Strange Octopus IOG Behavior

[Pistonheadsdicoverer]

Just anecdotal for now.

Every now and then when IOG gives me "cheap" rates outside of the 11/5 slot, I try to get my home battery to charge at the same time. For a few times now (say end of last year), as soon as I do that, Octopus just reverts back to peak rates. Just noticed that this happened again. It usually comes back to cheap rates later within the hour. Has anyone noted the same thing?

[clockworks]

I've had this happen a few times - cheap rate for just 2 or 3 minutes.

I've got my battery automated so that it switches to "forced charge" mode whenever the rate drops, then back again when the rate goes up. Works well. A 30 minute slot puts 2KWh into the battery and saves just over 40p
It also stops the battery discharging while grid is only 7p, saving the battery to cover the peak rate periods.

Edited by clockworks on Monday 9th February 08:01

[SpeckledJim]

Have a look at the Netzero app to control both.

I found ChatGPT really useful for getting it set up. As I am a muppet.

[AyBee]

Mine does that when charging the car sometimes. Potentially your house voltage dropping out of range? Might be worth speaking to the charger OEM and seeing if they can send you some logs. Is there a reason you need to charge the battery outside of the cheap period (23:30-5:30)?

[SpeckledJim]

If he has a home battery that he can be filling for an hour or two whilst topping up his car when he's got home, that'll then run the house for the rest of the evening before refiling overnight.

[Pistonheadsdicoverer]

AyBee said:

Mine does that when charging the car sometimes. Potentially your house voltage dropping out of range? Might be worth speaking to the charger OEM and seeing if they can send you some logs. Is there a reason you need to charge the battery outside of the cheap period (23:30-5:30)?

I have done it in the past without any issues. And I only have the car (charging at 7Kw) and the battery (charging at 3Kw) working at the same time. I have a 100A fuse, so it's well below the limit. I charge my battery because it often gets depleted by 6pm.So leaves me with a 6 hour gap before cheap tariffs kick in.