Hi everyone,

I know this has been discussed a few times but, I just have a few questions regarding producing hot water through my inverter and existing PV's.

I initially thought that it would be better to have a sepirate Geyserwize PV system with its own panels.  My clever electrician advised me that this was the only way.  I purchased the whole TSE PV geyserwize system accept for the panels. 

A few of the users on this forum informed me that I have enough PV power for the geyser to work through my inverter.  I know now that its possible because the same clever electrician that said its not possible also never took the geyser of essential load so its working through the inverter and it works no problem. 🫣

A few things I noticed:

● During the day the PV's pull the 3kw heating element no problem, I am guessing once I replace the element with the element from geyserwize system that the load will be a bit less, which is obviously better for the system, I think its a 2kw element. 

● The geyser starts to chow the battery after 16h00 which is not ideal. 

We are a small family so dont need alot of hot water, we have a 150l geyser which is enough for our purposes and we dont use much or any hot water in the mornings very often.

I was thinking of still using the Geyserwise system but through my existing inverter and PV's by having it warm up the geyser with excess PV power untill 4pm and then set the timer to switch off untill maybe 9am the next morning. 

Which is the best way to set it up?  Is there maybe anyone with a similar setup that can shed some light on the matter? 

Must I keep it on essential load or move it to the Aux port? 

Here is a diagram that found on another thread, wondering if this is the way to go?

 

Also I am wondering if I still need the mppt controller that geyserwise sold me? 

Sorry, I have alot of questions but Im very new to solar and I'm still learning.

Kind regards,

Oelof

Edited August 18, 20232 yr by Oelof
Wring wording

I fitted 2 extra panels just for the geyser via the Geyserwise ECO controller.  Works 100% for me

Personally I wouldn't bother with seperate panels and seperate geyserwise mppt...that'll limit those panels to only heating water (wasted potential once water is done heating)

Rather invest the money in more panels connecting to your main system and have that heat the water.

As for your aux port vs essential load question @Oelof, if you have no "smart" way of controlling the geyser (HomeAssistant or similar) then probably best to wire to and program the aux port...as per the diagram you posted, that'll prevent it discharging batteries too far in cases of load shedding during inclement weather days...

If wanting to keep it really simple then just wire it on non-essential side, but that'll mean no water heating during load shedding, even during max solar production;-)

Edited August 19, 20232 yr by markus_m2

2 hours ago, markus_m2 said:

Personally I wouldn't bother with seperate panels and seperate geyserwise mppt...that'll limit those panels to only heating water (wasted potential once water is done heating)

Rather invest the money in more panels connecting to your main system and have that heat the water.

Totally agree!👍

3 hours ago, markus_m2 said:

As for your aux port vs essential load question @Oelof, if you have no "smart" way of controlling the geyser (HomeAssistant or similar) then probably best to wire to and program the aux port...as per the diagram you posted, that'll prevent it discharging batteries too far in cases of load shedding during inclement weather days...

If wanting to keep it really simple then just wire it on non-essential side, but that'll mean no water heating during load shedding, even during max solar production;-)

I am looking at the geyserwala system. Just doing some research on it first, but looks like a solid option. 

3 hours ago, markus_m2 said:

As for your aux port vs essential load question @Oelof

If wanting to keep it really simple then just wire it on non-essential side, but that'll mean no water heating during load shedding, even during max solar production;-)

What about using the same contactor setup to switch between Aux and essential during high PV production when there is LS and battery is well charged? 

1 minute ago, Scorp007 said:

What about using the same contactor setup to switch between Aux and essential during high PV production when there is LS and battery is well charged? 

This would work well but I am still a newbie and maybe above my capabilities I'm afraid 

41 minutes ago, Oelof said:

This would work well but I am still a newbie and maybe above my capabilities I'm afraid 

With so many possibilities you will learn a lot and try different things that suits your load profile. We all use power in a different way. 

The Geyserwise system is great if you already have it. The choices are to use it or sell it. A CBI Astute must be part of your setup if you don't want to use it. Because a Geyser left unattended will use power at all the wrong times. 

So setting up a schedule using the Astute will be key to your success without Geyser wise. 

44 minutes ago, Steve87 said:

The Geyserwise system is great if you already have it. The choices are to use it or sell it. A CBI Astute must be part of your setup if you don't want to use it. Because a Geyser left unattended will use power at all the wrong times. 

So setting up a schedule using the Astute will be key to your success without Geyser wise. 

Thanks Steve, 

Seeing as I already have the geyserwize I think I am just going to keep it and have it installed this week if I can.  Since the geyser is currently working through my inverter I am going to just sell the geyserwize MPPT as I will not have sepirate PV pannels for the geyserwize. I might might later add a pannel or two depending on how the system copes with the geyser. I first want to see how the system handles the 2kw geyserwize element instead of the 3kw I have currently. 

Hi Oelof, 

I have a 5kw inverter with 6 x 600watt panels and like you we don't use much power about 12kw a day. I've put a standard R200 1500watt element in my geyser and set the astute cbi timer to only work from 10:15 to 4pm, turned the thermostat up and have hot water 24/7...cooler in the morning but we just work around that. Also with the newer astute timer it can pick up on the weather and delay the timer on rainy days etc... Pretty useful to maximize the solar vs grid demand. 

The geyser on the solar is a massive plus as it's a pretty constant load so you'll produce loads more kw from your solar. 

Hope this helps you and others... 

Edited August 22, 20232 yr by Sam79
Spelling

15 minutes ago, Sam79 said:

Hi Oelof, 

I have a 5kw inverter with 6 x 600watt panels and like you we don't use much power about 12kw a day. I've put a standard R200 1500watt element in my geyser and set the astute cbi timer to only work from 10:15 to 4pm, turned the thermostat up and have hot water 24/7...cooler in the morning but we just work around that. Also with the newer astute timer it can pick up on the weather and delay the timer on rainy days etc... Pretty useful to maximize the solar vs grid demand. 

The geyser on the solar is a massive plus as it's a pretty constant load so you'll produce loads more kw from your solar. 

Hope this helps you and others... 

Hi Sam,

Thanks for the info. 

The guys from Geyserwise were here yesterday to install the system. I set the timer up from the app between 11h00 and 16h00, similar to yours. It works beautifully, and our grid consumption is virtually zero now. 

I am probabaly going to get an astute for the pool pump. 

We have our geyser on the non-essential load and a timer. It works great.

We have an existing Geyserwise system, and essentially use that only to give a digital reading on water temp. And we use it as a convenient place to turn off geyser when needed. But absolutely not needed.

The timer is set to only be on in the day and we have cranked up the temp to the highest possible to make sure that we maximize the solar contribution and make sure that the stock of hot water lasts through the evening.

 

1 minute ago, sdh said:

We have our geyser on the non-essential load and a timer. It works great.

We have an existing Geyserwise system, and essentially use that only to give a digital reading on water temp. And we use it as a convenient place to turn off geyser when needed. But absolutely not needed.

The timer is set to only be on in the day and we have cranked up the temp to the highest possible to make sure that we maximize the solar contribution and make sure that the stock of hot water lasts through the evening.

 

I have done exactly the same. Works very well. 

Essential or non-essential? 

I have a thermo syphon and in the winter have to "top" it up a bit. Also have it cranked up to heat midday to last throughout the night. 

But I have mine on inverter / essentials to heat with PV. 

I believe myne is set as an essential