View Single Post
  #3   Report Post  
Posted to uk.d-i-y
Martin Brown Martin Brown is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,701
Default solar pv to storage heater

On 15/12/2014 14:04, wrote:
Id like to find out if its possible to buy a few solar pv panels, and take the feed
from that direct to a storage heater or underfloor heating pad. Not plug into the grid, or even the house
electrical circuit. And not have the heater or heating coil attached to the mains either to avoid
any shocks etc. Straight from pv to dedicated electric heater.


It is possible to do it, but it is utterly pointless. The only time it
will harvest vaguely decent amounts of power is when you are trying to
keep the interior of the house cool in summer. Even then you would be
much better off just harvesting hot water directly to a thermal store.
You can have lashings of hot water in midsummer with the right kit.

It doesnt matter if the heat only comes in the day. Thats when I need the heat anyways.
Ive seen underfloor heating kits. And seperate pv solar panels. Can the pv panel
plug straight into the coil of the kit?


The hours of daylight in a UK winter make solar PV a complete non
starter. We have loads of solar PV powered "please go round the
dangerous bend" signs round here. They sometime manage a feeble glower
at you after a good sunny winters day but they are stone dead every
frosty morning when they might actually do some good. Batteries in them
are destroyed completely every winter and have to be replaced.

One reason I ask is that a few months ago I had seen a solar powered pv panel to underfloor heating kit
for a few hundred pounds online. Ive lost the link, but I know its possible. What Id like to do
Is buy something like that, wrap the coil in bricks and some sort of cover and get cheap heat.
Any thoughts advice etc?


Avoid like the plague and refer to trading standards.

For instance can the electric output from a pv panel go straight to the heating coil and
trickle feed it. and slowly heat the coil Or does it need an intermediate pulse convertor?


Even adding dilithium crystals won't make it remotely useful.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown