[RE-wrenches] SunBandit Hybrid Solar Water Heater

[Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems]

That was one of my thoughts. It must be very advanced control to know when NOT to use utility power. Of course one could switch off the grid power….but then how well does it function without it?

Just add a few more sub $1 per watt PV modules, a high efficiency electric water heater and let the inverters do the job. And of course there is always propane.

If anyone installs one of these, let us know.

Larry

On Oct 3, 2013, at 6:16 PM, jay peltz <jay at asis.com> wrote:

Hi Jason

I would only add that this continues the issue with single tank solar/ grid combos
IE it's hard to make sure the heat is coming from solar, as the tank has the thermostat from the grid side as well. 

It's a solution still looking for a problem. 

Jay

Peltz power




On Oct 3, 2013, at 1:13 PM, Jason Szumlanski <jason at fafcosolar.com> wrote:

> Anyone else getting inundated with SunBandit Hybrid Solar Water Heating System marketing emails? Any first impressions? Here are my initial thoughts:
> 
> Pros - provides hot water in utility outages, no interconnection hassles, possibly easier permitting hurdles, eliminates moving parts in active SDHW systems
> Cons - no grid-tie, any excess energy produced is wasted, AHJs won't know how to categorize equipment for permitting and may chargesolar water heating and PV permits and inspections
> 
> I haven't dug too deep, but one strange thing I think I saw on a spec sheet was that the "micro-AC Grid" (aka microinverter) is UL 1703. If that is the case, how does the PV continue to provide water heating in a utility outage? What I really don't understand is why there is a need for a microinverter at all? Why not just use a DC element? I guess a microinverter, despite minor efficiency losses, is cheaper than a load controller.
> 
> Jason Szumlanski
> Fafco Solar
> _______________________________________________

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