Australian Politics Forum - A real example of the all electric house

lee

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A real example of the all electric house
Apr 25^th, 2026 at 1:19pm

[quote]Victorians transitioning from gas exacerbates growing problem of undervoltage

Marie Slako moved into her Northcote [Melbourne] home two years ago, attracted to the property for its rooftop solar and partial conversion to electricity-powered heating and appliances.

“I’d like to get off fossil fuels,” Ms Slako, who previously worked for energy distributor AusNet, said. “And also gas is really expensive. The winter price, it hurts.”

But shortly after moving in, problems started.

First, Ms Slako noticed she could only use one hotplate at a time on her induction cooktop. Then she found the microwave would not heat food at dinnertime, but would burn everything at other times.

This month, she discovered her split system would not heat the house.

…

Induction cooktops were not working. EV chargers were disconnecting, leaving cars without battery. Heaters were struggling to push out hot air.

…

Undervoltage issues were occurring primarily in older areas of the network, such as inner city and older suburban Melbourne, and older urban areas of Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo.

....

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-22/victoria-undervoltage-melbourne-gas-elect...

Old infrastructure just can't cope. Roll Eyes

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« Last Edit: Apr 25^th, 2026 at 7:37pm by Bobby. »

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Bobby.

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Re: A real example of the all electric house
Reply #1 - Apr 25^th, 2026 at 3:48pm

I know Melbourne in Winter -
nothing compares to a gas heater in my living room.
I wouldn't be without mine.
Even on one bar out of 3 it heats the place up just nicely -
electric heaters cannot compare to the power of it.

I remember one place I rented for a short time in Winter -
while I was searching for a place to buy -
it had a reverse cycle aircon to heat the place up.
On cold winter nights it would switch itself off inside.
I'd go outside and see the condenser had turned into a block of ice -
which was detected as a failure so just the outside fan would keep going
trying to melt the ice but it couldn't do it - even for hours.

It wasn't a faulty unit -
reverse cycle aircons can't work when the temp goes below 4 degrees C outside.
They even struggle when it's 6 to 8 degrees outside.

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« Last Edit: Apr 25^th, 2026 at 7:37pm by Bobby. »

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lee Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 21667 Gender:	Re: A real example of the all electric house Reply #2 - Apr 25^th, 2026 at 7:18pm Actually about the UK, but fits.
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Sir Eoin O Fada Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 3904 New England, NSW Gender:	Re: A real example of the all electric house Reply #3 - Aug 22^nd, 2026 at 2:31pm The only electric hot plates that I found to be 100% reliable were in ships or diesel electric locomotives; and were slower than a freshly cleaned shovel held in the firebox door. At the moment I’m enjoying a Stringybark open fire.
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Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 42382 Gender:	Re: A real example of the all electric house Reply #4 - Aug 22^nd, 2026 at 6:11pm CitiPower, which said the issue was something called undervoltage. undervoltage (brownouts is really bad.) burns out electric motors.. wonder how much to go off grid ? what would you need ? 60Kw battery ? lots of solar panels , wind added would be good
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lee Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 21667 Gender:	Re: A real example of the all electric house Reply #5 - Aug 22^nd, 2026 at 7:08pm Sprintcyclist wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2026 at 6:11pm: wonder how much to go off grid ? what would you need ? It depends on your usage pattern. Shower midmorning, cook between 12 and 4, watch tv on your battery.
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Sprintcyclist

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Re: A real example of the all electric house
Reply #6 - Aug 22^nd, 2026 at 10:51pm

Sprintcyclist wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2026 at 6:11pm:

CitiPower, which said the issue was something called undervoltage.

undervoltage (brownouts is really bad.) burns out electric motors..

wonder how much to go off grid ? what would you need ?

60Kw battery ? lots of solar panels , wind added would be good

' ....... wonder how much to go off grid ? what would you need ?

60Kw battery ? lots of solar panels , wind added would be good ....... '

Ah, what if you have an EV, there is a 60 KW battery.
Perhaps a 20 KW house battery, as many solar panels as you can fit on.
use the EV as a 2nd battery for the house, usually charge it from your own solar panels, you can always fast charge the car at a local supermarket , drive it back home and you have another 3 days electricity.

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lee

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Re: A real example of the all electric house
Reply #7 - Aug 23^rd, 2026 at 2:20pm

Sprintcyclist wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2026 at 10:51pm:

Sprintcyclist wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2026 at 6:11pm:

CitiPower, which said the issue was something called undervoltage.

undervoltage (brownouts is really bad.) burns out electric motors..

wonder how much to go off grid ? what would you need ?

60Kw battery ? lots of solar panels , wind added would be good

' ....... wonder how much to go off grid ? what would you need ?

60Kw battery ? lots of solar panels , wind added would be good ....... '

Ah, what if you have an EV, there is a 60 KW battery.
Perhaps a 20 KW house battery, as many solar panels as you can fit on.
use the EV as a 2nd battery for the house, usually charge it from your own solar panels, you can always fast charge the car at a local supermarket , drive it back home and you have another 3 days electricity.

So off grid, wich suggests somewhat remote, and close to a recharging facility. Roll Eyes

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