The articles looks at a “smart thermostat” (not sold directly to consimers) that they say enables insurers to pre-empty geyser bursts.
But there’s a cost for using the service.
There’s also a link to the HotBot which seems to be a load management device. Again with a charge for using the full functionality.
Nice for developers and (in one case) insurers. Are they anticipating or utilising TOU tariffs.
They are punting this company:Who is PowerOptimal? Solar water heating discussion
PS: No longer associated with Kwikot…
I’m interested in their claim that they can detect leaks. I would guess that this is inferred from a temperature change outside of the usual pattern.
A geyser that remains on for hours on end, is usually a pretty good sign that something went wrong. Some years ago, after a geyser burst event (which sadly announced itself with the water drenched ceiling falling down), I went back to the VRM charts and could clearly see the consumption go up and stay up the entire night, leading to the conclusion that the geyser burst last night around 10PM-ish…
Now that makes me wonder. How big must the leak be to be easily detectable?
It takes 1.16Wh to heat one liter of water by 1°C. Assuming ambient water at 15°C, the thermostat set to 55°C, and a 3kW element: In one hour you’d use 3000Wh if the element is on permanently. Divide by 1.16*40, that’s about 65 liters per hour, or 1 liter a minute. That’s a fairly substantial leak.