Solar controller MPPT Antik Water Heater PWH 01 V3 3kW (for photovoltaic water heating)

Product detailed description

Photovoltaic water heating isan efficient way to use solar energy for households and cottages. Just mount the PV panels on the roof and connect to your existing hot water boiler. The hot water will be heated from the sun, if there is not enough of it on a given day, the device will switch the heating to the 230V grid. The system does not require complicated modifications to the storage tank and can be controlled via a mobile app. The free ANTIK Smart Home app (Android and iOS) is available for various control and settings of the inverter.

A smart solar inverter that offers efficient direct power to the boiler from the sun. A new and improved VERSION 3 (3rd generation) of the highly successful V2 model, plus two AC outputs, backup clock in case of power failure, 40A switching relay (oversized)!

The inverter has a power setting of 2 000 - 3 000 W. The unit is designed for an input voltage of 0 to 400 V DC / 16A max. with respect to the operating voltage of the boiler heating cartridge. Since the boiler is essentially a purely ohmic load, power is handled virtually from the first watt produced.

It meets the conditions of the NZÚ light 2024 subsidy program without the need for additional switchboards with contactor combinations or other means of additional grid/FVE switching. The device, according to the set mode, directly feeds the boiler from the solar panel production without unnecessary losses.

Optimal combination of solar panels with this inverter in practice are four to six panels of 450-550 W each, which corresponds to a total power of 2 - 2.7 kW.

Main features
-  Automatic switching between PV and grid with priority PV heating.
-  2 inverter outputs + temperature sensor.
-  Possibility of backup heating from 230V mains.
-  Remote control via WiFi with the free Smart Home app.
-  Instantaneous values of voltage, current and panel power.
-  Graph of power and water temperature with annual history.
-  Remote monitoring of water temperature in the boiler.  
-  Selectable inverter power 2 000 - 3 000 W.
-  Water temperature in the boiler / storage tank.
-  Sharing a device with another user.
-  Clear user interface.
-  Remote firmware update.
-  Daily energy produced.
-  Smart cooling to increase power up to 3kW.

Package contents:
- ANTIK Water Heater PWH 01 V3
- Wall bracket and mounting screws
- Temperature sensor with cable - length 3 metres
- 230V socket with cable - length 1 meter
- 230V plug with cable - length 1 meter
- Gift voucher to watch ANTIK TV for 6 months for free
- CZ manual

Introduction of the Antik Water Heater V3
- An efficient way to use photovoltaics for homes and cottages with the fastest payback is photovoltaic water heating. Just mount the PV panels on the roof, connect the ANTIK PV Water Heater and your current hot water boiler to it.
- The Antik Water Heater PWH 01 V3 is factory set to 2000 Watt and the inverter menucan be adjusted-increase power in 50 Watt increments up to 3000 Wattthanks toactive smart cooling with fan. The fan has a controlled speed, from 40°C inside the device it starts spinning at minimum speed, at 60°C it goes at maximum speed. If the temperature rises further, the power starts to be limited. The controller comes with a temperature sensor (transducer) which allows the final temperature to be set.
- Antik Water Heater has MPPS support(Maximum Power Point Searching) - at regular intervals the inverter searches the complete characteristics of the panels, if two points appear where MPPT could work, it selects the one with the higher power. Useful for example if part of the panels are shaded.
- Systemrequires no significant intervention into the accumulation tank. It can becontrol and monitor via the mobile app.

Secondary output
Antik Water Heater version 3 includes the possibility to connect the secondary output via a three-pole connector, which is protected by a waterproof cap. To connect the output, a cable connector (product code 566604) must be purchased as an optional accessory to the inverter (not included).

2x AC output - operation
- The solar inverter switches the heating to the secondary output if the water temperature at the external sensor has reached the set temperature for PV heating or even if the circuit has been disconnected by the thermostat (the device detects zero current).
- The second output will remain on until the temperature at the external sensor drops 5 degrees below the set temperature for the PV. If zero current is detected at the time of switching to the second output (the output is not connected) the device will switch back to the first output and will not switch to the second output. The grid backup function on the second output is not supported.

