or both books together. Delivery is free!


powered by Surfing Waves




Vanilla 1.0.3 is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

Welcome to new Forum Visitors
 Join the forum now and benefit from discussions with thousands of other green building fans and discounts on Green Building Press publications: Apply now.




Housing - New Build: Electricity Connection Issue

Bottom of Page

1 to 19 of 19

  1.  
    • CommentAuthorCbrect
    • CommentTimeApr 5th 2019
     
    Evening all,

    I wondered if anyone has experienced a situation where a DNO has reported a substation at capacity?

    Following a recent survey for a new build, we’ve been told that this is the issue and it could cost six figures for us to upgrade the substation.

    We are building on a plot surrounded by houses, albeit in a semi-rural area and it’s a one off build with single phase requirements.

    Naturally we’re besides ourselves with worry so any advice or experiences would be hugely appreciated.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeApr 5th 2019
     
    Posted By: CbrectI wondered if anyone has experienced a situation where a DNO has reported a substation at capacity?

    Following a recent survey for a new build, we’ve been told that this is the issue and it could cost six figures for us to upgrade the substation.

    I haven't any experience, thankfully, so can only sympathise. Six figures sounds extraordinary; as I understand it, you should be asked to pay a proportion of the cost of upgrading the infrastructure. You may want to read:

    https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/87259/guideelectricitydistributionconnectionspolicy.pdf
    • CommentAuthorCbrect
    • CommentTimeApr 5th 2019
     
    I think it was a touch of belligerence on their part and I’m yet to receive the actual quote. Thank you for the link, that does seem to suggest a degree of fairness would need to apply but the waiting isn’t pleasant..!
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeApr 5th 2019
     
    I have known restricted use and no big loads, electric showers, electric cookers, heaters, sauna etc but not refusing collection
  5.  
    Posted By: CbrectFollowing a recent survey for a new build, we’ve been told that this is the issue and it could cost six figures for us to upgrade the substation.

    Wait for the quote in writing. If it is over the top then challenge it. E.g. they have failed to upgrade the area to modern standards and putting the whole upgrade cost to you. Are any other houses likely to be built in the area soon that will need connection - implies a general infrastructure upgrade is needed which should not be put to you etc.

    If it does turn out to be 6 figures then consider off grid which is becoming more affordable and reliable.
    • CommentAuthorCbrect
    • CommentTimeApr 6th 2019
     
    Is it even possible to run a larger house, off grid and have the usuals in the house?
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeApr 6th 2019
     
    Posted By: CbrectIs it even possible to run a larger house, off grid and have the usuals in the house?

    You can buy quite a lot of solar panels and batteries for six figures! Or wind turbines or generators etc. You will want efficient systems though.
  8.  
    Posted By: CbrectIs it even possible to run a larger house, off grid and have the usuals in the house?

    A 6 - 8kWp solar panels and a couple of Tesla powerwalls should come in at less than 30k which would give you about 26kWh capacity and about 14kW peak load so your electric hob is probably a non starter but otherwise it should be OK. You will have to see what you actually expect. Apart from an electric hob (big instant load) the biggest consuming item is usually hot water which typically can be as much as everything else put together! (we use a bottled gas cooker due to electric power constraints and use 250 - 300 kWh per month running a bigish house and a farm)

    Does your proposed location have mains gas? otherwise how do you intend to supply heating and DHW?

    Don't forget that if an off grid system comes close to the power connection price you get no electric bills once you have bought the system (but budget for new batteries in about 15 years).

    Down side is that off grid electricity is a deterrent for resale price.
  9.  
    In coming decades everyone will need somewhere to charge their electric car, they will stop making petrol cars.
  10.  
    Posted By: WillInAberdeenIn coming decades everyone will need somewhere to charge their electric car, they will stop making petrol cars.

    Which gives all sorts of (unanswered) questions for the grid infrastructure and the costing of same.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeApr 6th 2019
     
    Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryApart from an electric hob (big instant load)

    Neff make a 4-burner induction hob that plugs in to a 13 A socket. A friend has one and hasn't complained.
  12.  
    But you are limited to about 3kW total power so your cooking slows down if you want to use all of the cooking areas. They are electronically load spread to limit the max power consumption.
    • CommentAuthorCbrect
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2019 edited
     
    No gas I’m afraid but LPG is an option - I’m not sure if that can somehow be connected to a gas hob.

    Wouldn’t you need a lot of solar panels to generate 26kw..?

    That said, Tesla solar roof tiles look interesting..!
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2019
     
    Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryBut you are limited to about 3kW total power so your cooking slows down if you want to use all of the cooking areas.

    I agree and I wouldn't have bought one myself even if they had been available when we fitted our kitchen. But as I say, a friend appears to be quite satisfied with hers and she does stir-fries and other things supposedly demanding, so it seems the concerns may be overstated.

    Posted By: CbrectNo gas I’m afraid but LPG is an option - I’m not sure if that can somehow be connected to a gas hob.

    Yes, that's quite a normal thing.
    • CommentAuthorowlman
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2019
     
    Posted By: CbrectNo gas I’m afraid but LPG is an option - I’m not sure if that can somehow be connected to a gas hob.


    Yes, that's quite a normal thing.


    I think Zanussi do one, just need to change the burners.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2019
     
    I think most hobs can be converted just by buying the LPG injectors from the manufacturer and getting a registered gas plumber to fit them. But you do need to check that the manufacturer does supply LPG injectors for the particular hob that you're interested in.
    • CommentAuthorowlman
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2019
     
    Yes G30-G31 nozzle sets.
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeMay 4th 2019 edited
     
    If no mains gas definitly consider an LPG hob on 47kg cylinder(s). We find a cylinder last at least 18 months (family of 4 adults) so the absolute running cost is pretty low even if the cost per kW is higher than electricity.

    Our hob is actually a Britannia dual fuel double oven - two electric ovens with 6 gas rings on top. Took just a few mins to swap the jets over but get a gas Safe engineer to do it as I think they have to be adjusted.. Jets were supplied with the oven.
    • CommentAuthorcjard
    • CommentTimeMay 8th 2019 edited
     
    Got a gas safe engineer to adjust mine (jets supplied with oven) and then had to do it all again myself: the guy had neglected to observe "the big hob ring has the jet with the big hole, the small hob ring has the jet with the small hole" and just put the jets on in whatever random order they came out of the bag. He did get one right (one of the medium sized ring blew well, the other one and the big one popped and farted and the small one was a flamethrower). Quite how he didn't notice this when he was adjusting the air mix I've no idea- maybe randomly got the working one and didn't check the others

    I reason that if you can unscrew a dust cap, fill a car tyre with air to the right pressure, and screw the dust cap back on yourself, you can change the jets in a gas oven..

    It's American, so about half the video is disclaimer and "rearguard action" - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CZaj1k0CVeI - but as you may remember adjusting a Bunsen burner in science class tonget a nice blue flame it's "install jets. Tweak air supply. End"

1 to 19 of 19

  1.  
Add your comments

    Username Password
  • Format comments as
 
Back to Discussions Top of Page
   
The Ecobuilding Buzz
Site Map    |   Home    |   View Cart    |   Pressroom   |   Business   |   Links   
Logout    

© Green Building Press