SOLAR WATER HEATING – WHAT SIZE DO YOU NEED?
SOLAR WATER HEATING – WHAT SIZE DO YOU NEED?
An easy guideline is to do a quick evaluation of how much electricity is being used each day in heating water.
- Day 1, taking a reading of your electricity meter at a predetermined time (for example 9,00 in the morning)
- Day 2 read the meter again (same time) – and calculate the kWh units used in 24 hours.
- Day 3 read the meter again (same time) - and calculate the kWh units used in 24 hours.
- Day 4 - read the meter again (same time) – and calculate the kWh units
- Turn off the electrical geyser at the distribution board
- Day 5 - read the meter again (same time) – compare the kWh units used with geyser off for 24 hours against the average of the 3 days with geyser on.
- Turn the geyser back on at the distribution board.
- Repeat the exercise if necessary turning off the geyser for 24 hours
Example
| Meter Reading | kWh Units Used | |
| Day 1 – Start | 10000 | |
| Day 2 – Reading at 09,00 | 10023 | 23 |
| Day 3 – Reading at 09,00 | 10047 | 24 |
| Day 4 – Reading at 09,00 Turn off geyser | 10073 | 26 |
| Day 5 – Reading at 09,00 Turn on geyser again | 10087 | 14 |
| Average 1st 3 days | 24 | |
| Geyser consumption | 10 | |
| Solar geyser required – at least 8 -12 kWh Output | ||
When buying a solar water heater, either a retrofit (where the existing tank is used) or a complete system, buy a solar system that tells you how much electricity in kWh you should save on an average day.
We recommend you ‘Get a Quote’ from Ubersolar and compare with others.
