Diverting excess solar power to water heater

1/10th voltage = 1/10th amperage = 1/100 wattage.

1400 watts becomes 14 watts.

The dump load is for charging aux batteries or using a wind generator, which has no choice but to generate as it turns. Solar panels are semiconductor devices, they don't need to dump.

That said if you have so much solar, run the heater on 120v. That much power must drive a huge bat bank and hopefully a good size inverter. Maybe swap your 1500 watt element for a 600.

Re driving an element with lower voltage, one tenth input, one tenth output. Current draw will remain equal, and with lower volts you get lower watts. Thermostat shouldnt care about low voltage... Don't bypass the tstat, way too unsafe.

I can find lots of 12VDC heater elements, but all are 1" NPT and won't fit into the drain hole. I did find a 120VAC 600W element that will fit in the drain hole.

***Link Removed***

What happens if I use it with 12VDC? I asked this question of an electrician a long time ago and he told me it would work, just not nearly as effective as running it on 120VAC.

Does anyone know of a 12VDC water heater element that will fit into the drain hole?

MH

RoyB wrote:
I think they make a 12VDC element that fits in the drain plug of our water heaters..

I think I saw one or a custom made dual element over in truck campers some time ago.

Maybe the searchking 2oldman can find it...

Deleted.

I think they make a 12VDC element that fits in the drain plug of our water heaters..

I am also always leary of a new member just coming aboard with such an intelligent question on his first post...

You'll need a 12V heating element which means you will no longer be able to use 120V AC.