 Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me. |
Forum Index : Solar : Electric to Solar Hot Water Conversion
  Page 2 of 2 |
|||||
| Author | Message | ||||
Oscar4u Regular Member  Joined: 23/02/2011 Location: New ZealandPosts: 42 |
Hello everybody is entiteled to my uncalled for oppinion. A number of years ago I made a stainless panel copying the solarheart flat panel. The advantage was that for the price of three scratched ss sheets .9mm? I made a 2400 x 1800 panel. I made an enclosere out of woodes sides and aluminium framed windows. This certainly worked but only moderately well. Two years ago we bought a 30 tube panel (about $2300). It is a lot of money but I did not regret it. Last year we bought an identical 30 tube for the sleepout. In both the sleepout and house we have a woodburner with wetback.In the house we have no backup electicity or gas for hotwater ie sun or light fire or coldshower. With my two man band engineering workshop and the house together we average around NZ$110 per month for power. We do not have gas. I am pedantic in this respect but in my oppinion thermosiphoning is far better than controllers, pump, sensors, blah blah blah. I run both systems on low pressure and run the drinking water through both panels. If there is a very severe frost I run the chance of something bursting but I would be very supprised.All I have to do is silfos up the crack. My father's solar panels were and are pumped and every few years a pump, controller or some valve dies. All I need is gravity.Also the wetbacks tee straight into the system. Also no glycol and heatexchangers. KISS is my moto for reliability. I am 38 years old and hope to live as many years still in this house with no maintanance on my hot water system (other then woodburner repairs). Oscar4u - for all your rotary cowshed repairs |
||||
Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
You'll find stainless steel is a poor conductor of heat, and a good reflector. I once worked with laser cutters, and stainless steel needed a lot more power to cut compared to mild steel, because it reflects the laser beam heat. Its a poor heat conductor compared to copper, brass, aluminium, etc. That would explain the lower than expected results from your stainless steel panel. Yes I like the thermo syphon system as well, but it would depend on each persons installation, some wouldn't have the space to use a syphon, so pumps are the only option. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
||||
| Oscar4u Regular Member Joined: 23/02/2011 Location: New ZealandPosts: 42 |
If I could not get the tank inside I would fit the tank on top the pannel outside. Have seen many like that in NZ. In my house have replumed it so that the cylinder is under the apex. Like I said I am pedantic. Cheers Oscar Oscar4u - for all your rotary cowshed repairs |
||||
fillm Guru  Joined: 10/02/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 730 |
So you bought 2 x 30 evac tubes at $4600 , is what you are saying after the S/S one didn't work to well . The system I did here was to modify an existing electric that was quite new and chewed a heap of power as cheaply as possible with off the shelf and recycled items . All up it ended up at about $350 and has basically saved that in power already 12 months on, so the pay back is done, if I have to buy a new sensor "which one did stuff up but claimed it on warranty" or a pump I don't mind I am still way in front. Didn't end up fitting the sensor , just put a resistor and trimpot there to give a set temp on the tank and now the system is running better especially through winter. Anyway its good you have a system you are happy with , personally, YES I do like thermosyphon although for this system its a NO, and I am more than pleased with the results as I am sure you are with yours. PhillM ...Oz Wind Engineering..Wind Turbine Kits 500W - 5000W ~ F&P Dual Kits ~ GOE222Blades- Voltage Control Parts ------- Tower kits |
||||
| Page 2 of 2 |
|||||
 Print this page |
