Hi...anyone know about SOLAR WAVE solar water heater??hows the quality??any comments??

For me solar water heater is useless in Malaysia except .... (later on this)

During hot day, you get plenty of hot water but why you need hot water to bath in hot day? During rainy days, you just have water than is not hot enough or not enough hot water

I'w say even with electric water heater, the hot water storage tank is not holding water long enough for next day. Probably lost most of heat at night time. Someone who has been installing this said, it is not worth the investment. Almost useless.

The only thing that you can benefit is that if you use hot water in your kitchen like for cleaning greasy plate etc.

I don't know what experience your statements are based upon. I've live in 2 house were we installed a solar water heater, the first was a plastic panel type, it was good most of the year apart from a few days at the end of the year when the water wasn't warm. We have a vacuum tube type panel now, the performance is much better, I would estimate there are 2 -3 days/year when we have to use 100% water from the hot tap for a shower. We don't have electric water heaters.

To add, performance of the panel depends upon the location. best solar gain is generally in the mornings. Afternoons tend to be more cloudy.

This post has been edited by kk131: Apr 23 2018, 08:53 AM

It is from several people who owned the solar water heater. Probably depends on where you live. If you are from small town go to KL, the feel the water is never cold. Hardly use water heater even in the morning.

If you have rainy condition for several days like during monsoon time, will water be hot?

Read my post. With vacuum tube type, the water is still warm, even during the condition we experienced late last year. Seems like you're relying on second hand information, not personal experience.

I read about vacuum tube or I believe you meant vacuum storage tank. I was asking during cloudy days for 2 or 3 days, how hot was the water? Can it get hot enough based on your experience?

Using a microsolar panel now https://www.facebook.com/MicrosolarSystem/ . I think the glass tubes are from China.

Here's some info on the tubes https://www.solartubs.com/how-do-solar-vacu...tubes-work.html

Pray don't breakdown.

Just asking them to come over can cost you an arm and a leg.

Yeap same here, only when there is continuous downpour over a period of two to three days, that the back up heater needs to be switched on. This is partly due to my installation location (for aesthetic reasons) meaning, that the solar panel will not get a good sun exposure.

Prior to installation it is best to consult with the heater manufacturer, on the best location for installation. Many of this heater sales person will willingly come down to provide this advise. This is the crucial step which I missed, and at present my heater only gets the sun rays from mid afternoon until evening; best location, would be to maximise the sun rays, especially morning to mid day sun; as downpours usually occur towards the mid afternoon to evenings at KL.

Must have installed the panel in 2005. Since then, they've been 2x to service (about 6 yearly interval). Servicing has been to clean the tubes (get silt and algae inside the tubes that reduces the efficiency) and replace the header tank float valve (it's a standard type of valve). Last time they came in 2016 I paid around RM900.

I haven't done any comparison between electric & solar costs. When we bought the house from the developer, we specified hot water plumbing, that was an additional cost, rather than the cost of individual electric storage tanks offered.

I prefer the convenience of solar, hot water always available in all the bathrooms and kitchen.

May I know what is the brand u r using??

Microsolar is considered the efficient system, while the common solar water heater is not efficient.

Microsolar - refer post #7. The solarwave product seems to be using similar components.

This post has been edited by kk131: Apr 24 2018, 10:52 AM

Ok, lets calculate the cost at 20yrs usage between electric storage heater and solar heater. Base on the max solar heater lifetime. (some claim at 15yrs)

Solar heater
Price range at RM5.5k.
Maintenance 4x in 20yrs - 4x900=RM3.6k
Total usage cost - RM5500 + RM3600 = RM9100

Storage heater
Price range at RM850. (68L Joven)
Usage perday boil once perday at for 60min at 3kw. 3kw x 365/12 = 91.25kwh/mth. If your bill is RM100/mth, that is 0.28 x 91.25 = RM25.55/mth
For 20yrs electric usage - RM25.55 x 12 x 20 =RM6132
Maintenance - For safety reason and lifespan, give it 10yrs to change once. So in 20yrs require 2unit. And the 2nd unit price might be up. Put it at RM850 +RM200 = RM1050
Total usage cost - RM850 + RM6132 + RM1050 = RM8032.

