# Scheduling my bigger devices to run on solar

**URL:** <https://community.homey.app/t/scheduling-my-bigger-devices-to-run-on-solar/118750>\
**Category:** Questions & Help\
**Created:** [October 21, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/scheduling-my-bigger-devices-to-run-on-solar/118750 "2024-10-21T20:59:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rik\_Elsenaar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/rik_elsenaar/32/72066_2.png) [@Rik\_Elsenaar](https://community.homey.app/u/Rik_Elsenaar)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/scheduling-my-bigger-devices-to-run-on-solar/118750/1 "2024-10-21T20:59:53Z")

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Hey homeys👋

Im looking to start scheduling my larger devices so i can run them on the times that my solar panels generate the most energy. But im kinda stuck on where i can get the info from that i need.

I know what the energy consumption is per device but the problem is that i want to calculate when the best time is to start the device.  
For example:  
When: the time is 07:00  
Then: Send notification: start the dishwasher at 12:00

And calculate this for every device.

But now for the question, where can i get the information for the amount of sun i get in the area and the time? the rest i could try to figure out but this is where i get stuck right now.

Hope you guys could help me out!

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**Author:** ![PeterHa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@PeterHa](https://community.homey.app/u/PeterHa)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/scheduling-my-bigger-devices-to-run-on-solar/118750/2 "2024-10-21T21:41:40Z")

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Hi Rik,  
I don’t quite understand why you want to start these devices at a certain time. Why don’t you start the dishwasher when there is enough solar power available?

I’m using a mini switch beside the dishwasher to switch off the plug of the dischwascher, and using a flow like this…  
WHEN power grid export is greater than 1800 watts  
AND plug of dishwasher is off  
THEN switch the plug on

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**Author:** ![Rik\_Elsenaar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/rik_elsenaar/32/72066_2.png) [@Rik\_Elsenaar](https://community.homey.app/u/Rik_Elsenaar)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/scheduling-my-bigger-devices-to-run-on-solar/118750/3 "2024-10-21T21:49:42Z")

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Im working almost all the time when the sun is out and all our devices have a wait till start function, so in the morning before i leave i want to setup all the devices, so they can run when the most solar power is available

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**Author:** ![Rik\_Elsenaar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/rik_elsenaar/32/72066_2.png) [@Rik\_Elsenaar](https://community.homey.app/u/Rik_Elsenaar)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/scheduling-my-bigger-devices-to-run-on-solar/118750/4 "2024-10-21T21:51:15Z")

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My washing machine, dryer and the dishwasher already have smart plugs so i know when they are running i only want to know when the best time is to start the devices

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**Author:** ![PeterHa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@PeterHa](https://community.homey.app/u/PeterHa)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/scheduling-my-bigger-devices-to-run-on-solar/118750/5 "2024-10-21T22:22:46Z")

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Ok, understood. But wouldn’t it be easier if the devices starts automatically when there is enough power?  
Would your washing machine, dryer and dishwasher continue to run when you set a program, start the device and then switch off the plug?

If so, then you can switch on the plug of your device when the defined power consumption in your flow is reached. The device will then switch on when you export enough power.

If that doesn’t work, you can have a look at this app (I don’t use this app).

> **[Solar Forecast](https://homey.app/de-de/app/com.solcast/Solar-Forecast/)**
>
> Forecast Solar production

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rik\_Elsenaar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/rik_elsenaar/32/72066_2.png) [@Rik\_Elsenaar](https://community.homey.app/u/Rik_Elsenaar)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/scheduling-my-bigger-devices-to-run-on-solar/118750/6 "2024-10-21T22:25:33Z")

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Ive never tried that to be honest, i always thought that they would reset themselves, but tomorrow ill try that.

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**Author:** ![PeterHa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@PeterHa](https://community.homey.app/u/PeterHa)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/scheduling-my-bigger-devices-to-run-on-solar/118750/7 "2024-10-22T16:58:39Z")

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For my dryer, washing machine and dishwasher it works that the program continues when the power is interrupted.  
I use this for my flows by switching the plug on again when I have enough solar power.

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**Author:** ![Rogier\_Verheugen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/rogier_verheugen/32/77406_2.png) [@Rogier\_Verheugen](https://community.homey.app/u/Rogier_Verheugen)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/scheduling-my-bigger-devices-to-run-on-solar/118750/8 "2024-10-22T17:51:27Z")

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Hi Rik.

Check out this link.

> [@Wie heeft er mooie flows gebaseerd op de opwekking van zonnepanelen en wil die delen?](https://community.homey.app/t/wie-heeft-er-mooie-flows-gebaseerd-op-de-opwekking-van-zonnepanelen-en-wil-die-delen/10751/43):
>
> Vaatwasser gaat automatisch aan wanneer er 1000 w stroom opgewekt wordt: Ik heb een oude vaatwasser. Wanneer deze aanstaat en je trekt de stekker er uit en er weer in dan gaat de vaatwasser verder waar hij gebleven is. Voor de vaatwasser zit een slimmer stekker die ook stroom meet. In mijn geval een Fibaro smart plug. Tussen 22:00 en 24:00 zegt de Google smart hub in de keuken: “ik heb de vaatwasser van stroom voorzien”. Dit wordt getriggerd door een motion sensor die in de keuken hangt. De …

A bit further you will see a screenshot of my flow

Edit: I watched the screenshot that I posted myself but 😭… je kan er geen soep van koken 🤣

Rogier

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rik\_Elsenaar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/rik_elsenaar/32/72066_2.png) [@Rik\_Elsenaar](https://community.homey.app/u/Rik_Elsenaar)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/scheduling-my-bigger-devices-to-run-on-solar/118750/9 "2024-10-22T19:45:46Z")

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Thanks for the screenshot, and Yes i cant really see what going on but i get the idea!

The problem is that if i take away the power all my devices turn of and do go back to their old program. So the best thing that i can do is delayed start, but that means that i have to roughly know when the best time will be.

I think i need to calculate in a way when the amount of power is produced by adding: the wp of the solar panels, the amount of sun per our…

But that is where my brain stops working
