Marlec Solar IBoost

seanjones · May 30, 2013

I've had to wait a long time for it but I've just installed my first Solar IBoost that I purchased from Marlec.

I've used the Immersun in the past but the IBoost on first impressions seems to be the business. Easy to install and it looks the part too!

Anyone else tried one yet? I would recommend it to other MCS PV installers.

Sean Jones

solar warrrior · Jun 10, 2013

In normal electricity monitors like an OWL the wireless sender does not have to work too hard with one sample sent every 5-10 seconds, but in a solar diverter I guess it has to send data much more often and do faster sampling or else it can’t respond to load changes very fast. E.g. one send per second would give a response time to load changes of maybe 5 - 10 seconds. This higher workload limits battery life. What is the battery life like in its wireless sensor and what warnings of impending failure? I’d be concerned about the customer not noticing the battery is flat and thus their immersion would stop heating.

danesol · Jun 10, 2013

seanjones said:
I've had to wait a long time for it but I've just installed my first Solar IBoost that I purchased from Marlec.

How much ???

seanjones · Jun 17, 2013

Hi Solar Warrior and Danesol.

To answer your questions, I have looked at the instructions supplied and the battery life is approximately 1 year. If the batteries are low a red warning light shows on the iboost box and a message 'Sender Battery Low' appears on the iBoost display. The unit will switch off if comms is lost to prevent mains power being used to heat element. As for price the list is £295 inc vat and installers get a trade price. I don't want to show installer price, as mentioned in another thread, we are all here to make a living and gen. public can view these posts.
Hope this helps.

danesol · Jun 17, 2013

seanjones said:
Hi Solar Warrior and Danesol.

To answer your questions, I have looked at the instructions supplied and the battery life is approximately 1 year. If the batteries are low a red warning light shows on the iboost box and a message 'Sender Battery Low' appears on the iBoost display. The unit will switch off if comms is lost to prevent mains power being used to heat element. As for price the list is £295 inc vat and installers get a trade price. I don't want to show installer price, as mentioned in another thread, we are all here to make a living and gen. public can view these posts.
Hope this helps.

Useful info' for interested parties

Dale79 · Jul 23, 2013

would be interested to know if this can handle multiple inputs as i would like to run either 2 electric storage heaters or the plug in type portable electric panel heaters from it. I had my solar pv installed in april and want to use it to heat my house.

yellowvanman · Jul 23, 2013

solar warrrior said:
In normal electricity monitors like an OWL the wireless sender does not have to work too hard with one sample sent every 5-10 seconds, but in a solar diverter I guess it has to send data much more often and do faster sampling or else it can’t respond to load changes very fast. E.g. one send per second would give a response time to load changes of maybe 5 - 10 seconds. This higher workload limits battery life. What is the battery life like in its wireless sensor and what warnings of impending failure? I’d be concerned about the customer not noticing the battery is flat and thus their immersion would stop heating.

There is a 'Sender Battery Low' message to warn.

Oops, just seen the answer given previously!

yellowvanman · Jul 23, 2013

Dale79 said:
would be interested to know if this can handle multiple inputs as i would like to run either 2 electric storage heaters or the plug in type portable electric panel heaters from it. I had my solar pv installed in april and want to use it to heat my house.

Don't think it can divert energy to a 2nd heater if the 1st one is up to temperature. Looking at the manual it only allows you to manually boost or use a timer to heat the 2nd unit. Looks like one feature the Immersun has over it!

PM me for a copy of the manual.

Got this installed in my place now, does the business as far as I'm concerned.

geebee · Jul 25, 2013

i have just instaled a solar iboost £140 including VAT, seems to work well easy to install, has a good display at the moment its puting in 2.3kw when my panells are puting in 2.8kw, only been runing for 2 days so far