Good news for PV Installers this month comes with the launch of 4eco Ltd’s* new intelligent energy management device, which the company says is “set to revolutionise the microgeneration industry”.
The immerSUN device enables homeowners with PV solar panels (some 320, 000 homes in the UK) to use close to 100% of the electricity their panels generate by heating hot water even if they are not at home. A genuine breakthrough and not another switch device, the immerSUN intelligently and continually monitors the power generated by the PV system and that travelling to and from the grid so that all unused energy is diverted to the immersion heater in the hot water cylinder. If there is a change in the power the house requires - such as when washing machines or lights are switched on - the immerSUN will recognise and adjust the diverted power to keep export power to virtually zero.
Money saved through heating water this way gives the new immerSUN a payback period as little as three to five years, calculates 4eco.
The immerSUN also does not impact on money earned through the government’s Feed In Tariff scheme (FiT) or the export tariff.
The immerSUN is located in the home, most commonly near the consumer unit, and is an unobtrusive size of W155 x H145 x D60mm. The unit includes a backlit display panel showing energy saved today in kWh, real time load power and operation mode. The immerSUN also features a hot water timer for winter days when the PV system has not quite generated enough energy to heat the water fully.
From the installer’s perspective, the immerSUN is easy to install, retrofit or new, with no need to change the immersion heater. It also opens-up new business with dormant accounts where good relationships are already in place.
“The unit gives you a reason to contact dormant customers,” explains immerSUN business development director Jo Huggett, “to offer a genuine benefit that’s relatively low cost, easy to retrofit and gives the end customer the satisfaction of using the energy their system is generating. And when you’re pricing up an installation we think that including the immerSUN in your plans will give you that extra appeal over competitors.”
Another major benefit for installers is that 4eco has designed the immerSUN for mass production. “We looked at similar products in the market,” explained Lee Sutton, technical director, “and felt there was a clear need for a unit that was affordable and reliable with ‘off the shelf’ availability. We’re also very proud to say the immerSUN is manufactured here in Britain.”
For larger installers 4Eco offer an OEM service, where the immerSUN can be coloured and badged in line with corporate branding.
“Having previously been involved in all aspects of this sector we really believe in supporting the industry,” added Jo Huggett. “Those that register with 4eco will be added to our national database, to be promoted on the immerSUN website where end users can find a local installer in their area.”
The immerSUN works whenever the PV panels are generating, even in cloudy weather. It is suitable for small or large systems and has an RS485 MODBUS interface to allow devices to be connected together for multiple heating elements.
Demonstration units of the immerSUN are available for installers to show-off the product to the customer.
The trade price of the unit is given as under £300, depending on volume ordered.
Other Specifications:
- Dimensions of the unit are W155 x H145 x D60mm
- Weight is 935g
- In addition to the proportional power output, a multi-function relay can be set to operate when certain conditions are met
- Maintains settings and time during power outages
- Built in thermal overload protection
- Non-invasive grid power monitoring using AC current clamp
- Robust all-metal wall mountable enclosure
- Three-year product warranty
- Hot water boost timer
Electrical specifications:
- Supply: 220-240VAC 50Hz
- Power Consumption (excluding load): <1W
- Maximum Load: 3 kW @ 220VAC
- Maximum Load Current: 15A
- *About 4eco Ltd
- Based in rural Lincolnshire, England, 4eco Ltd has been an installer of microgeneration systems in commercial and domestic buildings since 2007. Specialising in solar thermal, solar PV, air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps. The company is accredited by Elecsa and REA but no longer install.
