Solar Panel immersion heater automatic switch.

[yellowvanman]

Worcester
I've had a look at your link and some of your news articles, can you explain fiurther on the following:

'so once the water is hot, it will then send the excess power to a storage radiator, whilst still constantly monitoring the immersion to ensure a full tank of hot water'

How does it monitor the immersion in such a way?

 

[Worcester]

Aha, it knows if it is drawing power on not - it also monitors when trying to send power to the proportionally controlled circuit wether any is going there, if it isn't it will then send it to the second load, and then every minute go back and check to see if the immersion needs it - so if the immersion (or primary load doesn;t need it) it could either send a proportionally controlled power to another resitive load, or switch on a de-stratification pump, then send the power back to the immersion when it is ready.


Simples as Sergei would say

 

[Worcester]

I can see what you're saying but wouldn't it be easier to just have your oil boiler programmed as normal, if the tank temp is low then the tank stat will call for heat from the boiler anyway.

Yes that would work fine as well.

 

[Glynn Fletcher]

Hello Everyone, new to the forum,my first post.
I have recently had a 4kw PV array fitted to my roof and want some kind of immersion heater switch to use up the "spare" power rather than let it go back, unpaid for, to the grid. I have read about various ones that use 1 and 1.5 Kw immersion heaters but a recent one called SolarImmersion (mark 3) seems far superior. This lets you keep the 3Kw immersion heater and diverts ALL the unused power. Does anyone have one fitted or know anything about them, they are £250 which seems a lot but compared with the PV array on the roof it seems quite cheap. Thanks for reading.
Glynn.

 

[Trader9]

Hi Glynn

Welcome to the forum. I have built my own diverter and you can to for less than £100. Last year I diverted more than 1MWh into my 3kW immersion heater. Go to the Talking Solar web site for construction details and links to the OpenEnergyMoniter site where the system came from. Only a handfull of components are required and PCB's are available.

Regards, Trader9.

 

[hophead]

Hello, I have recently installed a SolarImmersion mark III and very pleased with its operation. It works with my existing 3kW heater and simply uses all power that would otherwise been exported. Have not done the sums, no real data on how much hot water costs me, to figure out how long/short the payback period is but hate wasting free energy. Regards Bob

 

[Glynn Fletcher]

Hi, thanks very much trader9, I've read all about your "invention" and am very impressed. The thing is, although I am quite OK with wiring a 13 amp plug the equipment you describe may as well come out of the TARDIS. I am possibly older than your Grandad and all the valve theory I did at college seems a bit old fashioned now. The next post from Hophead really filled me with a good feeling that I should buy the SolarImmersion. If you could build one for just less than half of the cost, brilliant! If you can't build one then buying is the only option and at least this will be guaranteed for a year. Thank you both for your imputs.
Glynn.

 

[Warlord2001c]

Immersun installed by Worcester as part of our 4kw system on 08/03... Hot tank of water pretty much every day so far (excluding the one March day we were covered in snow!)... 37kWh in my tank instead of the grid and GCH water cycle running once a day now instead of twice and sometimes not even that depending on our hot water usage.

 

[Glynn Fletcher]

Now the only problem I have is do I buy a SolarImmersion or a Immersun. If the two who have had them installed are both happy I am definately going to take the plunge. £250 or £350. does it really matter what's a hundred quid when the savings are so good.
Thanks to all,
Glynn.

 

[danesol]

Now the only problem I have is do I buy a SolarImmersion or a Immersun. If the two who have had them installed are both happy I am definately going to take the plunge. £250 or £350. does it really matter what's a hundred quid when the savings are so good.
Thanks to all,
Glynn.

Just to get up to speed on this thread, before you get comfortable thinking its a decision based on just two units - there is another to consider :smiley2:

Intelligent Immersion.

again at around the 200 ish mark......

 

[Glynn Fletcher]

Thanks very much to Danesol. I've read about it and sent for details. I'm glad I found this forum. Now I can hear the inverter fan going full belt, I'm generating just over 3Kw and using hardly any. I hate paying for electricity but I hate giving it away more. Looking forward to when I can sit back in a hot bath with a can of Newcastle Brown.
Glynn.

 

[Earthstore]

put the kettle on....

 

[Glynn Fletcher]

Just heard back from inrelligent immersion. Very nice letter and lots of information. I think I will go for this one . They are passing on my enquiry to their wholesaller and then he will contact me with prices etc. I will of course put them on here when I get them.
Glynn

 

[Glynn Fletcher]

After reading all about the above 3 types I have gone for the one Danesol suggested, the Intelligent Immersion. This seem the best one on offer and I bought it last night for £250.00. The fitting is, I am assured, incredibly simple and then just forget about it. I'll give an update later when I receive it and it's been working for a bit. Thanks to everyone for their input.
Glynn

 

[hophead]

Hello Glynn, Good luck with the Intelligent Immersion and look forward to further reports. Hopefully my Solar Immersion will be just as reliable, certainly made the most of yesterdays sun. Bob