I will use solar heater for safety reason. Storage heater for the cost usage.

Solar heater can also be lighting problem if the earth not done correctly. Don't forget it have heating element too

If I'd taken the developer's option, I would have one electric storage heater for each bathroom (4) and one for the kitchen, so a total of 5. I think this is a very inefficient design, much prefer centralised hot water storage.

Besides the economics, there's the 'soft' issues - reduced carbon footprint, hot water for 'free' if you've made the investment, hot water on tap 24/7.

I was quoted RM5.5k for s80, 4.9K for s60 respectively by Hydro1

and 5.53K for piping

The latter made me threw the whole idea into the drain.

Microsolar lor.

Sometime I wonder, should earth it or not. If you earth it, the chance of strike is higher. But there is still 1/million.

68L is overkill for 1 bathroom. That is for 3 bathroom. So got to centralize the heater.

Storage heater is 24/7 hot water available. It similar to solar heater. Just the heating element is different. But are more reliable than solar heater.

Where is your "hot water for 'free'" coming from ?

You have big house?

Laying the pipe is not easy job.

heating element need change every about 1.5years ...
always happened dry burnt ...
the cost is a' lot for 20years

I think there is something wrong with your unit.

1.5yrs is crazy short life. Doesn't makesense every 1.5yrs got to change the heater.

weikee how long the heater last ?

the joven installer checked told everything OK ...nothing wrong..he told some place customer change heating element every year ...so is make sense ...unless the installer lie me ...
some case may due to incoming water something like ph thing causing short life spend....

if that is the case, may be u should try hydro1 heaters, they are using ceramic heating element and not metal, hence more durable

Not change since in 2011 dec.

If water is an issue, solar storage may also cause problems. The solar storage is also metal/s.steel and many piping inside the solar too.

I don't buy their word. It still doesn't make sense.

How much is the heater cost change ?

Why you still use it when the repairing cost is expensive. Those cost yrs add up can buy a instant heater which have no problem with the heater.

This is totally a design product failure. Nobody will buy a storage heater is the heater only last that short period.

no use solar heater b4...not sure about it..

cost about rm200...depend on tank storage size...

the tank installed by the developer...
yes replace heating element after few times price equal to get good instant heater ...

my friend in singapore using joven heater tank ...he used more than 20years without any problem ...
but in malaysia...heating element always giving problem ...

wonder is design product different between country ? or incoming water issue ?
or others issue ?

installation wise...the installer will install according to joven installation guide ...


thanks ...

Where got in Malaysia. I don't have problem since move in 2011, and i stay in Malaysia.

Probably this is just your case.

Not all. weikee unit been using for 7yrs now.

Why don't change the whole unit? 2nd time spoiled already have to consider hard not to continue use that crap heater anymore.

Storage heater not that expensive either.

May i know
where is your location?
incoming water clean ?
install outdoor water filter ?
landed?

maybe my area issue ?
...my neighbor also encounter the same problem ...but his one can last about 2years ...

think may consider instant water heater ..


thanks ....

Landed, USJ area, i am using 3M AP902 for incoming filter.

ive no use outdoor filter ...is that possible causing short life spend?

Doubt so, how is your house water (direct) If your water is ok for laundry, it will be okay to be use for storage heater.

Have you seen the damage heating element? how is it look like?

Your neighbour heater is also same model and from developer ?

Check the model and Google see any complain on this particular model.

Developer will not choose the best model for you guy. They look for the cheapest and most basic model. You can't complain right? That is how easy to earn money.

as attached photo ...
changed about 2years ago ...recently change one no take photo ..

yes same model from developer...model jh35 horizontal type..


thanks ...


Attached thumbnail(s)

If its lime/calcium build up can always sand it off. Look like your water need some filtering.

