Originally Posted by
Flipper
I should take some pics mate, as I have the roof cut out in the F/glass canopy of our 130 with the solar panel setup. (could be an inspiration?). AGM batteries and the big inverter powers everything even the TIG welder when needed.
The hot water system is heated using glow plugs in series with the solar panels, so when the sun shines,, instead of dumping excess voltage/current through a regulator it is converted to hot water.
To put it another way, a solar setup is higher in voltage than what a battery charge rate is, so by reducing the voltage by a volt or so through low resistant glow plugs (heating water), this energy normally wasted is now absorbed into the water tanks as heat.
I am not saying this setup is always perfect, but it sure does work 8 times out of 10 and at least the energy is not wasted but is stored in water tanks as heat.
Damn, I get off topic and ramble on when excited. :( Sorry.....
Phil...