Hey everyone! I'm working on a project for my outdoor hot tub, which has a heating element that runs at 2000 watts. I want to explore solar power options to reduce my electricity costs. The plan is to maintain a steady temperature of 38°C, and I'm considering setting up around 5-6 solar panels on the roof along with an off-grid inverter and battery backup—this way, the heater won't shut off when it's cloudy. Since the hot tub is insulated, I hope to keep it off at night and have it automatically start up each morning. Has anyone attempted a similar setup? I'd love to hear your experiences and advice!
2 Answers
Just a heads up, 2000 watts might sound like a lot less power than it actually is when it comes to solar generation. It’s definitely a cool project idea, but heating water, even with insulation, can be super energy-intensive. You might want to prepare for a bigger, more expensive solar setup than you initially thought! It could be quite the energy drain!
You might run into issues primarily heating your hot tub when it’s least needed, especially if you plan to use it during the night. While solar can help a bit, if you want to maintain usage when it’s cloudy, a battery bank is crucial here. Honestly, if you’re using the existing electrical connections, you might be better off just tying the solar into the grid and offsetting your meter. Creating a thermal battery with insulated water heating could be an efficient alternative, though it’s more complex!
Great point about the solar water heater! It’s definitely going to be more efficient than using batteries and inverters to heat things. Better to go directly from the sun to the hot tub!