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This system has had zero downtime since installed. I expanded it last summer adding 2500 watts of panels and maxed my inverters to 14 on the string. I regularly produce 2.8-3 kw for 6 hours a day. Panels aren't facing any specific direction so outpul is lower but everything is used and so cheap...

I also noticed that the load terminals of the low amp victron units are "short circuit proof" according to the manual. I read a few places that the load terminals can handle whatever the amperage is of the rated unit ie. 15 amp can use 15 amp load and 20 amp can use 20 amp load. So possibly just...

I have 3,000 watts of grid tie DIY and my electric bill is regularly over $500 monthly. Electric everything so no propane or gas and on a private well. Mother in law house is on the same meter so 2 washers 2 driers ect... if i could just get out of tier 2 power i always say... LOL

I figure a 100 gal water heater is a really inexpensive battery that can be charged during non peak hours and can be used during peak hours. Right now we have 6 people and a single 40 gallon water heater. Having more capacity and a faster tank reheat time is almost the most important part...

Ohh I did not know you meant open voltage. Wattage would be calculated under load so it would be 0 watts @ 40v or 8amps @ 36v which aattage could then be calculated. Seems like you are making quite a bit of heat after reading through your post. I am going a similar route but trying to get it...

Im not trying to give offense but a solar panel with 40v and 15 amp would be a 600watt panel. If your numbers are 40v and 45amp between all 3 panels the math says you have 1800w total panel wattage available. Also if the heating element in fact reads 30 volts and is drawing 20 amps your element...

OK I think that I wasn't being clear so I will try to make more sense now that I'm on a desktop. With my 30v panels and a 36v element it will be hard to match the resistance (ohms) to actually get full power. The math is pretty simple. The element is rated for 36 volts and has a resistance of...

Ok I am back at it. Picked up 10(ten) 4 year old never used panels from an installer for very little money. 30 volts 9 amps 255ish watts. I picked up a 36v heating element and plan to hook up directly while i work on a plan to get my panel voltage to a steady 12ish volts for the 600 watt...

Relays are some of your best options. They have been used for decades in vehicles and can be found inexpensivly. If you want to do something custom sometimes you have to build something custom. bonus is that you would still have nothing more than a switch on the dash or wherever showing inside.

"Bunn not Bitter" The Bunn brand coffee pots make a full 10-12 cups in less than 3 minutes. They also continuously keep the water hot at all times. Used one for years and was the first person in the office every morning. Turn off the alarm, grounds, water its going. Walk into the office turn on...

Hello sorry for the slow reply. Array voltage will be 29.13 volts. I have 12 panels 228w each approx 9 uears old. I think I am going to go with a 36v element rated at 1200 watts and run at panel voltage. I want to be able to use this for actual power production after 4pm as well. I think i will...

I will just add that i have thought about going both ways. Victron makes some nice dc-dc converters for lowering voltage as well and they can do crazy amperage.

I would really like to know the downsides to the boost converter. So far the only thing i see wrong is it uses some power and may fail over the years. The up sides are the element ohms are perfectly matched throughout the daily cycle of the panel. Also in cloudy weather i still produce the panel...

Ok plans evolve over time. I am leaning towards the boost converter seen in another thread since i cant seem to easily match panels to elements. As this evolves i will update. Looking to add approx 2750 watts of used solar. This will heat water during daylight hours and then i will have a timer...

I know its been a while. I picked up a 100 gallon rheem commercial natural gas heater for cheap that had shipping damage. Retail is well over $3k for this particular unit. I just finished testing it for holding pressure and all is well. It uses 2" water inlets and outlets 2 on each side. Ace...

I like this solution. I am going to try it another way but if all fails i will come back to this. My 600 watt heating element came in today and frankly heats water in a pitcher @300 watt way faster than expected. This is going to be fun!

yeah awesome to see that other people are doing the same thing. you know what they say. Smart people think alike but i always joke "Smart people think like me" :cool:

That would be the ultimate in efficiency but ultimately not the most efficient use of my dollars. Solar is about 15 cents a watt used where i live. I have acreage so space is no concern. My pool is not near my freezer, my air conditioner is not near my pool. I can just keep up the solar sprawl...

