Surplus Solar for Hot Water?

[Lafnbug]

For those with surplus solar during the day, would it be feasible to use one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KLKGJ1...TF8&colid=2CWQSLT1XSMWF&coliid=I1JFMA1X8FAEXK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0182BETB...TF8&colid=2CWQSLT1XSMWF&coliid=I2P857OQ34TPI4

in a 5 gallon bucket or some other container to provide hot water? Or, in the winter as a heat sink under the bed?

 

[jimindenver]

I had planned on using a 400 watt hotrod in our hot water tank for when we have surplus solar energy. That is a comfortable wattage for our 750w array that could only run a 600w heater occasionally.

The hotrod is 120v and will be a lot easier to just plug into a outlet rather than running heavy lines and fuses. The hot water heater doesn't use enough propane to warrant spending too much on saving it.

Using it as a heat storage is a different approach on a old concept. Usually it is a passive solar panel heating the water for the tank with a pump and heater core to distribute it. It just depends on how much water it will take to last long enough to make it worth while. Then if you have enough extra power to heat that much water. I keep a pot in a solar oven when they are not cooking for the small stuff.

 

[highdesertranger]

interesting. I would not want to rely on it, but I guess if you have that much surplus it would work. got me thinking. highdesertranger

 

[Lafnbug]

If I got YOU thinking, then I impressed myself!

I know Bob was lamenting how he missed having hot water, and with his 570 watts and Arizona sun, maybe this would be a relatively easy and passive way to accomplish it.

I also read about others heating up a bottle of water, sometimes a 2 liter, and putting it in bed with them in cold weather to keep them warm at night. So, I figured combine the two ideas, and use a large container right under your bed, insulate the sides but not the top so the heat rises under you.

 

[SternWake]

I do not have that amount of solar surplus, But I place my 5 gallon Showerbag on a ~45 watt 12v heating pad, seat warmer.

It is not very efficient, and only gets the water to 100F or so, and takes ~12 hours to get there from 65f and consumes about 30Ah of battery to do so.

I use it a lot though. Putting the showerbag in direct sun this time of year heats it a lot faster. Often i use the 45 watt heating pad to maintain sun heated hot water in the sunshower, and then consumption drops to about 1 to 1.5Ah per hour, but insulation( towels, clothes, ect) plays a big part in this.

I used to use a 55 watt 115Vac heating pad on an inverter, this could get the water much hotter but use a lot more battery power to do so.

Perhaps this product would be better for my purposes than what i bought:

https://www.amazon.com/Crimestopper...ID=123QRRJCSGRSG52MXZW3&ref_=pd_sbs_263_4#Ask

What I am using:

https://www.amazon.com/ObboMed-SH-4...466851266&sr=8-2&keywords=obbomed+heating+pad

I might try and replace the bimetal thermal switch inside to get more than 100F water. I like 110 to 114f for bathing.

Using solar excess is fine, but heating anything on battery power tends to consume a lot of battery and not do very much.