September 15, 20223 yr Hi, I have a 5.5 kW inverter installed, with battery backup, and is in the process of adding 3.3kW solar panels. I know using solar PV panels to heat water is not the most efficient, but I dont want to buy another solar geyser if not required. I want to add my geyser to my my inverter output, but dont want it to use 2kW for a hour, but rather 1kW or less for 2 hours or even more while the sun is shining. Can I reduce the voltage to my existing geyser element to reduce the power usage (will still consume same energy, but less power over a longer period)? I see there are step down voltage converters rated for 4kW resistive (link below), so thinking if I drop the voltage with 25% the current would drop with 25% and power would drop roughly 50%. I can then use a smart switch to control this, so for around R1000 I can convert my geyser to solar. The element is just a resistor, so I dont think reducing voltage, current and power can harm it (not sure about the termostat?). Would this be technically possible and legal? https://www.geewiz.co.za/power-supplies/154048-ac-220v-4000w-variable-voltage-regulator-step-down-voltage-converter-transformer-motor-speed-fan-control-controller-ra.html?sfdr_ptcid=2961_617_675128575&sfdr_hash=b952de3a598d66c1434b14dda8043185&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmouZBhDSARIsALYcoup3sjW1xCpTOBHQjb7heiHPFuueAz8k9RIgBjU3kD-O2pbeao3ntdYaAor4EALw_wcB Regards, Chris
September 15, 20223 yr 3 hours ago, Chris4324 said: Hi, I have a 5.5 kW inverter installed, with battery backup, and is in the process of adding 3.3kW solar panels. I know using solar PV panels to heat water is not the most efficient, but I dont want to buy another solar geyser if not required. I want to add my geyser to my my inverter output, but dont want it to use 2kW for a hour, but rather 1kW or less for 2 hours or even more while the sun is shining. Can I reduce the voltage to my existing geyser element to reduce the power usage (will still consume same energy, but less power over a longer period)? I see there are step down voltage converters rated for 4kW resistive (link below), so thinking if I drop the voltage with 25% the current would drop with 25% and power would drop roughly 50%. I can then use a smart switch to control this, so for around R1000 I can convert my geyser to solar. The element is just a resistor, so I dont think reducing voltage, current and power can harm it (not sure about the termostat?). Would this be technically possible and legal? https://www.geewiz.co.za/power-supplies/154048-ac-220v-4000w-variable-voltage-regulator-step-down-voltage-converter-transformer-motor-speed-fan-control-controller-ra.html?sfdr_ptcid=2961_617_675128575&sfdr_hash=b952de3a598d66c1434b14dda8043185&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmouZBhDSARIsALYcoup3sjW1xCpTOBHQjb7heiHPFuueAz8k9RIgBjU3kD-O2pbeao3ntdYaAor4EALw_wcB Regards, Chris Stupid question, do geyser elements not come in 1kw size? We just went from a 4kw element to a 2kw and it was like R300? Edited September 15, 20223 yr by MKRandburg
September 15, 20223 yr Hi, what inverter are you using and how much battery storage do you have? It is essential to know this so that we can help. Regards
September 15, 20223 yr Author 15 minutes ago, MKRandburg said: Stupid question, do geyser elements not come in 1kw size? We just went from a 4kw element to a 2kw and it was like R300? Well great question, guess that is the obvious thing to do. Not sure why I didn't think of that first. See you can get one for R400-R500. Thank you.
September 15, 20223 yr Author 13 minutes ago, TonyH said: Hi, what inverter are you using and how much battery storage do you have? It is essential to know this so that we can help. Regards TheSunPays 5.5kW high voltage inverter. Also a 4.8kWh SunPays battery.
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