48v 1000 Watt Heating Element with Adjustable Thermostat

[dgd]

I often think true elegance in design occurs when nothing more can be taken away and accomplish the task. Less is more kind of thing.

Occam's razor, a wonderful tool     but obfuscation and faff always seem to find a way, much like modbus cripples meaningful data communications.

dgd

[ChrisOlson]

but in Australia no one would use electricity to heat water. Actually element style hot water systems are being outlawed here.

And I thought the US was bad for passing stupid laws.

Electric water heating is almost 100% efficient at the element, converting the energy input into heat.  Many of us live in the Frozen North and have chosen electric water heating for our off-grid homes because we use wind turbines in the winter time when the sun doesn't shine for weeks at a time.  When the sun doesn't shine, direct solar water heating don't work very good.  Wind turbines that run 24 hours a day produce plenty of electricity to heat water with.

So it's a matter of choice:
- direct solar water heating - only works when the sun shines.

- electric water heating - works with solar, wind, or propane, gasoline, diesel fuel (heating water with generator power if necessary).

In other words, electric water heating is reliable because we can use a variety of power sources for it.  Direct solar isn't reliable in our climate.
--
Chris