Confused with the watts of the kettle

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  • ivanakos
    Junior Member
    • Apr 2015
    • 3
    #1

    Confused with the watts of the kettle

    I have a solar system and a monitor that I can see how much energy is being generated,
    However whats confusing me is this: looking at the real time monitor that shows me how many watts the system generates at any given time, and assuming that that is currently generating 2.0w, my kettle requires 3000watts (3kw) so I would think that my kettle cant be powered by my solar panels alone.. and 1kw has to come for the grid, is my assumption right or am I missing something?
    It makes me wonder because I have been told that I can have a device that when there is excess unused electricity It can heat the hot water , however this immersion element is 3kw which make the logic above invalid if it can be powered, so how would it be possible to power this and the kettle only from solar ....
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    • solar pete
      Administrator
      • May 2014
      • 1816
      #2
      Hi ivanakos,

      In order to run a kettle that draws 3000watts, you need 3000watts, so a 3kW solar system on its best day might be able to run it for a little while in the middle of the day, cheers

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        • ivanakos
          Junior Member
          • Apr 2015
          • 3
          #3
          Originally posted by solar pete
          Hi ivanakos,

          In order to run a kettle that draws 3000watts, you need 3000watts, so a 3kW solar system on its best day might be able to run it for a little while in the middle of the day, cheers
          Thanks for the answer
          so if the pv system generates 2kw and the kettle is on i am using 1kw that I need to pay to my electricity provider and I am saving 2kw right ? and now that the kettle question is almost settled per my previous comment I understand that most immersion elements are about 3kw,
          Is it fair to say then that all those devices that promise to heat your cold water like immersun / iboost can only switch on the immersion heater when the energy generated from the PV system is more than 3kw (so in a very best sunny day for the solar system)?? so the immersion wouldnt be activating as much then...so might be better to use solar thermal which is not depended on the generation figure itself i guess...

            Comment

            • Sunking
              Solar Fanatic
              • Feb 2010
              • 23301
              #4
              Is this a Grid Tied System? If so don't worry about it. The grid is acting as a virtual battery. When your system generates more than you are using it exports the power and your neighbors use it. When you demand more power than your system generates you buy it back from the utility. You cannot control where the power goes or comes from. All you can do is try to size the system so that over a period of a year you net zero use give or take. You store up credits during the longer days of summer to use during winter.
              MSEE, PE

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