This is a genius application. Now I'm, thinking about my hot water baseboard heat FURNACE. With the price of oil what is is and the drop in solar pricing, This could be seen as a direct way to pay for the panels . no plumbing .
Thanks for video but I have a question, may be a dumb one: water heaters that using sun energy was invented and on the market since 1891. They use only copper tubes, why now we have to "invent the wheels" with complicate and expensive components to do the same thing?
Yes, but... the copper tube exchangers are quite expensive as well and are prone to developing leaks. We do have a DIY copper tube system for our hot tub and it works great. I had to replace some leaky connectors but other than that we are happy with it. I will eventually get a video out on that system. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for subscribing! Yes we have discussed this with the manufacturer whom is not planning to peruse internet sales. However we purchased ours through their info link at www.cyboenergy.com/company/form.html .
The nice part is the hot water heater is like a big battery, storing hot water through a cloudy day. Also you can put the upper heating element on the grid, at a lower thermostat temp, as a backup. We did this and really like the result…
There is one problem the output of the inverter is too low to fire a 4500 watt element! It wont work unless you replace the elements with either a 12 to 24 volt element then you wouldn't need the inverter. Or replace with a low watt 120 or 240 volt element 230 watts or whatever the low watts are just wont cut it. I dont see the logic in just hooking up a 4500 watt water heater to that low watt inverter. The load of a element would burn up the output of the inverter. An element is low ohms when measured with an ohm meter. The idea is good you just need a low watt element. It would be better to use pipe and pump water to circulate water on your roof and let the sun heat the water. Those kind of systems do work my sister had one and the summer sun heated the water without electricity. Winter sun needed help so electricity was needed. 73
Thank you for your comment. We have been running this system for almost 6 months now with no issues! And we are only using 2 340W panels! The heating elements max out at 4500 W but work just fine at lower wattages.
@@ecohabs4earth ok thats one issue solved. Now how long does it take to heat the water at 340 watts or how many watts does the element get on your system? I know at 4500 watts a tank will be hot after one hour. I like the idea but I need to know if it will meet our needs. I used to heat water in the morning for an hour and a half knowing after one hour the water is well heated and the elements are off. Timers are great but you have to schedule around a timer or manually turn on the hot water. I myself want to solar power my low watt items like lights, refrigerator, TV, well pump (240 volt) and Internet gateways. Where does the unused solar power go. Panels will be damaged if no load is on the panel. Charge controllers prevent this from happening. I got to do more research on the inverter you use to heat water. Some things use too much power to put on small solar arrays. 73
@@subhobroto thanks it's good to know. I guess they wear out when not being used for the ones at work. I do know if you hook the panel directly to a battery the battery will get over charged. But the idea I had was not wasting power let the power go somewhere. I guess the 300 watt elements probably be the best in Florida and the panels would match somewhat if you have 300 watts of solar the 300 watt element would match. I think starting out in solar this is far the best starting place. 73
@@ronb6182 what is the make and model of the panels at work? If it has active electronics in it that could be a reason. Really curious and also can you mention how you know it's worn out? Their power output goes down?
For load matching, to efficiently use the solar power. It can be done directly, but care needs to be used to match the panels to the element otherwise PV energy could be underutilized or overload the element.
@@ecohabs4earthI don't believe you would even need the thermostat but the 4500 watt element has to go. You could put a large array of solar panels to get the watts and volts but the system would cost too much. 73
@@ronb6182without the thermostat, the hot water would expand and explode the water heater or scald and burn your skin if you opened the water before that happened. Please be safe!
I'm just doing research on this stuff I haven't tried anything yet and thanks for your concern. They have elements with a DC thermostat built in. I would go that route, you can control how hot the water is, I think it's 110 to 190 degrees. That brings back my 160 degree setting. When water heaters only had one element you could set the heater to 160 degrees run the heater for only one hour and have hot water all day long. You have to mix shower with more cold water but your bill wasn't 30 dollars more. Back in the seventies. Must be much higher now. 73
In kentucky its illegal to save rain water for your personal use.even on your own property..they want taxes..they still want to charge you for sewer fees..im not making this up
@@kauaikit Yes this could be perceived as a luxury item- but there is a lot to be said for the capability to seamlessly use the grid for solar down times or high demand for hot water. We can hook you up with pricing by emailing us at echhabs4earth@gmail.com
We need this technology for our world. It is safe and less expensive. Thank-you
Thank you for watching!
We have used this shower. IT'S AAZING. Thanks for the videos, Jeff and Nora.
Thanks for watching!!
Off grid livin! Love it, thanks for the info, looking forward to your next video!
Thanks for watching!
Very useful video. My students and I used Cybo inverter for solar tree project. Love the functionality.
Thank you and glad the video was helpful!
@@ecohabs4earth Sorry, I forgot to mention. We did the solar tree project two years ago.
Love this video, thank you so much for the really cool idea ❤
Thank you for your comment! More to come so please subscribe :)
@@ecohabs4earth thank you 😊
This is a genius application. Now I'm, thinking about my hot water baseboard heat FURNACE. With the price of oil what is is and the drop in solar pricing, This could be seen as a direct way to pay for the panels . no plumbing .
Right! Great idea!
