Heating Your Water With Solar PV

[lordshipmonkey]

Hi all

Was looking for any advice / personal experiences from people who have installed solar PV to their immersion heater. This would be of particular interest should it have been done to a terrace house in ED.

Many thanks

[Fitzgeraldo]

Installed roof panels with battery approximately one year ago. As such low rates available for any excess power generated when fed back into grid, I looked to store this power by diverting excess into heating water via immersion heater. There is a device that can do this called an 'iBooster'. However, I was advised against installation. This device is only suitable (so I understand) when no battery storage is involved. Alternative scheme is to fit timer to immersion heater and activate during hours of maximum power generation (data can be gathered from monitor that came with the installation). This approach may be a bit fiddly, certainly if one is not around during the day to override timer. Perhaps best to accept derisory rate for excess generation from your electricity supplier.

[pablogrande]

there's some interesting developments in dual use panels that have both electrical generation and then hot water underneath, from what I have seen this makes the electrical side more efficient as it draws heat away from the cells

[Lynne]

Don't forget to add extras like regular serving costs to your consideration. I'm a bit biased, we had so much trouble with ours that I'd never have them installed again.

[Peckham Park]

I have the myenergi Eddi which is good. During summer months you don’t have to use gas to heat your water (if you have an immersion tank). With all these things it’s not all about saving money, but trying to be self sufficient and eco.

[lordshipmonkey]

Thanks for your comments some good food for thought. Really helpful.