how does solar electric work
What should the water temperature during periods without sunlight, using solar and electric water heater?
We have solar heating water, but during rush hour, the electric water heater kicks in. (two hours at night and 1.5 hours in the morning) the water is 140 degrees. Is this normal? I know that the thermostat can be defeated in the regular water heaters, but need not be so hot from solar power? The water is boiling!
I think it should be rejected. We recommend a maximum of 125 to avoid burns. I've only worked in some solar systems, but all use a "regular" water heater to supplement heat and store the heated water. There were only sounded differently. Generally lower and were established in all the time. Low so do not try to heat water through solar panels. But it is almost impossible for us to say how yours is configured, the logic of the system. We do not know nothing about it, how it sounded, what controls, including how to operate normally. I do not know if you have two tanks or one and the tank is for the storage and heating. The main reason people turn the heat up if the water is warmer than consume less. Thus, 140 could get three showers at first morning, but at 125 degrees maybe only two, with no time between the water heater. I say try. I can not think of any reason to lower the temperature would a problem, except for the capacity as mentioned. Good Luck.
Energy & Electricity in Science : How Does solar energy Work?
