I have a currently ~3kW Solar array supplying an Off Grid inverter. (which does have a mains charger, but can't export to Grid)
I would like to heat water with excess Solar.
I have a CT on the Mains Charger supply, so I can see when there is no Utility draw (or very little, the AEOTEC Home Energy Monitor I use reports 6W, when there is no demand)
I can't measure Grid export as the Load controller, like a normal Solar diverter would, Eddi, Immersun etc. so probably need to fabricate something
I would like ideally to control the heater so it uses all the spare Solar (within reason!)
At the moment my Solar inverter just idles the Panels, when there is no AC demand, and the batteries are full.
So I would need some kind of PWM Speed/Load controller that increase the load until the Mains charger starts feeding, then back the load off a bit, so realistically, it would need to maintain a Small AC Charger current, as it won't go to zero or below. Say, 20W +/- 10W as the control range.
Anyone know of something off the shelf that could do this?
thanks
I would like to heat water with excess Solar.
I have a CT on the Mains Charger supply, so I can see when there is no Utility draw (or very little, the AEOTEC Home Energy Monitor I use reports 6W, when there is no demand)
I can't measure Grid export as the Load controller, like a normal Solar diverter would, Eddi, Immersun etc. so probably need to fabricate something
I would like ideally to control the heater so it uses all the spare Solar (within reason!)
At the moment my Solar inverter just idles the Panels, when there is no AC demand, and the batteries are full.
So I would need some kind of PWM Speed/Load controller that increase the load until the Mains charger starts feeding, then back the load off a bit, so realistically, it would need to maintain a Small AC Charger current, as it won't go to zero or below. Say, 20W +/- 10W as the control range.
Anyone know of something off the shelf that could do this?
thanks