1kw immersion | Solar PV | Feed-in tariff

solarpvman

I have a 4kw solar PV array; I've had it for a couple of years and very nice it is too. I understand pretty much all the aspects relating to how it works.

HOWEVER

My question is has anyone had any success with adding a new 1KW immersion element (for heating hot water) and some sort of clever switching electrical device that can activate it when the system is generating a SURPLUS.

Ideally I would like to be able to leave my existing 3KW immersion element as a boost-backup.

solarpvman

BUMP!!

C'mon guys if you have a solar system and get this working it will save you literally hundreds of pounds a year in HW heating bills!! It uses free electricity...just got to find the kit...

sheffield_lad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3857093

[Deleted User]

With all the proportional load controllers on the market there is no need to change the element.

solarpvman

jeepjunkie wrote: »

With all the proportional load controllers on the market there is no need to change the element.

I've asked the guy on the other thread for the info, ty.

what is the proportional load controller please? url to point to one you use would be great. to be clear tho it will still power my 3kw immersion? albeit at a slower rate - presumably proportionately to the amount of spare surplus at any one time? if so that's even better than the solution I was aiming for with the 1kw new immersion...ty!!

[Deleted User]

solarpvman wrote: »

I've asked the guy on the other thread for the info, ty.

what is the proportional load controller please? url to point to one you use would be great. to be clear tho it will still power my 3kw immersion? albeit at a slower rate - presumably proportionately to the amount of spare surplus at any one time? if so that's even better than the solution I was aiming for with the 1kw new immersion...ty!!

I've had this from April

http://solarimmersion.co.uk/

Also looked at the Immersun but to expensive.

Solar PV has heated our tank 99% of the time since install.

The winter months will be poor tho...

solarpvman

so the device at http://solarimmersion.co.uk/ called SolarImmersion is £199. There must also be an install fee from an electrician.

the financial claims probably are genuine IF it works. The piece of electronic kit I imagine are pretty simple. So it's probably quite expensive compared to the cost of manufacture yet the ROI case must be good. Maybe a 2 year payback depending on usage?

the variability of the delivery of surplus power to the EXISTING immersion is great as it would reduce the cost of installing and buying a separate lower powered immersion

ANYWAY: Are there alternatives? Has anyone else also used this product successfully? Any drawbacks?

I'm just nervous about spending £200++

old_grouser

solarpvman wrote: »

so the device at http://solarimmersion.co.uk/ called SolarImmersion is £199. There must also be an install fee from an electrician.

the financial claims probably are genuine IF it works. The piece of electronic kit I imagine are pretty simple. So it's probably quite expensive compared to the cost of manufacture yet the ROI case must be good. Maybe a 2 year payback depending on usage?

the variability of the delivery of surplus power to the EXISTING immersion is great as it would reduce the cost of installing and buying a separate lower powered immersion

ANYWAY: Are there alternatives? Has anyone else also used this product successfully? Any drawbacks?

I'm just nervous about spending £200++

Hi,
I had one fitted (by tame electrician) in May, since when it has supplied nearly all our hot water. It then cost £250, plus about £50 to fit. It works well for us. You'd have to do your own sums to calculate the rate of return for you, but the satisfaction of using most of the power your roof provides is considerable. It may help to think of it as quite a small proportion of the cost of the whole solar system, and it may help if you pay for it with a FIT cheque from a previous quarter...
The more expensive Immersun has more bells and whistles, and looks prettier, but so far as I can see does the same job.
HTH
O G :cool:
3.29kwp SSE, South Downs