PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version number: 2.15 Version date: 2022/06/28 Enquiries: info@poweroptimal.com Address: Postnet Suite 21 Private Bag X21 Tyger Valley 7536 Patented: GB2583814, ZA2019/02129 Patents pending: PCT/IB2021/050542, GB2206504.9 © PowerOptimal (Pty) Ltd 2022. The content of this document is confidential and all rights to the intellectual property and/or information contained herein remain vested in PowerOptimal, except if otherwise agreed in writing.
SAFETY WARNING • Installation of the Elon® 100 should ONLY be performed by an electrical contractor registered with the Department of Labour (the so-called “wireman’s licence”) and strictly according to the installation instructions in this manual. The electrician should provide you with a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) once installation is completed. • We strongly recommend that you use a reputable and experienced solar photovoltaic (PV) system installer to install your solar PV modules.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 3 of 24 Version number: 2.15 Table of Contents Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... 3 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 4 1.1 System overview ......................................................................
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 4 of 24 Version number: 2.15 1. Introduction Thank you for buying the PowerOptimal Elon® 100 solar PV water heating unit! You can look forward to many years of savings and free energy from the sun. 1.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 5 of 24 Version number: 2.15 1.2 Main system components The main components of the system are as follows: • • • • Solar modules with struts, brackets and cabling PowerOptimal Elon® unit with controller Existing or new water heater or geyser (hot water tank with AC heating element and AC thermostat) Isolators for grid and solar connections 1.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 6 of 24 Version number: 2.15 2. Operation Instruction video: www.poweroptimal.com/elon100 Refer to our easy to understand instruction video on how to use the Elon 100. 2.1 Elon® 100 controller Your Elon® 100 has a controller that is typically installed next to your DB (distribution board). The controller has two main functions: 1.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 7 of 24 Version number: 2.15 2.2 Mains and solar indicator lights The Mains & solar indicator lights indicate the following conditions: Lights Meaning Green light ON Geyser on temperature Green light flashing Heating with solar Red light ON Mains power available (power to Elon® unit on) Red light flashing Heating with mains Both lights ON Red light ON & Green light flashing Geyser is on temperature.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 8 of 24 Version number: 2.15 2.3 Control dial settings Dial Setting Time on Mains* Time on Solar* MAINS ONLY 24 hr Never 1 12:00 to 08:00 08:00 to 12:00 2 14:30 to 05:30 05:30 to 14:30 3 17:00 to 03:00 03:00 to 17:00 SOLAR ONLY Never 24 hr 24-Hour Clock * Times are approximate – will vary slightly with season and location Think of the water in your geyser as a battery that can store energy in the form of hot water.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 9 of 24 Version number: 2.15 If you set the control dial to “SOLAR ONLY”, you can increase the geyser thermostat temperature to 60 ºC to get maximum benefit from your solar array installation. We do not recommend setting the thermostat temperature above 60 °C. Remember to reduce the thermostat temperature again if you reduce the efficiency setting. Warning: Do not set thermostat temperature above 65 ºC due to increased scalding risk.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 10 of 24 Version number: 2.15 Please note: The water in your geyser should be heated to 60 °C at least once a week to prevent Legionella bacterial growth1. If you have heavily overcast weather for more than a week on the SOLAR ONLY setting, turn the dial clockwise outside of the SOLAR ONLY zone for a day in order to supplement the solar water heating with grid electricity to reach the thermostat temperature setting.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 11 of 24 Version number: 2.15 3. Maintenance The Elon® 100 has been designed to last for a very long time and has no moving parts aside from three electrical relays. No maintenance is required on the Elon® 100. 3.1 Solar PV module maintenance It is recommended that a qualified electrician inspect your solar PV installation at least once a year. 1. At least once a week, check whether the indicator lights are flashing rapidly.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 12 of 24 Version number: 2.15 4. What to expect in terms of performance 4.1 Hot water production Heating water takes a LOT of energy. A household geyser can use up to 40% of a house’s electricity. Heating a single 200 litre geyser from 15 °C to 60 °C will use over 10 kWh. This is about the same amount of energy burnt by a person running a distance of over 100 km at 10 km/hr, or enough energy to watch more than 120 hours of TV2.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 13 of 24 Version number: 2.15 4.2 Impact of location and seasons The amount of energy from the sun depends on your location, the time of year as well as the orientation of your solar panels. The best direction for panels in South Africa is to face north, at an angle of about 25 to 35° from horizontal.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 14 of 24 Version number: 2.15 4.3 Payback period As can be seen from the graph above, payback period decreases as number of solar panels increases, and is also different for Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban3.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 15 of 24 Version number: 2.15 5. Troubleshooting 5.1 Troubleshooting Guide for Users © PowerOptimal (Pty) Ltd 2022. The content of this document is confidential and all rights to the intellectual property and/or information contained herein remain vested in PowerOptimal, except if otherwise agreed in writing.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 16 of 24 Version number: 2.15 Below you can find the same information with some further detail in table format. If you cannot resolve the problem using the diagram or table, please contact your installer. Issue Water temperature too low Possible causes a. High hot water usage levels b. Cloudy or rainy day c. Dirty solar modules d. Mains circuit breaker has tripped e.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Issue Both indicator lights off Red or green indicator light flashing very fast Possible causes a. There is a power failure and it is overcast or night-time b. Geyser breaker at DB board switched off and it is overcast or night-time c. Mains power is over- or under-voltage a. Isolation fault Page 17 of 24 Version number: 2.15 What to do a. Wait until power or sun returns and check if any indicator light comes on. b.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 18 of 24 Version number: 2.15 5.2 Troubleshooting Guide for Electricians NOTE: This Troubleshooting Guide is intended for electricians and not general users. Users should please refer to Section 5.1. Things to Remember • The red mains LED will only start functioning once stable mains voltage between 160 and 260 V AC is present for more than 4 minutes.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 19 of 24 Version number: 2.15 Appendix A. IEC/SANS and EMC Test Certificates: Elon® 100 © PowerOptimal (Pty) Ltd 2022. The content of this document is confidential and all rights to the intellectual property and/or information contained herein remain vested in PowerOptimal, except if otherwise agreed in writing.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 20 of 24 Version number: 2.15 © PowerOptimal (Pty) Ltd 2022. The content of this document is confidential and all rights to the intellectual property and/or information contained herein remain vested in PowerOptimal, except if otherwise agreed in writing.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 21 of 24 Version number: 2.15 © PowerOptimal (Pty) Ltd 2022. The content of this document is confidential and all rights to the intellectual property and/or information contained herein remain vested in PowerOptimal, except if otherwise agreed in writing.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 22 of 24 Version number: 2.15 Appendix B. Warranty If the PowerOptimal Elon® 100 (“the Product”) is found to be defective, you will be entitled to a repair or replacement within 2 (two) years of the date of delivery of the Product to you. Please keep your receipt as proof of purchase. If you are a consumer as defined in the Consumer Protection Act No.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 23 of 24 Version number: 2.15 Appendix C. Terminology AC Alternating Current – an electric current that reverses its direction many times a second at regular intervals, with voltage typically varying in the form of a sine wave. CoC Certificate of Compliance – to be issued by the electrician installing your Elon® 100 system CPA Consumer Protection Act No.
PowerOptimal Elon® 100 User Manual Version date: 2022/06/28 Page 24 of 24 Version number: 2.15 Notes © PowerOptimal (Pty) Ltd 2022. The content of this document is confidential and all rights to the intellectual property and/or information contained herein remain vested in PowerOptimal, except if otherwise agreed in writing.
