Comments on: Our Solar Hot Water http://www.wholistic.com.au/wordpress/systems/our-solar-hot-water Healthy, Dynamic, Integrated Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:12:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: guy@wholistic http://www.wholistic.com.au/wordpress/systems/our-solar-hot-water/comment-page-1#comment-117 guy@wholistic Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:19:47 +0000 http://www.wholistic.com.au/?p=147#comment-117 Hey Chris, Thanks for the feedback; I'm studying orthographic drawing at the moment, so my designs are getting clearer all the time. In fact it was subject of my latest post: http://www.wholistic.com.au/?p=219 We are currently using a nectre bakers oven as our sole source of hot-water. We live in a forest though, so keeping the firebreak clear and cutting up some of the dead ones provides the fuel. It also warms our house, bakes our bread, dries our clothes, cooks our food and keeps us happy without a tv. Not so in the city. I commend you on designing for some intelligent heating and cooling. As for your design situation - Radiant heat, perhaps through a in-floor system is the most comfortable. If there is good solar access on the roof, but not to the windows, it could be possible to at least preheat the water. If there is a slab in place already then it isn't really a possible retrofit. Good luck, do you have a website? Regards, Guy Hey Chris,
Thanks for the feedback;

I’m studying orthographic drawing at the moment, so my designs are getting clearer all the time.
In fact it was subject of my latest post:
http://www.wholistic.com.au/?p=219

We are currently using a nectre bakers oven as our sole source of hot-water. We live in a forest though, so keeping the firebreak clear and cutting up some of the dead ones provides the fuel. It also warms our house, bakes our bread, dries our clothes, cooks our food and keeps us happy without a tv.
Not so in the city. I commend you on designing for some intelligent heating and cooling.

As for your design situation – Radiant heat, perhaps through a in-floor system is the most comfortable. If there is good solar access on the roof, but not to the windows, it could be possible to at least preheat the water.
If there is a slab in place already then it isn’t really a possible retrofit.

Good luck, do you have a website?

Regards, Guy

]]> By: chris kennedy http://www.wholistic.com.au/wordpress/systems/our-solar-hot-water/comment-page-1#comment-116 chris kennedy Sun, 19 Aug 2007 08:17:17 +0000 http://www.wholistic.com.au/?p=147#comment-116 Dear people, found you by accident. Spent 25 years in Alaska, and what you are doing sounds similar to things we did up there. Congrats!! I am going to install a used residential Solarhart up here in Sydney, and am also trying to devise a way to provide building heat either from the sun, (but not through windows, as house faces wrong way, or from the excess water in the air, as we are also much too humid all the time. Couldn't read the diagrams you have shown, however. Dear people, found you by accident. Spent 25 years in Alaska, and what you are doing sounds similar to things we did up there. Congrats!! I am going to install a used residential Solarhart up here in Sydney, and am also trying to devise a way to provide building heat either from the sun, (but not through windows, as house faces wrong way, or from the excess water in the air, as we are also much too humid all the time. Couldn’t read the diagrams you have shown, however.

]]> By: Ann http://www.wholistic.com.au/wordpress/systems/our-solar-hot-water/comment-page-1#comment-115 Ann Sun, 10 Jun 2007 02:55:50 +0000 http://www.wholistic.com.au/?p=147#comment-115 Dear Guy, I like the idea of 2 phases for the introduction of your hot water system. It gives you some more time to refine your final plans and there does seem any point rushing into a big project on the roof when you won't get the full benefit of it over winter, Ann Dear Guy,
I like the idea of 2 phases for the introduction of your hot water system. It gives you some more time to refine your final plans and there does seem any point rushing into a big project on the roof when you won’t get the full benefit of it over winter,
Ann

]]> By: guy@wholistic http://www.wholistic.com.au/wordpress/systems/our-solar-hot-water/comment-page-1#comment-114 guy@wholistic Sun, 10 Jun 2007 02:39:43 +0000 http://www.wholistic.com.au/?p=147#comment-114 The diagram actually got a bit too cluttered so I left out the vent and the tap/shower line. You are absolutely correct that a relief is needed. The hot water out line from the tank is tee'ed and an open air shepherd's crook of 1/2" copper is run up above the height of the header tank. I've got some very usable diagrams that i've copied from other sources. However I am not sure about reproducing them on the website - sorry but i'll show you the ones that i've done myself and try to answer any questions to the best of my knowledge. THE RULES OF SOLAR HOT WATER: The distance between the bottom of the tank and top of the panels should be at least 200mm - this prevents reverse flow at night, cooling your water down again. The tank should be placed as high as possible and as close as possible to the collector. All cold water pipes should flow down all the way from the bottom of the tank to the bottom of the collector. Similarly all hot water pipes should flow up all the way from the top of the collector to the tank entry point. This prevents any air locks forming which will defeat the thermosyphon. I've uploaded another picture and an update which might help you with regards to the vent. The diagram actually got a bit too cluttered so I left out the vent and the tap/shower line.

You are absolutely correct that a relief is needed.

The hot water out line from the tank is tee’ed and an open air shepherd’s crook of 1/2″ copper is run up above the height of the header tank.

I’ve got some very usable diagrams that i’ve copied from other sources. However I am not sure about reproducing them on the website – sorry but i’ll show you the ones that i’ve done myself and try to answer any questions to the best of my knowledge.

THE RULES OF SOLAR HOT WATER:
The distance between the bottom of the tank and top of the panels should be at least 200mm – this prevents reverse flow at night, cooling your water down again.

The tank should be placed as high as possible and as close as possible to the collector.

All cold water pipes should flow down all the way from the bottom of the tank to the bottom of the collector.

Similarly all hot water pipes should flow up all the way from the top of the collector to the tank entry point. This prevents any air locks forming which will defeat the thermosyphon.

I’ve uploaded another picture and an update which might help you with regards to the vent.

]]> By: Brett http://www.wholistic.com.au/wordpress/systems/our-solar-hot-water/comment-page-1#comment-113 Brett Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:16:23 +0000 http://www.wholistic.com.au/?p=147#comment-113 I too am keen to incorporate a wetback system to my solar hot water, I have checked out you diagram, are you concerned that the water may boil in the wood fired heater causing steam pressure to be injected into , what appears to be, a closed system? This is a real delima i am faced with, i want to use a heat exchange system that can, if needed , vent to open air. I am finding it very difficult to find some useable diagrams and advice on Wetback Systems on the internet, can you point me in the right direction? I too am keen to incorporate a wetback system to my solar hot water, I have checked out you diagram, are you concerned that the water may boil in the wood fired heater causing steam pressure to be injected into , what appears to be, a closed system? This is a real delima i am faced with, i want to use a heat exchange system that can, if needed , vent to open air. I am finding it very difficult to find some useable diagrams and advice on Wetback Systems on the internet, can you point me in the right direction?

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