Storage Heaters as PV battery dump

[Esalglop1945]

Using solar PV to heat water is madness. There is so much loss in converting sunlight to electricity. Much better to heat water directly using solar hot water panels.

Yes buildershub very interesting, thanks

 

[Macsamillion]

I have looked at how I could use surplus energy in storage heating and not really come up with much for the same reasons as others. Winter sun! I have an 8kw system which I use via an immersion controller to heat a double element water tank. Only a few times during winter I have to manually boost. So these work well. In summer my tank, 150L is hot before lunchtime. That excess is used elsewhere. In winter all of my surplus goes to HW.

The old storage heaters you have will work with these devices if they are 3kw or less. I upgraded to Elnur Smart heaters. If I'm honest all I gained is greater control of charging and peak electricity boost periods as the technology is still the same. But now it can all be done remotely.

 

[Esalglop1945]

I have looked at how I could use surplus energy in storage heating and not really come up with much for the same reasons as others. Winter sun! I have an 8kw system which I use via an immersion controller to heat a double element water tank. Only a few times during winter I have to manually boost. So these work well. In summer my tank, 150L is hot before lunchtime. That excess is used elsewhere. In winter all of my surplus goes to HW.

The old storage heaters you have will work with these devices if they are 3kw or less. I upgraded to Elnur Smart heaters. If I'm honest all I gained is greater control of charging and peak electricity boost periods as the technology is still the same. But now it can all be done remotely.

Thanks to other contributors, I am planning to change the 5 bed bungalow to 3 beds, gives me room to superinsulate all interior walls, floors & roof to Passivhaus standard. Utilise existing Nightstorage Heaters as Daystore Heaters when required. Separate PV Car Charger. Battery Backup automatically direct surplus energy to HW then NS as required. Replace woodburning fire with Woodburning stove with backboiler. MVHR.

I have looked at how I could use surplus energy in storage heating and not really come up with much for the same reasons as others. Winter sun! I have an 8kw system which I use via an immersion controller to heat a double element water tank. Only a few times during winter I have to manually boost. So these work well. In summer my tank, 150L is hot before lunchtime. That excess is used elsewhere. In winter all of my surplus goes to HW.

The old storage heaters you have will work with these devices if they are 3kw or less. I upgraded to Elnur Smart heaters. If I'm honest all I gained is greater control of charging and peak electricity boost periods as the technology is still the same. But now it can all be done remotely.

 

[binky]

let us know how you get on with the project - I reckon you will be too warm