[RE-wrenches] PV-direct electric water heating

[Hilton Dier III]

A friend of mine lives off grid with PV and wind. He added a shunt-type 
controller to his battery bank and connected it to a DC heating element 
in his hot water tank. Below a set voltage the element is dormant. When 
the battery bank hits a high voltage (at the end of a particularly sunny 
day or during a windy spell) the element comes on. That way, instead of 
just a PWM shutoff and wasted energy, he gets some benefit.

I wouldn't deliberately install PV just for hot water, but in an off 
grid situation where the excess would go to waste, it makes sense.

Hilton

-- 
Hilton Dier III
Renewable Energy Design
Partner, Solar Gain LLC
453 East Hill Rd.
Middlesex, VT 05602

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