Cost saving delayed start, gimmick or worth it?

[ericmark]

The big three, dishwasher, washing machine, and tumble dryer all have a delayed start option. The dishwasher simply a delay start, but the washing machine, and tumble dryer both turn the drum every so often during the timed delay.

So electric cost varies through the day, 8.50p/kWh, 15p/kWh and 30.17p/kWh. One hopes one will not use the latter rate, it will depend on other items used, as inverter is only 5 kW so any draw over that comes from the grid, and the state of charge of the battery, clearly once run out, then will be using grid power.

So there are times to avoid, a few hours before dusk, until 00:30 am are the critical hours where using too much power, could double the cost from the 15p/kWh lost as not exporting, to the 30.17p/kWh as importing peak power.

But the 6.5p/kWh difference between off-peak and solar payment, is very little. So from 00:30 am to 2 - 6 pm depending on time of year, it would seem we can run the big three without costing the earth. So is there any real point in using the delay timer?

 

[Lucid]

I think you've answered your own question, though you've reached a different conclusion to me. You have the figures for the £££'s cost saving. It's then a personal choice about the convenience/inconvenience of using delay start.

FWIW, I use delay start on the washer. I can come home in the evening, throw in my work gear, have it sit in a dry washer overnight, then have the cycle run so that it's ready for hanging out (weather permitting) around the same time I'm up in the morning. I'm also saving money using off-peak electricity. Clearly the convenience of washing something 'at the time' has an advantage in certain circumstances, but that's a judgement call.

The value of small cost savings builds across the year. If I can save money without effort and without compromising the final result, then why not?

 

[Murdochcat]

We use these delay start to run our appliances during the day when the sun is out so we can benefit from the PV output

 

[Diver Fred]

We have E7 and delayed start machines. Because of that we regularly use delayed start (now I've convinced the kitchen ruler that the machines won't burst into flames), noticeably so on the bill as our power consumption is normally slightly higher on low rate than on day rate.

If you're not sure just keep a record of your electricity usage over, say a week and divide the number of days by the units used.