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I had my electrician build me such a box, though the result was so simple that if you are handy I'm sure you could do it yourself. The contents of the box are

I had my electrician build me such a box, though the result was so simple that if you are handy I'm sure you could do it yourself. The contents of the box are 1. A programable timer light switch: https://leviton.com/products/vpt24-1pz https://leviton.com/products/vpt24-1pz 2. A 120 volt controlled contactor. I'm not entirely sure which one it is, but I think it is https://ca.rs-online.com/product/eaton-cutler-hammer/c25bnb240a/70056940/ https://ca.rs-online.com/product/eaton-cutler-hammer/c25bnb2... The box has a 240 volt circuit and a 120 volt circuit into it. The 120 volt circuit is connected to the programable timer light switch, which is then connected to the control inputs of the contactor. The 240 volt line connects to the contactor and then on the other side of the contactor it connects goes out of the box and to the water heater. For me I've programmed my hot water heater to turn off from 4pm to 11pm on weekdays, which avoids heating the water during peak time of day rates at my location. (I typically shower sometime during that period.) I can open the box and press the switch on the timer if I ever want to temporarily override the program. That all said, I don't have any measurements to tell me if it is worth the expense. Although it is quite clear from my hourly power usage when the hot water tank switches on at 11 pm.

grecy 2y ago
Awesome, thanks very much. I wonder if it would be worth keeping it off until sometime in the am the following day - do you need piping hot water from 11pm until about 5am?
- rssoconnor 2y ago
  On weekdays, my price of electricity from 11pm to 7am is about 4 times cheaper than from 7am to 4pm, and about 10 times cheaper than from 4pm to 9pm. Also I usually run the dishwasher and laundry sometime after 11pm, so it is usually helpful to have hot water available overnight. Edit: I should mention that I have a ventless combo washer/dryer, so my clothes come out clean and dry in the morning. Unfortunately they are not folded.

grecy 2y ago

Awesome, thanks very much. I wonder if it would be worth keeping it off until sometime in the am the following day - do you need piping hot water from 11pm until about 5am?

rssoconnor 2y ago
On weekdays, my price of electricity from 11pm to 7am is about 4 times cheaper than from 7am to 4pm, and about 10 times cheaper than from 4pm to 9pm. Also I usually run the dishwasher and laundry sometime after 11pm, so it is usually helpful to have hot water available overnight. Edit: I should mention that I have a ventless combo washer/dryer, so my clothes come out clean and dry in the morning. Unfortunately they are not folded.