my-PV AC-Thor

Frequently asked questions

Where can the AC-THOR be used?
In all houses with PV system and hot water tank, the PV surplus can be used for domestic water heating.
Optional: In buildings with low heating demand, electric space heating can also be supported photovoltaically. Self-consumption maximization is the goal!

Up to which house size is the AC-THOR useful?
Hot water up to 6 persons, space heating up to 150 m² (low energy standard).

Is electric space heating a prerequisite for the AC-THOR?
No. You can use the AC-THOR for hot water heating only. Provided that a buffer tank is available, you can of course also support the water-based space heating.

Can I combine the AC-THOR with conventional heating systems?
Yes, it can also be used to support other heating systems in order to relieve them. For example, in summer the pellet boiler or the heat pump for hot water does not need to be started. Combined operation with heat pumps is also possible.

How big must the PV system be for AC-THOR?
Depending on whether only hot water is to be provided or space heating is also to be supported, a PV system size between 3 and 10 kWp makes sense for a single-family house.

Where does the surplus information for AC-THOR or AC ELWA-E come from?
Either from the my-PV Power Meter or from a compatible energy management system (smart home or battery storage).

How can a system with AC-THOR and direct electric heating require less power from the grid than a variant with a heat pump?
A heat pump can “only” generate heat. It does not make any contribution to the electrical loads in the building. In contrast, the photovoltaic system supplies the normal household electrical consumers with priority over heat generation, thus contributing to the reduction of operating costs to the highest degree.

Is the AC-THOR directly connected to the PV modules like the ELWA?
No, it is an AC device and is plugged into a normal power outlet. However, it only draws as much power from this as is currently available as a surplus. Since there is no intervention in the components of the photovoltaic system, it can be combined with all commercially available grid-connected PV systems.

Is the home automation with AC-THOR inexpensive?
Yes. The AC-THOR system is one of the most affordable on the market in terms of purchase and operation. It significantly reduces the load on your existing heat generation system.

Is the AC-THOR recommended in residential construction?
Yes! “Cables instead of pipes” leads to significant savings in operation by avoiding thermal distribution losses at the pipes. In addition, decentralized hot water tanks comply with all hygienic regulations (legionella prevention).

Is it necessary to install AC-THOR and AC ELWA-E together?
No. Both devices can regulate the output steplessly on their own.
Advantage of AC ELWA-E: It is a fully integrated solution. An extra heating element is not required. This has significant cost advantages.
Advantage of the AC-THOR: Almost every electrical heat generator can be steplessly controlled. So even a heating rod that may already be present or even those with a storage connection other than 1.5 inches.
In addition, the AC-THOR can also continuously regulate two heating elements one after the other. This makes a two heating rod stratified charge feasible at minimal cost.

How can a direct electric heater have an annual performance factor?
Just as with heat pumps, the annual performance factor (APF) describes the factor of heat generation to grid consumption (excluding household electricity consumers). However, while a heat pump takes additional energy from the environment, the energy for the my-PV products comes from the sun. The big advantage is that now electricity is available instead of heat for energy distribution. “Cables instead of pipes” make the system incomparably simpler and less expensive. A feature that also has a significant impact on maintenance costs.
Thanks to intelligent surplus management, AC-THOR draws less electricity from the public grid than is the case with heat pumps. For anyone who wants to build or renovate a house, AC-THOR offers considerable savings potential: the building technology can be installed in the smallest of spaces and, compared to heat pumps, up to 30% of the purchase or operating costs can be saved.

What are the advantages of “cables instead of pipes”?
For new construction: Significantly lower investment costs.
For renovation: Significantly less intervention in the building fabric.
PV yields can be used in all energy sectors of the house (electricity, heat, electric mobility).

Is the AC-THOR a smart home system or perhaps a data logger?
The AC-THOR is sometimes mistakenly understood as such. But it is not. Technically speaking, it is an AC power controller. It continuously controls the power of electric heat sources depending on PV energy supply and heat demand.