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32 Heating hours to boiling (when suns up and producing) with dual 600 watt elements, 100 gallon tank and 55 degree inlet temps. Caveat, that's to boiling temp at ambient pressure. My well water system is always at 40psi or higher so there is some head room since water under pressure boils at...

I like that battery isolator/relay. I plan to use the native panel voltage (whatever it ends up being) I'm not a fan of making heat to convert something when I am trying to make heat. As for the dual 600 watt elements not being able to overheat a tank you are probably correct under normal usage...

Ok so i spoke with an HVAC engineer and he was loving the idea. I can use what is called a snap disk thermostat. i would need a temperature rise open snap disk thermostat ($6) that is normally closed to control a 40 amp relay($12). The snap disk thermostats are AC powered. I found an AC powered...

Here we go, just snapped them for ya! :) like o said i appreciate the feedback but im pretty set on DC solar heating, just trying to make it reliable and safe. This is nothing new for livestock tanks. Im no visionary Im doing what other people have already done with my own twist. David Poz...

I understand what you are saying but i will address the reasons in order that you stated. Low power from solar can be used over time to heat the same as high power heating but with more duration. example: 4,000 watt heats 40 gal in 30 min. 2000 watt in 1 hour. 1,000 watt in 2 hour and finally...

Ahh ok well this will be a 100% Dc standalone system. I ordered a 12v heating element for a spare 10 gal hot water heater i have sitting around. I will start with a hot water hose bib outside with no safety other than the tank blow off. work up from there.

i never used a mini split before but can they handle 40amps or more? Right now im thinking 2 x 600 watt elements one upper and one lower but each on its own system to keep Amp handling under control. $12 on amazon for Dc-Dc relays that handle 40 amps and 60 volts for the circuit and 3-32v for...

yeah so i have been seeing inexpensive 140° thermal switches for a few dollars. Im thinking something along the lines of this on the tank running off a voltage regulator from the panels and controlling a contactor ? or relay? that is between the panels and the heating element. Not sure of my...

Sorry For the Delay in getting this completed Photo up here. I have been running this for over a month. It has averaged 8Kwh each day last month. Now that its just sunny all day production is at 10Kwh or a little over each day. I monitor the system with a wireless baby monitor that sits in my...

Hello friends, I have completed my Grid-Tie, Cheap and Simple project. Overall a success and makes me want to move on to something with storage. With that in mind I present my newest project. DC electric solar hot water PRE-heating. I will not be off grid as I like grid stability but I will...

Did the same thing with a riding lawn mower... end of season just plugged in and walked away... spring time... turned the key that was still in it and after about 20 seconds of cranking its ALIVE... then just brush off all the oak leaves and air up tires. Cheapest battery insurance ever for lead...

Well, as of today the rest of my inverters and panels are installed. I had to wait for a break in the rain. It should be raining for another week or so. I average about 25% of production capacity when it's raining which is better than I expected. Other people have seen my system and love that it...

So to be clear some silicone lubricants can hurt silicone because of the other ingredients in the lubricant to keep the silicone vicious... Those other ingredients attack solid silicone and break it down. There is an alternative called Trico View, more costly but it actually bonds to the glass...

The inverters are attached to each pair of panels. They are string inverters so they plug into each other to make a line. I just ran 12/2 romex with ground from the 15amp 220v breaker I added. From the breaker I ran the wire to an outdoor rated disconnect. Next I ran it to a box behind the wall...

The inverter is micro replus. Sold on amazon $60ish Its a closeout deal by discount jungle. :) I'm done buying them as I have what I need. If anyone help with them I can talk you through it. 220 watts out 22v-55v in. Mppt, rapid shut down, ul listed, all that jazz...

oh no, to be clear I understand how the system works thats being explained... I was talking about the theory behind the sinusoidal waves being spikey or wavey and if it really made a difference in how much power can be sent over the exact same line with different frequencies. Imagine taking it...