One of the largest energy uses in any home is water heating, it can easily account for a quarter of the total home energy use, costing you big dollars every year.
That’s why many Australians are installing the efficient Solatherm PV Direct Hot Water solution in their home or business.
It will reduce your carbon footprint and deliver significant savings on the cost of heating your water, all year round. The system’s intelligent design and dedicated solar PV array is the only system that can provide the average 4-person household it’s hot water expense at a net zero cost over an average 12-month period.
No wasted energy, once the water is hot, the DC power can be switched to an inverter for use in the household or to a battery system or another DC appliance.
Power created by a photovoltaic array is directly harnessed by the Solatherm hot water controller to heat water in the storage cylinder.
It only needs sunlight to start heating water!
Energy from the solar array remains in pure DC format directly powering the DC controller and, via a specifically designed DC element, heats your water.
For periods when there is insufficient sunlight, an independent AC boost element (or a gas booster) will ensure your hot water is always at the optimum temperature.
Once the water is up to temperature our intelligent DC controller switches the power being generated by the array to your inverter so you can make full use of the power being generated to supply your home, charge your battery or feed back to the grid.
Back up AC Power used for periods of low solar input or high demand are easily offset by surplus power that has been previously fed to the inverter.
Simple installation, industry standard electric hot water cylinder plumbing, simple wiring, no pumps, no noise, no frost issues, efficient and effective, even at sub-zero temperatures.
Enjoy hot water and save.
Typically, PV solar panel manufacturers give their products a 25-year performance warranty and are designed to take a beating from the sun every day, unlike most old-style solar thermal hot water collectors which generally have a significantly shorter life expectancy and performance limitations.
Solatherm PV Direct hot water systems are the latest technology. They have no pumps, no cooling fans. The intelligent controller ensures that the PV array is always working for you, either producing hot water or sending power to an inverter, battery charging system or appliance.
Australian designed and made in Australia for Australian conditions. The systems are easily serviceable and require virtually no maintenance.
Solatherm PV direct systems are CEC listed and eligible for STC rebates.
PV360
PV360SWT
PV360BMS
PV360R
The warranty covered by this document is for the Solatherm control unit and directly related components specified below only. For warranty on other items that are part of the system, such as, installation components, storage water vessel and photovoltaic collectors, please see the relevant manufactures warranty booklet.
Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.
The following exclusions may cause the Solatherm warranty period to become invalid and/or may incur a service charge and/or cost of parts used during repairs.
Solatherm Control Units are independent from the grid and require no mains power connection to operate, hence, the unit will only operate and display user information when there is sufficient energy from the sun.
Many brands and styles of storage water heaters can be electrically configured to be connected with the Solatherm control system. The cylinders are identified as PV DIRECT >> Ready cylinders are pre-configured in this manner.
The cylinder has a dedicated DC electrical circuit. In this circuit a DC approved over temperature cut out (PV-OTC) is installed. In addition, the cylinder has a specific, long life element designed for DC to match the PV array.
The cylinder must have twin elements or have an inline instantaneous gas booster to meet Australian solar hot water storage cylinder requirements.
Electrically boosted cylinders have an independent AC Mains electrical circuit that is connected to the boost element in the same way a conventional electric hot water storage cylinder is connected. This provides a top up of hot water during extended periods of low solar input.
The boost capacity has been set to meet the minimum volume requirements for off peak boosting in all states. Generally the independent AC boost element is connected to an off peak (controlled load) power supply. If only peak is available it is recommended to install a din rail timer and set a heating period during the early evening and/or early morning depending on the household demand. If the water in the storage vessel is higher than the 600C thermostat setting the unit will not draw any power as there is no need. If the water is below 600C during the set periods the boost element will top up the temperature to ensure hot water is available. The boost element heats approximately 125L of water. Connection via a timer will maximise solar gain during the day, minimise energy consumption and allow for ease of use. High usage households may require extended boost periods or continuous mains connection to meet high demand.
Max power must not be exceeded. 3.84kW can be either 270V @14.2A or 174V @ 22.0A or in between.P=IR (Volts x Current), 3840W must not be exceeded.
The Solatherm control unit and system have undergone testing and certification in Australia to meet the requirements of IEC62019-1, AS/NZS60335.2.21, AS/NZS60335.1, IEC60529 to a rating of IP65.
IEC 62109-1 Ed. 1.0 Safety of power converters for use in photovoltaic power systems Part 1: General requirements
AS/NZS 60335.2.21:2002 Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Particular requirements – Particular requirements for storage water heaters
AS/NZS 60335.1:2002 Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – General requirements
IEC 60529 – Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)
Electricians, installers and service technicians please contact Solatherm on 08 8337 8881 or via email if you require the installation manual for installation or service.
The user and installation manuals are supplied in hard copy with the product. Authorised installers are welcome to call or email for further technical assistance.
Installation can only be made by an approved, accredited, installer that has completed the Solatherm installation training program and has been approved by Solatherm to install the product.
Installation of the Solatherm controllers can only be made to a hot water cylinder that has been specifically designed and configured for connection to the Solatherm controller.
Add an optional inverter and when the water reaches the set temperature the surplus power can then be utilised for other household appliances, sold into the grid or sent to a home battery storage system for later use.
Established in 1991, Sidek has been producing valving and electronics for the Automotive LPG market. It sounds like a leap to hot water but there are many similarities, we used to supply one Australia’s leading hot water cylinder manufactures their LPG valves when they made LPG Cylinders!
Hot water development started in 2000 with the traditional thermal flat plate and evacuated tube solar systems linked with lined and stainless cylinders. PV powered systems was always in the plan as we could see shortcomings in the traditional systems but the decrease in cost and increase in panel power has now made it practical. That concept, evolution and development has now created a new type of hot water system for the future.
