Check it out on the home page !

http://techluck.com/

And the FAQ:

http://techluck.com/faq.php

The Solar Hybrid Hot Water Controller can save money on your power bill by supplementing the power usage with FREE solar energy.

No pumps, pipes, freezing or re-plumbing to worry about, just two simple wires! No need to drain the tank.

Only minor modifications are needed for most standard water heaters, simple wiring modifications. NO HEATING ELEMENT CHANGES NEEDED. Changes are reversible.

(more info on the home page)

Video of it in operation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkPtPXfhiYk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkPtPXfhiYk

Good idea. This could come in handy when the grid is out. Does it come with a panel too?

We can consider this as a good source of information by saving    electric power. Actually, solar hybrid hot water controller can give some benefits to the users. Also solar hybrid, can give some attraction to the users, because it contains of high consequences.

Leslie Morris wrote on Apr 16^th, 2013 at 6:33pm:

Good idea. This could come in handy when the grid is out. Does it come with a panel too?

You can pick up solar panels at good prices from:

http://www.solarblvd.com/
http://www.sunelec.com/

The prices change all the time depending on what they get in, they also sell out quick at these prices.

For example, solarblvd.com has some panels for 66c a watt at quantity one as of this posting, but that can change if they sell out, others are 70c/W. Shipping is also a factor since they are so large they come by truck in most cases, so check that before you buy of course.

Thread about low solar panel prices where others may have posted:
http://techluck.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1356144292

By doing all this yourself you can really save compared to all the work, cost and plumbing needed for a fluid based hot water system, "solar thermal" they call it.

You are looking at something around $700 for a complete solar hot water system which is not bad at all.

I see how that works, very good.

I am considering going off grid with this on a smaller water heater, will try it out.

Hello Guys ............I am Fabion .
I have a Soalr panel System in my home .Its working is so good and it produced electricity free of cost .
I also want to watch this controller system but How ???

I got to this site by doing solar search, so I can learn about solar systems.
I do not have any solar panel yet, but considering it.
I am confused with this system.
What I seen so far, most sites talking about the need of having big wires from the panels to any controller, which need to even bigger with long runs.
It does not look that you use big wires coming from the panel.
It does not look like that you used big wires from the controller to the heat element either.
Is there a reason why the wires are small ?

I am looking into getting a 24 volt 320 watt system as a starter, what wire size would I need from the panel to the controller with a wire run of 20 feet ?

Is the voltage that comes out from the controller 220 volt or is it low voltage ? In other words would it be high voltage and dangerous  if I have a 24 volt system ?

Should there be a fuse at the output of the controller ?

I am sorry I got so many questions, but heating water with solar was one of my priorities.

Johann wrote on Jul 8^th, 2013 at 7:27pm:

It does not look that you use big wires coming from the panel. It does not look like that you used big wires from the controller to the heat element either. Is there a reason why the wires are small ?

Wire loss is less as you go with higher voltages, generally a "48V" set of panels MPPT's at around 60V to 70V.

In the video the solar panels come in with a #10 3 wire extension cord, with 2 wires tied together to reduce the loss a little more.

The short 4 ft. wire going to the water heating element is 2 wires of #12. The shorter run means less loss and at this voltage and amperage of under 8A it is OK.


Quote:

I am looking into getting a 24 volt 320 watt system as a starter, what wire size would I need from the panel to the controller with a wire run of 20 feet ?

About the same as above. You can always go thicker and save a few watts, but you have to look at cost vs. benefit.

You need to start with two panels minimum in series as a "48V" setup when using a standard 4500W water heater element.

You should check out the FAQ, a lot of questions are answered there.

http://techluck.com/faq.php

When i come to know the advantages of solar pannel and suddenly installed it and it is running perfect and free of cost. :P

I happen to have lots of 30 Volt , 240 watt panels.   What would be the best panel configuration to use with device.

  My hot water needs are minimal. 

Sciotoa wrote on Nov 1^st, 2013 at 9:40am:

I happen to have lots of 30 Volt , 240 watt panels.   What would be the best panel configuration to use with device.   My hot water needs are minimal.

If your use is low then probably 2 of those panels in series will be OK, you can always add another (always in series) if you think it's not enough, but 480W all day long is a lot of power, people don't think about how that adds up compared to 4500W for only 10 minutes.

And of course that all depends on the element in your tank, that is a factor too. 4500W 240V is the recommended and best element for this system and is standard in most tanks.

I have very large hot water usage and want to maximize the benefit of your system.  What configuration, number of panels, etc. would recommend?
I wonder about a separate water tank with its own element as a pre heat tank.  Would you recommend this setup?

Drigel wrote on Dec 18^th, 2013 at 7:29pm:

I have very large hot water usage and want to maximize the benefit of your system.  What configuration, number of panels, etc. would recommend? I wonder about a separate water tank with its own element as a pre heat tank.  Would you recommend this setup?

Hello friend have you got the panel system? I would love to add similar heat system so can you please guide..

I have been having a fight with the local electrical supplier, who after 12-18 months of power outages and countless issues with their control of our hot water have threatened to enter our property and disconnect the bypass our electrician has placed on our hot water.

I am wanting to retrofit your device for permanent mounting all year round.

Current cylinder is a 180litre mains pressure cylinder with one (bottom mounted) thermostat currently a 240volt - 2000watt device.

Can I use 2 panels @ 250 watt for summer and 3 panels @ 250 watt for winter?
I do not want to pay the power company a cent more than I have too.

I am also thinking of getting a coleman air diversion load connected to a grid tie inverter to dump ithe excess generated into the house circuits to reduce useage and futher lower the utility company bill.

will the hot water config work, or do I have to upgrade the element?

I only see references to "12v" or "24v" panels.  I have two (or 3) 280w 44v panels, can I use these with the Solar Hybrid Hot Water Controller.  I also have an 80 gallon water heater, will this be a problem?

Where can i get 1 or 2 of these??

Hey that really works well I need one of those especially with the new lock downs and power outages the commies will be torturing us with. Also an EMP could shut everything down and no hot water then.  :o