How to make a choice?
- If you heat water with a conventional storage boiler, you can simply add an inverter to heat the waterto which 5 photovoltaic panels are directly connected and 8 months of the year you heat water for free. In case of bad weather, the heating switches over automatically

3 operating modes
-PV mode - a function where only the energy of the solar panels is used.
-Mains (AC) mode - a function where only energy from the grid is used.
-AUTO mode - function, where the device works completely autonomously and can provide enough hot water all year round.
 
Water temperature monitoring - SOLAR MODE and BACKUP MODE
ANTIK controllerensures that the correct water temperature is monitored in the boiler according to your settings. It is possible to use the pure solar mode or the 230V backup mode in case the water in the boiler is not sufficiently heated.

SOLAR MODE
In solar mode, the network backup enable parameter is set to NO, and therefore all temperatures and times related to backups are ignored. The water will only be heated during the day and to the temperature specified in the parameter named "PV" (or until interrupted by the boiler thermostat).
Description of individual points of the temperature progression:
1. After sunrise, the temperature in the boiler starts to rise.
2. When the water temperature reaches the desired value, heating is interrupted.
3. If the water temperature drops to any low value during the night, the water will not be heated until the next day.

BACKUP MODE
In backup mode, the Enable Network Backup parameter is set to YES, in which case the device starts managing backup temperatures, start time, and backup duration. Two backup temperatures are available. The upper temperature (Backup Off) sets the temperature at which the heating is turned off in the event of a backup. The lower temperature (Backup On) sets the temperature below which backup is activated when the water temperature drops. The start time and duration also determine the interval when the backup will be active. Outside of this interval, the backup will not be activated even if the temperature drops below the lower temperature.
Description of individual temperature points:
1. At night, the water temperature drops but does not reach a lower temperature.
2. During the day, the temperature starts to rise by heating the PV.
3. When the temperature for photovoltaics is reached, the heating is interrupted.
4. After a large hot water consumption, the temperature drops significantly, and because it has dropped below the lower limit and was within the active backup interval, the backup is activated and the water is heated from 230V.
5. The water temperature has reached the upper temperature for backup and the 230V mains heating is switched off.

Other benefits and additional features
In addition to these basic advantages, the device has the following additional features:
- Remote monitoringvia WiFi and the Antik Smart Home app.
- Temperature monitoring the water in the boiler remotely.
- Backup option heating from 230V mains.
- Clear user interface.

On grid power, all without having to deal with the administration associated with connecting an on-grid or hybrid system.

With an emphasis on safety and efficiency
The device containsMPPT converter that converts input DC voltage to output AC with a frequency of 50Hz, which is necessary for three reasons:
1. Protection of the heater thermostat against arcing of the contacts when disconnecting a load through which DC current is flowing.
2. Prevention of water electrolysis in case of imperfect insulation of the heating element.
3. At the same time, the MPPT algorithm maximizes the actual performance of the panels.

Photovoltaic panels
For the choice of the number of panels, it is important to approach the 230 VDC value at the output of the panels at full load. This number of panels is recommended for maximum performance:

- 4 - 5 x 550 Wp - max.power of the assembly: 2200 - 2750 Wp
- 5 - 6 x 450 Wp - max.power of the assembly: 2275 - 2730 Wp
- 5 - 6 x 415 Wp - max. power of the assembly: 2075 - 2490 Wp

In practice, the optimal combination is4 to 7 solar panelsof 400-550 Wp. The Antik Water Heater is designedfor input voltage 0 to 400 V DC with regard to the operating voltage of the boiler heating cartridge. Since the boiler is essentiallypure ohmic load, the power is processed virtuallysince the first Watt was made.

How many photovoltaic panels do I need ?
- When choosing photovoltaic solar panels follow a few guidelines. If you choose the type and number of panels, so if you have fewer panels so with higher voltage, if more panels so with lower voltage. Attention -don't underestimate overvoltage protection, DC disconnector, fuse protection and earthing.
- Total power of the panels should be approximately the same or higher as the power consumption of the spiral in the boiler. It is important not to overload the spiral with high voltage.
- At lower power, everything will work as well, but the chances of getting full heat purely from the panels on cloudy days will be reduced. Especially in winter.
- Number of panels (connected in series/back-to-back) choose the panels so that the panels in total provideapproximately the tension of the spiral.
- Maximum voltage panels (Vmax) without load (no-load voltage - Voc)must not even in freezing weather, when the voltage is noticeably higher, exceed the maximum permissible input voltage of the inverter!

