How to Install a Sunbank SB-40G 40 Gallon Solar Water Heater with Automatic Overheat Protection

Products in this video: thesunbank.com...
This video takes you through much of the process of replacing a gas water heater with a Sunbank 40 gallon solar water heater with electric backup. This system is a powerful tool in our quest to electrify everything and get off of fossil fuels. This system uses our WiFi enabled Smart Home Controller as a thermostat to run the backup heating element.
This system also employs our Automatic Overheat Protection Kit (OPK). This kit won't be necessary for most of our customers, as just using hot water is all you need to do to keep the water heater from overheating, but it's a good opportunity to show you how that kit goes together. The OPK is only for use seasonally, or year-round in climates that do not experience hard freezes.

[@Moondoggy1941]

So how does this work for taking a shower at 6am or earlier?

[@SunbankSolar]

Just like any water heater, the temperature in the tank is always hot and ready for a shower 24/7. This one uses an electric element backup. It could also be installed as a pre-heater to a conventional gas, propane, electric, heating oil, or heat pump water heater and provide 24/7 hot water that way.

[@shopart1488]

I used the SS hoses and found they were actually rubber on the interior I had them on my heater and they broke internally and made a real mess.

[@SunbankSolar]

These SS connectors are specific to water heaters and have a 180F rating. Because this system is set up with the automatic overheat protection, the temp will never go over 180F. Most people will achieve that just by using their water heaters daily and spinning the tubes when they go on vacation. For systems that are left to regularly exceed 200F (which is best to avoid), we would recommend soldered copper connections.