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Diversion Loads
82 975-0004-01-02 Rev D
Diversion Load Types
Several different types of diversion loads are available to the
alternative energy market. These loads are designed to
operate with the power output levels common to most
diversion load controllers. The following are several
available diversion loads which may be used successfully for
heating water or air.
A 120 Vac, 2000-watt water heater element, available at most
hardware stores, may be used with a 12-, 24-, or 48-volt DC
system; however do not expect a 2000-watt power
dissipation. The power draw is determined by the heater
element’s DC resistance, the output voltage of the controller,
as well as the output current capability of the charging
source(s).
These heater elements were designed to operate at
120 volts AC. A 48-volt, 40-amp charge controller will
operate just fine with this type of a system providing about
500 watts of power dissipation.
A 12- or 24-volt diversion load controller will work but
doesn’t put out enough power to effectively heat water with
only one element. The remedy to this type of problem is to
parallel several of these heater elements to increase the power
output.
Table C-1 below shows power dissipation of a 120 Vac,
2000-watt heater element operated at different voltages. Note
that the voltages given are roughly the bulk charge stage
voltages for a given system.
Table C-1
Power Dissipation
System Voltage Power Amperage
60 Vdc (48 Vdc system) 500 W 8.3 amps
30 Vdc (24 Vdc system) 125 W 4.2 amps
15 Vdc (12 Vdc system) 31 W 2.1 amps
120 Vac 2000 W 16.7 amps