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Forum Index : Solar : AC-DC low voltage heating elements

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jkis
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Joined: 31/07/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 16

Posted: 12:42am 07 Aug 2014

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is there a difference between AC and DC water heating elements, i have a 250watt 24volt solar panel and was wanting to use it to for heating, i spotted on ebay some low voltage 24volt 600watt elements also some DC thermostats.
cheers stuart

yahoo2

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Joined: 05/04/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1166

Posted: 02:57pm 07 Aug 2014

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Hi stuart,
anything that is DC is a prime candidate for rapid electrolysis, the DC heating elements are sealed to prevent this but the rest of the install needs to be correctly isolated or whatever so there is no electrical path that can eat the tank away.

I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not...

jkis
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Joined: 31/07/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 16

Posted: 04:36pm 07 Aug 2014

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thank you yahoo2, so i'd be better of with out the thermostat, are the DC elements tougher than the AC ones.
cheers stuart

yahoo2

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Joined: 05/04/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1166

Posted: 03:20pm 08 Aug 2014

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No I am just saying you need to make sure the water tank is not somehow part of the electrical circuit.

I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not...

jkis
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Joined: 31/07/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 16

Posted: 07:13pm 08 Aug 2014

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thanks yahoo2, i will be sure of that.
cheers stuart

yahoo2

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Joined: 05/04/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1166

Posted: 02:43pm 09 Aug 2014

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you are going to have trouble with arcing on the thermostat contacts with DC at higher loads. You might have better luck with a gadget that converts it to high frequency AC, the only one I can think of off the top of my head it from techluck.com.

I have no idea what they are like but it is worth a look.

I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not...

jkis
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Joined: 31/07/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 16

Posted: 06:58pm 09 Aug 2014

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worked out to around $300 with freight and rate change, it did mention that you can use a std element, i didn't get to see if the power came out of the MPPT at 240 volts.
not having a good head day, so i may have missed it ;) just wanting to use up what i have here, when i get going properly i can use some water solar panels.
cheers stuart

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