Alternative Power sources - Re: Solar hot water??

Author

Re: Solar hot water??

William P.N. Smith

2006-05-21, 3:21 pm

wmbjk <wmbjkREMOVE@citlink.net> wrote:
><news2006c@compusmiths.com> wrote:
[color=darkred]
>You'll probably need at least an upper-limit cutoff.

Yeah, I realized that's going to be important (as is I gather a
temp/pressure relief valve at the collector), so I've talked to the
electrician to get a wire out to the collector.

>differential controller with a digital readout of storage and
>collector. About $200 IIRC.

Good point. I've seen ones with a computer interface and electric
heater element control, but I'm not sure if I need to get that carried
away. I'll probably try for a couple of remote LEDs for circulation
pump and electric heater status, though... Any particular brand you
can reccomend, or just whatever comes with a complete system?

>There are custom solar/electric tanks with optimized ports.

Everyone seems to use/resell the Rheem tank with or without an
auxiliary heater, so I'll probably go with one of those.

>http://www.cisolar.com/catPool.html Good prices on collectors here
>http://www.sunraysolar.com/index.php The guy is friendly and helpful,
>he might even have some ideas on tanks etc.

I'll check those guys out, thanks!

>Are you sure about not needing freeze protection? The collectors can
>freeze fairly easily on a cold windy night.

This location has had a low temperature in the last 5.5 years of 63.04
degrees F. 8*)

>PS Please let us know how the energy detective thing works out.

Will do, but it may by June or July by the time I get it installed.
I'll remember to take pictures!

wmbjk

2006-05-21, 10:21 pm

On Sun, 21 May 2006 13:38:26 -0400, William P.N. Smith
<news2006c@compusmiths.com> wrote:

>wmbjk <wmbjkREMOVE@citlink.net> wrote:
>
>
>Yeah, I realized that's going to be important (as is I gather a
>temp/pressure relief valve at the collector), so I've talked to the
>electrician to get a wire out to the collector.
>
>
>Good point. I've seen ones with a computer interface and electric
>heater element control, but I'm not sure if I need to get that carried
>away. I'll probably try for a couple of remote LEDs for circulation
>pump and electric heater status, though... Any particular brand you
>can reccomend, or just whatever comes with a complete system?

Ours is a Heliotrope General Temp Trak II. Two storage sensor inputs,
1 collector, and 2 aux IIRC. Nicely customizable with dip switches and
pots, with digital readout of settings and sensor temperatures. Either
storage sensor can be used to govern circulation. Freeze circulation
option for direct systems that need only occasional protection. It's
been trouble free, my only (minor) complaint is that the
select-function button is quirky. Sometimes nothing happens when you
press it, other times it jumps two steps with each press. The
controller is about 7 years old, I don't have any idea what newer
versions are like or what else is even available. And I don't remember
it having any aux heater functions.

>
>Everyone seems to use/resell the Rheem tank with or without an
>auxiliary heater, so I'll probably go with one of those.
>
>
>I'll check those guys out, thanks!
>
>
>This location has had a low temperature in the last 5.5 years of 63.04
>degrees F. 8*)

I thought you were in MA? Maybe you need to close the doors at night,
it sounds like you're heating the outdoors. :-)

>
>Will do, but it may by June or July by the time I get it installed.
>I'll remember to take pictures!

Looking forward to it, I might get one too. According to the MX60
we've had a few days with >500 minutes of float time, and many with
>200. Gotta' get to the bottom of that problem ASAP. ;-)

Wayne

nicksanspam@ece.villanova.edu

2006-05-22, 3:21 am

wmbjk <wmbjkREMOVE@citlink.net> wrote:

>Ours is a Heliotrope General Temp Trak II. Two storage sensor inputs,
>1 collector, and 2 aux IIRC. Nicely customizable with dip switches and
>pots, with digital readout of settings and sensor temperatures... The
>controller is about 7 years old, I don't have any idea what newer
>versions are like or what else is even available.

It's no longer being made. OTOH, we can put a $6 snap-disk thermostat
inside a glazed box, with another high-limit thermostat on the tank.

Nick

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