Solar iBoost Alternatives: How to Choose a Solar Immersion Diverter

If you have solar panels on your roof, every kilowatt-hour you export to the grid is worth far less to you than one you use yourself. A solar immersion diverter (also called a PV diverter or solar power diverter) solves this neatly: instead of exporting surplus solar electricity, it diverts it to your immersion heater and turns it into free hot water.

The Solar iBoost+ is the best-known name in this category, but it is not the only option — and depending on your setup, it may not be the best one. Here is how the main alternatives compare.

How a PV diverter works

A clamp sensor on your meter tails watches for the moment your panels generate more than your home is using. The diverter then feeds that surplus — and only the surplus — to your immersion heater element, modulating the power so you never draw from the grid to heat water. On a typical UK system, that can mean a large share of your summer hot water heated for free, and a faster payback on your solar installation.

The main options

Solic 200

A simple, robust UK-made diverter with no display and no controls to fiddle with — it just works, silently, from the moment it is wired in. Its simplicity is its strength: fewer parts to fail, straightforward installation for any electrician, and a strong track record in the field. A popular choice for those who want fit-and-forget operation at a competitive price.

Solar iBoost+

The household name. Adds a wireless display unit so you can see how much energy has been diverted, plus a manual boost function for heating water on demand. A solid choice if you like visibility of what the unit is doing day to day.

myenergi Eddi

The premium option, with full programmability, multiple output support and integration with the wider myenergi ecosystem (including the Zappi EV charger). Worth considering if you are building a whole-home energy setup and want everything on one app — at a correspondingly higher price.

What about the Immersun?

The original Immersun diverters are no longer manufactured, so if yours has failed, a replacement will mean switching brands. Any of the diverters above will do the same job, and installation is broadly similar — an electrician can typically swap one in an hour or two.

How to choose

The honest answer is that all modern PV diverters perform the core job — turning exported solar into hot water — to a similar standard. Choose on these points instead: whether you want a display and boost control (iBoost+), maximum simplicity and value (Solic 200), or smart-home integration (Eddi). Check your immersion element is in good order first, and if you have a battery storage system, note that the battery will usually absorb surplus power before the diverter sees it.

Need help deciding?

We are a UK-based off-grid and solar specialist and are happy to advise on diverters, immersion heating from solar, and how a diverter fits alongside battery storage. Get in touch with our team — tell us about your system and we will point you in the right direction, with no hard sell.