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<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">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 </font>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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Hilton<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Hilton Dier III
Renewable Energy Design
Partner, Solar Gain LLC
453 East Hill Rd.
Middlesex, VT 05602</pre>
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