EarthWise SOLiC 200 User manual

SOLiC 200
User instructions
© Earthwise Products Ltd
SOLiC 200 January 2013
www.earthwiseproducts.co.uk

WARNING! Electricity can kill. The SOLiC 200 should only
ever be installed by a suitably qualified electrician.
To ensure that the SOLiC 200 qualifies for the 10-year
return-to-base guarantee, please complete and return
the enclosed guarantee reply postcard. It must be
signed by the qualified installer at the time of
installation.
Introduction and background
The SOLiC 200 is designed to work seamlessly with your
solar photovoltaic power generation system and
domestic hot water tank.
Its purpose is to divert surplus generated electrical
energy into a standard 3kW domestic immersion
heater.
The SOLiC 200 does not interfere with the existing solar
PV system in any way, so any warranties, seals and
solar wiring are not altered. No plumbing alterations
whatsoever are required. The generating capacity of
the solar PV system can be from 100W up, and still
provide useful power to the immersion heater.
The energy diverted into a typical domestic hot water
tank with this system averages at approximately 7kW a
day. This provides a noticeable reduction in the
amount of fossil fuel required to heat the water without
any reductions of FITs you are receiving.

The SOLiC 200 operates automatically, without the
need for any user intervention. The surplus electricity
from the solar installation is regulated automatically
and diverted to the immersion heater.
Basic setup
SOLiC 200 has two installer-set operating modes -
mode 1 or mode 2 (default setting is mode 2).
Differences between mode 1 and 2

Mode 1
The SOLiC 200 senses the power produced by the solar
array, and feeds the power above a pre-set threshold
into the immersion heater.
For example; if the house uses 500W and the solar
generator is producing 700W, the SOLiC 200 will only
divert the difference above the pre-set threshold. If the
threshold is set at 500W, then 200W will feed into the
immersion heater.
If the generator is producing 700W, threshold is 500W
and the house is now using 400W, then 200W will heat
the water and 100W will be exported.
Benefits: If the average household power use is
consistent throughout the day, very little power is
exported to the grid. The threshold can be manually
fine-tuned by a qualified electrician or installer
depending on your usage habits. A very high
efficiency can be achieved, ensuring maximum
effectiveness of the system. This mode can be used for
standard off-grid systems.
Mode 2
The SOLiC 200 senses the total house power fed back
into the grid, and then varies the power to the
immersion heater, until the grid feed-in power is
reduced to zero.

For example; if the house uses 500W and the solar
generator is producing 700W, the SOLiC 200 will sense
that about 200W are being exported. The power
supplied to the immersion heater will be increased until
the sensor measures almost no power being returned
to the grid. The SOLiC 200 checks itself 20 times a
second, striving to keep this export amount to a
minimum.
Benefits: Good efficiency can be achieved for
sporadic high power users, giving maximum flexibility
with the ability to “fit and forget”, together with an
effective system.
Regardless of which mode is used, the SOLiC 200 will
divert excess electricity to the immersion heater until
the water is hot. The temperature of the water is set by
the immersion heater thermostat. Once the water is
hot, the immersion heater thermostat will click off.
Power will continue to be available to the immersion
heater (indicated by the “immersion power”light
staying on), so long as the solar generator system
continues to produce power. When the immersion
heater is switched on by the SOLiC 200, a gradual
changeover ensures that a consistent level of power is
maintained for the rest of the house to avoid lights
flickering.
A pause function is provided to suspend heating when
the SOLiC 200 is installed in mode 1. The SOLiC 200
remains in pause mode for 30 minutes once the button
has been pressed. After 30 minutes has elapsed,
automatic operation will resume. To manually resume,

press the pause button again. Alternatively, instead of
using the pause function, the house immersion heater
switch can be used to disconnect the power. This will
need to be turned back on again to allow solar
heating to continue automatically. When the system
has been paused, the “immersion power light”will flash
green.
An override function is provided for use in both modes
to switch the immersion heater on. To turn the
immersion heater on –irrespective of whether solar
power is being generated or not –press the override
button. The SOLiC 200 will provide full mains power to
the immersion heater for 90 minutes once the override
button has been pressed. This replicates the function of
turning on the immersion heater switch. After 90
minutes has elapsed, automatic operation will resume.
To manually resume automatic operation, press the
override button again.
For more information, please visit
www.earthwiseproducts.co.uk

Power light
Green
The mains quality is good. Power is on
Red
The mains quality is poor, so the unit is in temporary
standby mode. This light is also used to highlight
faults or other undesirable conditions, such as
power limiting from overheating, sensor not
calibrated or system in standby.
Generating power light
Mode 1
Green
The solar PV installation is generating
power.
Mode 1
Red
The solar PV installation is not
generating power.
Mode 2
Green
Sufficient surplus power is available to
be supplied to the immersion heater.
Mode 2
Red
The house is drawing grid power - there
is minimal or no surplus power
available.
Mode 2
Flashing
red/
green
All available power is being supplied to
the immersion heater. No power is
being drawn from the grid.
Immersion power light
Green
Power is being supplied to the immersion
heater - presently fading up or down.
Off
No power is being provided
Flashing red
The immersion heater has been provided
with full power irrespective of any power
being generated.
Flashing green
The pause function has suspended heating
altogether.