Is the element break? not generating heat. This usually happen when is too hot usually only happen if its "dry burn" without water or the element is not 100% into the water.

not sure the element break or not ...once turn on the heater switch then the power breaker trip ...

the technician also told tank no water or not fully cover the heating element ...only will happened dry burn ...
i think in mind...the tank install on top ceiling and tank not transparent ..how to know water not 100% cover the element ..
turn on water tap ..water flow out ..this is the way i test the tank got water or not ..

incoming also got water ...seldom cut off ...if cut off water will also flow in tank from tangki...


thanks ....

mcb trip or rcd trip?

mcb ...once trip ..whole house no current ...


thanks ...

Erm....
Maybe you don't know the difference between rcd and mcb.

Mind to take a picture?

maybe ...so photo for the main circuit breaker?

thanks ..

hi ...

photo as attached ....
the thing in circle trip when the leaving element dry burnt...


thanks ...


Attached thumbnail(s)

Wow.
A 63 amp 2pole mcb tripping.

You have some problem.
1. The solar heater don't have internal protection from dry burn and load protection.
2. You don't have a dedicated mcb for the heater.
3. I also suspect the contact point for the mcb are loose. Get a wireman to come and check.

1...is storage heater ...
2…yes otherwise 63amp wont trip ..only trip the heater
3…how much for checking ?

thanks ...

Go and change the new storage heater la.

Add in an additional RCD beside the ON/OFF heater switch.

Why you still want to use a heater that every 1.5yrs got to repair ?

any model recommend? or solar heater ?


thanks ...

i agree with ozak.

your heater unit has inherent problems.
also, if changing unit just get the wireman to install the dedicated mcb/rcbo for the heater. and at the same time check the contacts for all the mcb.

solar heater and joven heater using similar type of heating element. If u dont use often, the backup heater gonna spoil faster.

Use hydro1 storage tank instead, using ceramic heating element instead of metal

Can you let me know,

1) Is you home hot water consumption is high? You guys bath at the same time in all the bathroom ? What is the pattern of usage everyday?
2) your storage heater supply to how many bathroom ? Kitchen ? WM?
3) What is the storage heater capacity and power?
4) heater ON for 24hr ? Or when off and when on ?

1) yes for 3kids bath at the same time ...morning school time ..noon after school ...night time after the kids bath follow by adults...

2) nope only supply to bath room ....shower only ..

3) joven jh35 ...35litres..3kW

4) when want bath ON..Oning while bath until all finished bath ..OFF ...


thanks ....

You can use back the storage heater. But need a bigger capacity.

Minimum is 50l according to Joven recommended.

What I suspect your heater dryburn is because the capacity is not enough. Here is the probably scenario,

1) when the heater is new, there is not much problem with it as the water boiled fast enough. So your usage of hot water is lesser cause mix with cold water more. The draining of the hot water is slow down.

2) once the heater getting old or insulated with the mineral deposit, the water getting slow to heat up. So you have to use more hot water to mix. Consumption is high till the incoming is not fast enough to replace the out going. That is when the heater not submerge inside the water that cause it dry burn.

Normally storage heater have such a safety device built in.

1) pressure release valve to not over pressure the tank.
2) temperature cut off when reach the target temperature. Heater will off.
3) Thermal relay to avoid dry burn the heater. If the heater not submerge, heater temperature rise very fast and take alot of current. This thermal relay will cut off the heater supply when certain current range reach. Thermal relay will get hot and open the contact. No power to heater. Once the thermal relay cold down, the contact will close again.

So there is a possibility that the protect Thermal relay is not working. If the existing model don't have such function, than better change the heater.

If you want to change the storage heater,
1) change to bigger size. Minimum 50l.
2) Change the way you ON the heater. ON the heater earlier. OFF it when you take bath. Before when to sleep, ON the heater back. Just OFF it everytime you take bath. In this way, water have the time to fill back. Hot water can be keep very long in the heater. And for safety too.
3) For additional safety, install a RCD after the ON/OFF switch. Change the out going piping to non metal contact type. Poly pipe for example. (Just a short piping before the existing pipe disappear into the concrete.)

This post has been edited by ozak: May 8 2018, 01:58 PM

To add on,

The short part of non conductive piping must be longer than 1 meter.
This is for the distance of water to increase the total resistance against current so that the current can do no harm to the person.