050/687808880Use excess PV power for hot water – with the my-PV 3 kW screw-in heating element
Do you have an AC-THOR Power Manager or would you like to use your excess PV power for hot water? The my-PV 3 kW screw-in heating element is an electric heating rod specifically designed for stepless control by the my-PV Power Manager.
What exactly is it? An electric heating element with 3 kW power that can be installed directly into your existing system. Hot water storage or Buffer storage It is installed. In combination with a my-PV Power-Manager (AC-THOR, AC-THOR 9s or SOL-THOR), it continuously converts your PV surplus into heat.
Here's what you should know about screw-in radiators
Developed for my-PV Power-Manager
The screw-in heating element was designed by the Austrian manufacturer my-PV specifically for use with their power managers. Its design allows for stepless control from 0 to 3.000 watts – compatible with AC-THOR, AC-THOR 9s, or SOL-THOR control systems.
What does that mean in concrete terms? Unlike conventional on/off heating elements, this combination also utilizes small surpluses of PV power. Even with only 500 watts of available power, the heating element operates, instead of only activating above a minimum power level.
Designed for longevity
The design of the screw-in heating element ensures low thermal surface loads on the heating elements. This has the following effects:
- Longer service life thanks to gentle operation
- Less limescale buildup compared to conventional heating elements
- Reliable continuous operation possible
Users report in forums that the system has operated smoothly for several years without any failures or performance losses.
Uncomplicated installation
The screw-in heating element can be installed as follows:
- Installation in the Storage: Standard 1,5 inch thread fits most hot water and Buffer storage
- Connection to AC-THOR: Direct connection via 2,8 m Schuko plug – no additional cabling required
- Set temperature: Set the desired target temperature using the rotary knob (34-78°C)
- Complete: The AC-THOR automatically detects the shutdown and goes into standby mode.
Note: The manufacturer recommends installation by a professional. However, installation is straightforward if a 1,5-inch connection is already present.
This is how the combination works in practice.
With AC-THOR or AC-THOR 9s (grid-connected)
The AC-THOR continuously measures the PV surplus and controls the screw-in heating element steplessly with second-by-second precision . As soon as excess solar power is available, it is immediately converted into heat and stored in the storage unit.
Practical example:
- 10:00 AM: 800W surplus → Heating element running at 800W
- 11:00 AM: 2.500W surplus → Heating element running at 2.500W
- 12:00 PM: Cloudy, only 300W excess power → Heating element running at 300W
- Result: Continuous use of the PV surplus
With SOL-THOR (off-grid)
In off-grid systems, the SOL-THOR uses the entire yield of the PV modules directly for heat generation. The screw-in heating element converts the direct current into heat without conversion losses.
Important for SOL-THOR application: The Schuko plug may be removed without loss of warranty, as the SOL-THOR requires direct wiring.
temperature control
Use the rotary knob to set the desired target temperature (approx. 34-78°C). The integrated safety temperature limiter at 98°C protects against overheating. Once the water reaches the set temperature, the thermostat switches off – the AC-THOR detects this automatically and goes into standby mode.
Technical Details & Applications
Applications
Warmwasserbereitung:
- Drinking water reservoir (Freshwater storage)
- domestic hot water storage tank
- Electric boiler
Heating support:
- Buffer storage tanks for pellet, gas or oil heating systems
- Combined storage tank
- Layered storage
Typical use cases:
- Summer hot water preparation: In summer, the main heating system remains off; the heating element takes over hot water preparation using PV electricity.
- Heating support during the transition period: In spring and autumn, the heating element relieves the pellet or gas heating system on sunny days.
- Backup function: In the event of a main heating system failure, the heating element can continue to provide hot water via mains power (optional).
- Combination with solar thermal energy: In existing solar thermal systems, the heating element supplements heat generation when solar radiation is insufficient.
Compatibility
Compatible with:
- my-PV AC-THOR (for 3 kW)
- my-PV AC-THOR 9s (for up to 3x 3 kW)
- my-PV SOL-THOR (off-grid)
Suitable accessories:
- my-PV AC-THOR Power Manager
- my-PV AC-THOR 9s Power Manager
- my-PV SOL-THOR DC Power Manager
- my-PV WiFi Meter
- Additional temperature sensors
You can find other compatible manufacturers and integration instructions here.
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