ᐅ Energy management systems and control of washing machines, dryers, and the property

Thanks again to everyone for your feedback.

Mycraft schrieb:

You can, for example, easily convert almost any modern TV into a hotel TV so that it turns on without a remote control and has additional specific functions. The same also applies to household appliances.

How exactly/specific? That would be interesting... Does anyone have experience with this?
It really annoys me that in 2022 we still don’t have these functions/interfaces as a standard in all devices... Every cheap smartwatch, every low-cost phone for $100 has lots of sensors and great possibilities to experiment with software/apps, can be controlled via remote support tools (e.g., TeamViewer for phones), but a new washing machine/dryer for $800 can do nothing except wash/dry and offers the option to select a dozen unnecessary programs...

WilderSueden schrieb:

Somehow, I’m skeptical whether the extra effort is really worth it compared to a washing machine that simply starts at noon when the sun usually shines.

It is indeed inconvenient to always have to remember to load the washing machine in the morning so that it runs at midday when the photovoltaic system is producing maximum power. There are also annoying decisions like: Do I prioritize saving electricity, or ensuring my children have clean and dry clothes at a specific time 🙂 Or: The dishwasher always starts when I want to take a nap in the living room, and so on.
Making more decisions definitely means more stress.

Keep in mind that the laundry might end up sitting wet in the machine for half the day because the Pi doesn't unload it. Therefore, I see the main benefit of white goods more in the dryer and the dishwasher.

HoisleBauer22 schrieb:

It is indeed inconvenient if you always have to remember to load the washing machine in the morning so it runs at midday when the photovoltaic system produces maximum power.

Even if the energy management system starts the washing machine during photovoltaic surplus, I would recommend loading it beforehand. Simple-minded people like me also set the machine to start a few hours in advance on those occasions 😉

HoisleBauer22 schrieb:

Or: the dishwasher always starts when I want to take a nap in the living room, etc.

So the energy management system would have to consider not only the photovoltaic forecast but also your sleep habits 🙂

HoisleBauer22 schrieb:

Is it more important for me to save electricity, or that my children have clean and dry clothes at a certain time.

Hmm, so now please automate the sun to shine as evenly as possible too 😎 Things don’t quite run that smoothly here yet... so far, we’ve had only three days with photovoltaic surplus this January. I confess I’m more of a shade washer.

What I mean is: there are hardly any situations where any kind of energy management really benefits you. You run the dishwasher when it’s full (and you can only shift that by about half a day at most). Laundry you can store up a bit more until the sun shines again, but even then you have to unload the washing machine and possibly load the dryer. And the weather will do whatever it wants anyway.

And what’s the benefit over the whole year? Maybe a hundred cycles you could optimize? One cycle in modern appliances uses about 1 kWh. With a 30-cent difference between feed-in tariff and self-consumption, that’s 30€.

Forecast-based control really only makes sense for large consumers like electric cars, pool heating, or similar. Classic household appliances thankfully have very low energy consumption, and their usage profiles allow only limited flexibility (you’re hardly going to save dishes for three rainy weeks until the next sunny day).

HoisleBauer22 schrieb:

Thanks again to everyone for your feedback.

How exactly or specifically? That would be interesting... Does anyone here have experience with this?
It really annoys me that in 2022, we still don’t have these features/interfaces as standard in all appliances... Every cheap smartwatch or smartphone for $100 has plenty of sensors and great software/apps to play with, controllable remotely (e.g., via remote access tools like TeamViewer for phones), but a new washing machine/dryer for $800 can only wash/dry and offers a dozen unnecessary program options...

My son has a Siemens washing machine that can be controlled via an app.
But in my opinion, that doesn’t make any sense, just like energy management for a washing machine, because you still have to load and unload it manually.
If I’m at home, I can start it whenever I want. If I’m going to be out all day, I check the weather forecast in the morning: if it’s sunny, I load the machine; if it’s not, I unload it again in the evening so the laundry doesn’t sit in the machine for days. Or if it was sunny and I come home, the laundry can end up sitting for hours in the closed machine after washing.
Besides, I can only do one load a day, and if we have weather like in December or January, I might not be able to do any laundry for three weeks.
No, that would be too much effort for just a few cents saved.

@Hangman

Thinking way too complicated.

@Araknis
That's how it looks, and of course no one is forced to align their habits with the sun. But running dishwashers and dryers on "free" electricity does have its appeal for certain people.

HoisleBauer22 schrieb:

It is indeed inconvenient if you always have to remember to fill the washing machine in the morning so it runs at midday when the maximum output from the photovoltaic system is available. Decisions like: Is it more important to save electricity or to have my children’s clothes clean and dry at a certain time 🙂 Or: The dishwasher always starts when I want to take a nap in the living room, etc.
Making more decisions definitely adds more stress.

It’s true that the average user immediately thinks they have to become a slave to their household appliances and technology. That’s not the case. You continue living your usual life and then suddenly find opportunities here and there that you hadn’t even considered.

HoisleBauer22 schrieb:

How exactly/concretely? That would be interesting... Does anyone have experience with this?

Software updates, manufacturer/communication interfaces, hidden menus, and so on. This applies to white goods, projectors, A/V receivers, and so forth as well.

HoisleBauer22 schrieb:

It really annoys me that by 2022 such functions/interfaces are not already standard in all devices...J

They are definitely included, but unknown to the average user or protected against external access. But not always. Also, the average user lacks the tools and experience.

motorradsilke schrieb:

The washing machine can be remotely controlled via an app.
But in my view, it makes absolutely no sense,

Yes, that’s actually one of the useless features out there. Logically considered, the washing machine should just work by itself. If I still have to take my phone in hand for it, what’s the point? If you still need a person to ultimately turn the machine on, you might as well do it manually.

motorradsilke schrieb:

If I’m out all day anyway, I check the weather forecast in the morning, and if the sun is supposed to shine, I load the machine.

Really? That would be too much effort for me. I load the appliances when I want or need to, not based on a weather forecast. That doesn’t mean I don’t like saving money on energy or wouldn’t prefer to run appliances when electricity is generated from solar panels.

motorradsilke schrieb:

Not to mention that I can only wash one load a day, and if we have weather like in December/January, then I can’t wash for three weeks at all.

That’s a misconception (by the way, a classic). Nothing will stop you from washing your laundry whenever you want, with or without energy management systems (EMS).