@@ecohabs4earth Could preheat the water going back to the boiler.
Thanks for video but I have a question, may be a dumb one: water heaters that using sun energy was invented and on the market since 1891. They use only copper tubes, why now we have to "invent the wheels" with complicate and expensive components to do the same thing?
Yes, but... the copper tube exchangers are quite expensive as well and are prone to developing leaks. We do have a DIY copper tube system for our hot tub and it works great. I had to replace some leaky connectors but other than that we are happy with it. I will eventually get a video out on that system. Thanks for watching!
Guess I am the 101st subscriber. I went to their website, but no pricing information so will stick to my diversion controllers for now.....
Thank you for subscribing! Yes we have discussed this with the manufacturer whom is not planning to peruse internet sales. However we purchased ours through their info link at www.cyboenergy.com/company/form.html .
what is the result in cloudy or foggy weather? I am thinking to attach a large 500 watt panel to heating element via a charge controller or MPPT.
The nice part is the hot water heater is like a big battery, storing hot water through a cloudy day. Also you can put the upper heating element on the grid, at a lower thermostat temp, as a backup. We did this and really like the result…
There is one problem the output of the inverter is too low to fire a 4500 watt element! It wont work unless you replace the elements with either a 12 to 24 volt element then you wouldn't need the inverter. Or replace with a low watt 120 or 240 volt element 230 watts or whatever the low watts are just wont cut it. I dont see the logic in just hooking up a 4500 watt water heater to that low watt inverter. The load of a element would burn up the output of the inverter. An element is low ohms when measured with an ohm meter. The idea is good you just need a low watt element. It would be better to use pipe and pump water to circulate water on your roof and let the sun heat the water. Those kind of systems do work my sister had one and the summer sun heated the water without electricity. Winter sun needed help so electricity was needed. 73
Thank you for your comment. We have been running this system for almost 6 months now with no issues! And we are only using 2 340W panels! The heating elements max out at 4500 W but work just fine at lower wattages.
@@ecohabs4earth ok thats one issue solved. Now how long does it take to heat the water at 340 watts or how many watts does the element get on your system? I know at 4500 watts a tank will be hot after one hour. I like the idea but I need to know if it will meet our needs. I used to heat water in the morning for an hour and a half knowing after one hour the water is well heated and the elements are off. Timers are great but you have to schedule around a timer or manually turn on the hot water. I myself want to solar power my low watt items like lights, refrigerator, TV, well pump (240 volt) and Internet gateways. Where does the unused solar power go. Panels will be damaged if no load is on the panel. Charge controllers prevent this from happening. I got to do more research on the inverter you use to heat water. Some things use too much power to put on small solar arrays. 73
@@ronb6182Ron, panels don't get damaged at no load. You can keep panels disconnected for as long as you like
@@subhobroto thanks it's good to know. I guess they wear out when not being used for the ones at work. I do know if you hook the panel directly to a battery the battery will get over charged. But the idea I had was not wasting power let the power go somewhere. I guess the 300 watt elements probably be the best in Florida and the panels would match somewhat if you have 300 watts of solar the 300 watt element would match. I think starting out in solar this is far the best starting place. 73
@@ronb6182 what is the make and model of the panels at work? If it has active electronics in it that could be a reason. Really curious and also can you mention how you know it's worn out? Their power output goes down?
How much ?
Please Email us at ecohabs4earth@gmail.com for pricing information!
Can't water heaters use DC power? Why the inverter?
For load matching, to efficiently use the solar power. It can be done directly, but care needs to be used to match the panels to the element otherwise PV energy could be underutilized or overload the element.
Plus the inverter allows you to use the thermostat which does not work with DC!
@@ecohabs4earthI don't believe you would even need the thermostat but the 4500 watt element has to go. You could put a large array of solar panels to get the watts and volts but the system would cost too much. 73
@@ronb6182without the thermostat, the hot water would expand and explode the water heater or scald and burn your skin if you opened the water before that happened. Please be safe!
I'm just doing research on this stuff I haven't tried anything yet and thanks for your concern. They have elements with a DC thermostat built in. I would go that route, you can control how hot the water is, I think it's 110 to 190 degrees. That brings back my 160 degree setting. When water heaters only had one element you could set the heater to 160 degrees run the heater for only one hour and have hot water all day long. You have to mix shower with more cold water but your bill wasn't 30 dollars more. Back in the seventies. Must be much higher now. 73
In kentucky its illegal to save rain water for your personal use.even on your own property..they want taxes..they still want to charge you for sewer fees..im not making this up
Unbelievable. Next we will be taxed on the air!
Lol.... Trash system
Actually it works really great! We have now had hundreds of free showers and laundry loads!! All gifts from the sun :)
I have used this system. It works so well.
I would like to know about those crimp on connectors you used to connect the solar collectors to the inverter. Thanks
See the links in the video description! You can order them on Amazon…
And.....and, the HIDDEN cost $$$$ of this "tech" vs just using your Solar setup as is for a 120v electric water heater or tankless?!?
@@kauaikit Yes this could be perceived as a luxury item- but there is a lot to be said for the capability to seamlessly use the grid for solar down times or high demand for hot water. We can hook you up with pricing by emailing us at echhabs4earth@gmail.com