Frostbite [RE-wrenches]

[Joel Davidson]

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Hello Travis,
What is the unoccupied cabin's daily electric consumption without freeze
protection and what is the daily consumption with freeze protection active?
Joel Davidson

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar ozsolar at ipa.net
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 21:43:49 -0600
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: Frostbite [RE-wrenches]


Hi Jeff,

I've been tinkering with the diversion load control feature on a MX60.  We
have a customer with a rarely used off grid hunting cabin.  Don't laugh too
hard when I say this but they have a 240v electric water.  At least I
replaced the 4500 watt element with a 1500 watt.  The customer refused any
suggestions of propane and the system was large enough that it can support
it.

You might consider this set up or some variation of it.  The customer
doesn't want to winterize the bathroom so I installed baseboards which are
hooked up the water heater which is in the super insulated bathroom.  I have
a stat set @ 40f for freeze protection.  It's hooked up to circulating pump
that moves water from the water heater through the baseboards.  

I knew I was throwing a bunch of energy away as the system was in float so
long.  So I've paralleled a 2nd stat set @ 65f that is controlled by a time
delay relay that is hooked up the AUX output of the MX60.  So once the MX60
hits the bulk voltage it turns on the time delay relay which is set @ 4 hrs
to allow the batteries to do a full absorption.  After 4 hrs the time delay
relay closes, if it's colder then 65f in the bathroom the pump turns on and
in a few minutes the water heater kicks on.  The battery voltage gets pulled
down then which turns the AUX relay off which then get the array back up to
full output.  This way I'm using a lot more of the energy even if it is just
to keep an unused bathroom warmer.  The trick was the time delay relay.

So far it's working.  I left a temp data logger (similar to a HOBO) up there
so we'll see just what's going on when I get a chance to look at the data.
I'm sure I'll still need to do some playing with the timing and voltage
settings but the concept is sound.


Best,

Travis Creswell
Ozark Energy Services


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