<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=windows-1252"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi Wrenches,<div>Now that the cost of modules has come down so much, has anyone out there experimented with solar <i>electric </i>water<i> </i>heating? As in: direct connecting a short series string of PV modules to a tank -style electric water heater with an element of an appropriate voltage and wattage rating…?</div><div> </div><div>A off-grid customer of mine who is also an electrical engineer has a situation that seems ideal for trying this idea out: he has a gas-fired tankless water heater and a water source that is very cold year-round. The idea is to take a 30 or 40 gal electric tank heater, switch out one of the the 240V elements to something like a 96VDC, 1000W element (difficult to find, but available), and direct connect 3 or 4 60-cell modules in series (with a disconnect and high-limit control of course). The tank would then serve to preheat the cold feed to the tankless heater. We think we can get a decent daily temperature rise with this setup. Probably not enough to heat the tank to a normal DHW temperature, but certainly enough to offset a good deal of propane consumption, and all for what I predict will be considerably less cost than a small solar thermal system.</div><div><br></div><div>Has anyone tried this? I'd appreciate any insights or opinions.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Thanks</div><div><div><div apple-content-edited="true">-Luke Christy</div><div apple-content-edited="true"><br>NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional™: Certification #031409-25 <br>NABCEP Certified Solar Heating Installer™: Certification #ST032611-03 <br>CoSEIA Certified PV Installer <br><br>Solar Gain Services, LLC<br>PO Box 531<br>Monte Vista, CO. 81144<br><a href="mailto:SGSRenewables@Gmail.com">SGSRenewables@Gmail.com</a><br>719.588.3044<br>www.sgsrenewables.com<br><br> <br><br><br><br><br><br><br></div><br></div></div></body></html>