[RE-wrenches] SunBandit Hybrid Solar Water Heater

[Jason Szumlanski]

In Hurricane central here, we constantly have people looking for energy
solutions when the lights go out. They might see this as a reasonable
trade-off. Regarding the obvious problem with accounting and control of the
grid energy used, the solution could be as simple as a mechanical timer,
but that can hurt the customer experience and reduce overall satisfaction.
More advanced controls would sure be cost prohibitive. It's tough the have
your cake and eat it, too.

If this had an automatic transfer switch integrated that switched the
inverters to grid-tie when the setpoint temperature has been reached, we
would have something a bit more interesting. Of course, that increases the
complexity of the permitting and installation.


Jason Szumlansk
i

Fafco Solar



On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 9:26 PM, Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power
Systems <larry at starlightsolar.com> wrote:

> 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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