DC Water Heater Element Solar Hot Water: Make Free Heat | Missouri Wind and Solar

Love your videos they are so oriented to the common man/woman so that we can all do our own projects and. Thanks Jeff and Molly and Wyatt Looking forward to picking up more solar panels from you.

im going to try to get into a 12 v dc element and try you preheater i think it would be an awesome little investment - thanks for turning me on to solar dc elements and the warning about fake ones - keep itup

I just finished a 28gal set up for the 1/2 bath in my shop. I formerly had a tiny 120v, 2-1/2 gal tank under the sink for hand washing/etc. Used four 175w panels (35v, 5amp) wired in parallel into a Midnite combiner box with #12 solar panel wire. Out of the combiner box, I used #8 to a single pole SquareD 40a QO series breaker in a small 2pole box right under the combiner box. From there, #8 wire to the heater, located about 3' away under sink cabinet, and connected to one of the 48v 700w elements with the built in thermostat. The most amps I've seen it draw is around 12 in full sun on the panels. I bought a small LED thermometer and K-type probe with 1/2" pipe thread. This is screwed in a T in the hot line w a 1/2" female pipe adapter in the T, since there is no port in the tank itself to screw in the probe. (Used 120vAC tank I had). Gauge takes 12vDC power to light it up, I used a 12vDC transformer off some former cell phone or flashlight or something I had laying around.....got a bag full of those wall warts. Gauge and probe about 25 bucks on Amazon. Heater does REAL good. Water first day 67 degrees, heated to 110 with about 5 hours o the panels (panels are roof mounted on my shop, 45 degree angle, face east/southeast) Held 98 over night, next day heated to 145 degrees with full sun. It will hold 130 degree for a day or so with no sun, which is all I want.....just some hot water to wash hands or a paint brush. I leave the thermostat set on 150. Edit: Element lasted about 2 weeks and burned out or the thermostat died. Since then, I bought a cheap 1200w 36v element from Amazon, and it's worked ever since.

Jeff I have learned so much and enjoyed all of your videos and thank for what you do!! I have been watching for many years and have come to respect and trust your simple and practical approaches. WE ALL thank you for the knowledge you share with your fellow alternative enthusiast!

Wow, posted 8 years ago. Suddenly I need an adjustable DC water heater with built in thermostat. Thanks! I'll be contacting you guys. It fits what I'm doing as I'm getting ready for winter....

You just saved me a lot of money, sir. We are transitioning to off-grid living next year and this coupled with some basic passive solar water heating just solved one of my biggest problems. Thank you!!

These would be great for a OTG Aquaponics system! My main problem with my AP system is keeping the Tilapia water at 78* F

I have always loved the water heating elements with the temp control, use them for my pool

you are worth your wait in gold my friend. thanks.

These can be very versatile. Thanks for the informative and revealing tips.

Excellent information as usual.  Thanks for making the video.

Thanks for the great video. I think I'm going to do the set up in my water heater when I start my solar and wind turbine project.

MissouriWindandSolar what a great way to not waste your dump load! :) Great video - thanks 

thanks jeff  these things are always good to know  and I will be getting some soon

Brilliant Jeff, thanks!

Thank you for this video Jeff great help.

Jeff, thanks for the info! The more opportunities there are to use solar/wind power, the more I get excited about the potential. I have just started using solar power and I find these videos very informative!  p.s. Ever though about a lapel microphone?

thank you this helped me out a lot as do all your videos

you sir have just won the internet. This is some incredible and valuable info. Thank you

Another good video from Jeff and MWandS.