Setting multiple timed charge slots

[RayB]

Thanks for letting me join. I am a novice with these things and have been looking for a simple way to get three charge slots on my Gen1 inverter when I get the Air2Air system installed and switch to Octopus Cosy. Once I've set the time, does the app need to keep running?

[c2ushe2]

Yes, because it is the app that sends the command at the set time to the inverter.
It follows that the phone in question also needs to be on the same network as the inverter, too, unless you are running remote access software.
Many people use a spare, older phone, running the app and left at home, for this purpose.

[RayB]

Thanks. I have an old android have set up with the screen on permanent display.

[RubikCube]

Excellent. If you haven't already done so, it is well worth turning on "Collect Stats" in settings.

Get your stuff installed and see how much energy it uses. I have 3 air2air (mini-split) systems (living room, master bedroom, and kitchen) and manage fine on Octopus GO. In mild weather they are amazingly efficient.

[RayB]

Thanks for the advice. I've looked in developer options on the android 9 and it shows Inverter as a cached background service. Does that mean it's doing its job and will manage the timed charge slots or do I have to do something else?

Can I ask why you didn't opt for Octopus Cosy? Was it the 4-7 peak charge? We have a 8.2kWh battery and hope that will take us through the peak period if we wind back on unused rooms and make more use of our slow cooker.

[RubikCube]

Octopus GO is about 9p a kWh (versus about 16p for Cosy). I have a 9.5kWh battery which lasts all day. On a typical british mild day, electric (air2air) heating uses about 3kWh compared to about 30kWh for gas. On cold days (outside below 5C) electric is less efficient, so use gas (about 100kWh).

Slow cooker can't be efficient. Microwave, air fryer, and induction hob cook quicker and cheaper.