Low Voltage Water Heating Element 24/48V

Alternative Energy Engineering
Low Voltage Water Heating Element
Diversion Load

These low-voltage water-heating elements are for use as diversion loads for wind or hydroelectric systems. Use one or more of these heating elements with a charge control designed for load diversion, such as the Xantrex C40 or C60, Morningstar TS-45 or TS-60 or the Outback MX-60 to turn your excess power into hot water. They fit most standard electric water heaters with screw-in elements. We have one model for 12- and 24 volt systems and another for higher power 24- volt systems and 48 volt systems. The 12/24-volt element can be wired to consume 25 or 50 amps at 14.5 volts or 25 amps at 29 volts. The 24/48 volt element can be wired to consume 30 or 60 amps at 29 volts or 30 amps at 58 volts. Order one or more elements with a total current draw greater than your charging system's maximum output, but no more than the maximum power rating of the charge control in the diversion mode. If your water heater tank is designed for square flange elements, use one square flange adapter for each element.

Diversion Load Information

In most hydroelectric and wind-powered battery charging systems, the charging source cannot be disconnected from the batteries while running without the possibility of damaging them from over-voltage. The typical way to regulate battery charging voltage with this type of generating system is to use a“load diversion” type charge control. The Morningstar TS45 and TS60, the Xantrex C40 and C60 and the Outback MX60 can be configured for this mode of charge control. A diversion-type charge control also may be used in a PV system. If the array is much larger than necessary to charge the battery, excess power can be used to heat water by using a water heating diversion load. In operation, when battery voltage reaches the full charge setting in the charge control, it begins to divert power to the diversion load. The control uses pulse width modulation to turn the load on just enough to keep the battery voltage from rising further. The critical requirements are that the diversion load can dissipate more watts than the charging source can deliver, and that the maximum amperage that the load can draw is smaller than the maximum diversion rating of the charge control. We recommend that you do not use a load that draws more than 75 percent of the maximum rating of the charge control. For example, if the charging source can deliver 20 amps at 24 volts, use a 30 amp diversion load with a 40 amp or larger charge control.

For Lakota Wind Turbine Applications:

For the 12V model please use QTY 2 of this unit with each sub-element in Parallel and connecting the 2 whole elements in Series.
For the 24V model please use QTY 2 of this unit with each sub-element in Series and connecting the 2 whole elements in Parallel
For the 48V model please use QTY 2 of this unit with each sub-element in Series and connecting the 2 whole elements in Series.

Resistence Ratings:

For the 12/24 model
2 sub elements each registering .58 OHM
for both sub-elements in parallel will be .29
for both sub-elements in series will be 1.16

For the 24/48 model
2 sub elements each registering .967 OHM
for both sub-elements in parallel will be .483
for both sub-elements in series will be 1.93