ANTIK Smart Home mobile app - options
- Antik SmartHome appis freely available for operating systemsAndroid and iOS. You can download it from Google Play for Android or from the Apple App Store for iOS.

Monitor the variables:
- Instantaneous panel voltage, current and power values
- Water temperature in the boiler / storage tank
- Temperature of the device
- Energy produced daily
- Total energy produced
- Performance and water temperature graph with annual history
- Current operating mode (grid, solar, off)

Set variables:
- Limit maximum power
- Setting the desired water temperature
- Set the time to switch the heating to 230V
- Switching the inverter on/off

Automation:
- Create automatic actions based on the values of individual variables and control other devices in the home (sockets, light bulbs, etc.).

Service:
- Sharing a device with another user
- Remotely update firmware on the device

Active fan cooling
The MPPT Antik Water Heater Solar Controller hasactive cooling with fan to increase the power up to 3kW. The fan has a controlled speed, from 40°C inside the unit it starts to spin at minimum speed, at 60°C it goes to maximum speed. If the temperature rises further, it starts to limit the power.
The controller is supplied withtemperature sensor (sensor), which allows you to set the final temperature. 

Frequently asked questions and answers...
1. Do you need a Wi-Fi network?
- The inverter works without a Wi-Fi network, but if you want to use the app, a Wi-Fi network is required.

2. Can more people log in through the app?
- Yes, in the application, the inverter sharing is set.

3. If the mains goes down - will the settings in the controller be lost?
- No, the inverter settings are stored in memory.

4. Setting the time for mains water heating: how does this setting work?
- If the setting is 00:00, back up is disabled. If you set the time e.g. 16:21 - if the water temperature is lower than the preset Backup Temp at this time, the back up from the mains is switched on for 3 hours or until the set temperature is reached.

5. Can it be set remotely?
- Yes, through the app.

6. If the mains is down, does the controller heat the water?
- No, the network is needed.

7. Should a safety element be placed between the regulator and the boiler or can it be directly?
- On the DC side, we recommend placing a surge protector. On the AC side, there is nothing to put.

8. What is the minimum voltage to start the string and MPPT? And is it an inverter that will change for example DC 180V from the panels to AC 230V at the output or just an inverter that will make the output AC voltage the same as the input DC?
- The inverter does not make 230V at the output. It produces so-called square current suitable only for resistive appliances, which are spirals, cookers, kettles, electric heaters. It doesn't produce a sinusoid and the AC side has the same voltage as the DC side. As for the min voltage. Basically it has no min voltage, it can work on 1 panel but it's output will be limited. To get to the optimum, that is to get the maximum with the panel power, in our experience a combination of 5 x 440 Wp panel works best. There the sum of the voltages gets to 200V - 250V and that is the optimum condition.

9. What capacity can the heating cartridge in the boiler have?
- We recommend 2kW, 2.5kW but in theory it doesn't matter what kind. If it is smaller e.g. 1,5kW you can set max. 1,5kW in the application if it is e.g. 3kW, so the inverter will simply supply you only as much as it can.

10. What real power in panels can we hang on the inverter?
- We recommend a maximum of 2.5 kW from the DC side. We have experience with 4x550, 5x550, 6x550Wp panels (3,3kW) and it runs beautifully. Also 5x440Wp - this is probably the ideal solution. But also 6x330Wp is ideal.

11. Does the inverter limit the power to 2kW when the power is higher?
- No, the inverter will only limit power if it is overheated, overloaded. You need to keep the correct distance from the surrounding area when installing.

12. Can the alternating voltage on the panels also increase to 230V or just decrease?
- It works by making the most of any weather. Every second it recalculates the volt/amp ratio and sets the best parameter. If it sees the volts dropping, it cuts the current and vice versa. It evaluates the current situation so that maximum power goes into the spiral.

13. Unable to log in to the app?
- Contact technical support.

Attention system change - Antik Water Heater V3 - new firmware upgrade to version 1.31 due to device improvements.
-  Communication with the app has been improved and a new feature has been added!
-  The new system change is to protect against accidental button presses on the display.
-  After a few seconds of inactivity, the display turns itself off, disconnects all buttons and goes to sleep.
-  To activate the sleep display on the inverter, you now need to press both arrows on the inverter at the same time!

Technical specifications