4 Solar panels direct to hot water heater element.

  • 4 Solar panels direct to hot water heater element.

    Posted by MartHale7 on March 14, 2023 at 4:52 pm

    In the midst of testing solar water heating I became very impressed with heating the 40 gal of water with 4 solar panels hooked directly to a hot water heater element ( no battery, no inverter ).

    I decided to move down to 20 gal of water, and so far this is the climb in temp in F.

    MartHale7 replied 1 year, 6 months ago 7 Members · 17 Replies
  • 17 Replies
  • SLINGSHOT

    Member
    March 14, 2023 at 6:38 pm

    What is the wattage of your solar panels?

    • MartHale7

      Member
      March 14, 2023 at 10:06 pm

      34 v

      • Tank

        Member
        April 10, 2023 at 3:27 am

        That’s volts

      • MartHale7

        Member
        April 10, 2023 at 8:10 am

        Panels are rated at 260 watts, but I am seeing 220 watts.

  • BiggKidd

    Member
    March 14, 2023 at 7:07 pm

    Pretty cool isn’t it!

    • MartHale7

      Member
      March 14, 2023 at 10:08 pm

      Warm actually 😉 It finished at 139 degrees. I have fixed up a small pump to move the the water inside to my bath tub…..

      • BiggKidd

        Member
        March 14, 2023 at 11:56 pm

        If you’re using a standard hot water heater tank the over pressure / overheat valve will cut lose about 175*. Ask me how I know! lol

      • MartHale7

        Member
        March 15, 2023 at 2:39 pm

        Hmm, I Don’t want to know 😉 HA HA HA

  • Magnoliahomestead

    Member
    March 14, 2023 at 9:06 pm

    Also interested in the wattage. Thinking also of trying with coiled copper for a preheater. Anyone have experience with the preheating method?

    • MartHale7

      Member
      March 14, 2023 at 10:09 pm

      Rated at 260 watts, but used panels so far I have seen 220 watts out of them.

      • WillBkool

        Member
        March 17, 2023 at 3:35 am

        Most panels, even new ones don’t get their rated power. The testing is done under ideal temps and light conditions, perfect angle, etc. If you get ~75% of their rating, you’re doing good and it seems like you are.

        I’ve been looking into doing this and scavenged a 30 gallon electric water heater, and bought some DC rated heating elements. I don’t live at my off-grid property yet, but when I do I’m goning to experiment. Thanks for the info so far.

        I also bought a couple of the solar water heating panels and will try to incorporate them. Hot showers will be a great luxury off-grid. lol

      • MartHale7

        Member
        March 17, 2023 at 1:03 pm

        Yeah, I built this system for a backup to my backup. I have a propane hot water system that works wonderful. when I buy solar panels I buy extra so I don’t have to clean them, I just factor the dirt in 😉

  • NCtherapist

    Member
    March 15, 2023 at 1:49 am

    That’s amazing!

  • MartHale7

    Member
    March 15, 2023 at 2:37 pm

    Results of first test. I find my make shift water heater needs better insulation, but if I take a shower with this at peak I can get the best value out of this.

    Temp peaked at 139 deg F, for 20 gal, per the data I am reading I am putting in 800 – 900 watts of power to get this temp change. It is good to have a baseline of what is possible.

  • Tank

    Member
    March 18, 2023 at 5:06 pm

    I want to do this… you can buy DC water heater elements for a regular water heater… I’m not real familiar with solar yet … but I just bought a Renogy Lycan 5000 and 6 320watt solar panels with an extra battery and I’m gonna learn how to hook it up.

    • SLINGSHOT

      Member
      March 18, 2023 at 5:31 pm

      They got some videos on you tube that might help you with whatever setup your trying to accomplish.

      I’ve learned a few things from them.

    • MartHale7

      Member
      March 18, 2023 at 11:22 pm

      Welcome to the club. I have been experimenting with this for some time. After experimenting, I am starting to think the cheap snail trail panels from san tan solar hooked in series would work like a champ for this. Please share with use your progress.

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