Solar hot water for cabins and holiday homes

A cabin, shack or holiday home sits empty for most of the week. With iHot, the dedicated solar panels keep heating the tank while you're away, so the hot water is ready when you arrive. There are no gas bottles to swap, nothing to light or start, and no load on the battery if the place is off-grid.

Why iHot suits a weekender

  • Hot when you arrive. The sun heats the tank all week. You don't have to switch anything on and wait.
  • No gas bottles. Nothing to run out halfway through a shower, and nothing to cart in and out.
  • Works off-grid or on the grid. iHot runs from its own panels and doesn't connect to a battery or main inverter. On the grid, the grid is just the backup.
  • Silent. No compressor or fan, so it suits quiet bush blocks, beach shacks and close neighbours.
  • Little to maintain. The iHot unit is solid-state and IP68 rated. The tank stays a standard electric tank that any plumber can service.

Holiday rentals

For short-stay rentals, guests' long showers are heated by the sun on sunny days rather than paid for on the power bill or out of a gas bottle. iHot works automatically, so there's nothing for guests to operate or for you to explain.

Sizing for a part-time home

Size for your busiest weekend, not the average. As a starting point at Brisbane's latitude with north-facing panels: 4 to 6 dedicated panels for 2 people, 6 to 8 for 4 people, and 8 (the recommended maximum) for 6 people. Because the tank has all week to heat, a well-insulated tank sized for your fullest weekend makes the most of the sun between visits.

Getting it there

  • Kits with panels. Our solar hot water kits include the iHot unit and 6 or 8 LONGi 475 W panels, with rails, cable and isolator in the complete kit. Freight is quoted to your address, or pick up from our Wynnum warehouse in Brisbane.
  • Installed by a qualified electrician. A licensed electrician must install and connect the system. An accredited installer can also claim the STCs, worth about $800 to $1,000 on the dedicated panels.

Honest limits

  • It needs an electric tank. iHot runs a resistive element up to 3.6 kW. It doesn't work with gas-only systems.
  • It needs space for panels. On the roof, a carport or a ground frame.
  • Cloudy weather. A wet week means less solar heat, so an off-grid cabin needs a backup plan, such as a generator input.

Questions

What happens to the hot water while we're away?
iHot keeps heating the tank from the sun whenever there's light on the panels, and the tank's own thermostat limits the temperature as normal. When you arrive after a sunny week, the tank is ready to use.

Can we replace our gas bottles with iHot?
iHot needs a standard electric storage tank. If you're on gas bottles now, a licensed plumber would first install an electric tank, then an electrician installs iHot and its panels.

Does iHot need the grid?
No. iHot runs from its own dedicated panels, so it works at off-grid cabins. On grid-connected holiday homes it can use the grid as a backup on cloudy days.

Is it noisy?
No. iHot is solid-state, with no compressor or fan, so it won't bother guests, neighbours or wildlife.

What about a cloudy long weekend?
iHot still makes some heat on cloudy days. If the place is off-grid, a generator input can top up the tank. If it's on the grid, the grid tops it up automatically.

Planning hot water for a cabin or holiday home? Tell us where it is, how many people stay, and what tank and power you have now. We'll send you a price and an honest recommendation.
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Off-grid solar hot water · Solar hot water kits · Cheapest way to heat water · How iHot works · Find an installer