Solar DHW no CH circuit

[lightfoot]

Hi Phil,

Sorry I wasn't knocking Kensa and that installation I mentioned was a long time ago. But there are other well known companies still trying to make too much of a good thing.

In this area the ground can be so hard and stony that it makes it very hard to dig a decent trench without it being wider than it is deep so a lot of installations go for boreholes which is not cheap.  So go for slinky's every time if you can.

For that size tank I think I would use more tubes up here.

10 litres per minute is not great and by the time you take into account any pressure drop across a thermal store DHW coil it would probably be best to use a standard hot water cylinder supplied via a suitable cold water storage tank.

Good luck

Lightfoot.

[lightfoot]

Phil,

Just out of interest when you talk of a well assume you mean that you have a spring fed catchment tank which you normally find in the side of a hill.

One other thing, any cold water feeding showers or any other mixing taps (apart from the kitchen sink) should be fed from this new cold water storage tank to balance the pressure and stop cross contamination between the hot water and your drinking water.  So you are going to need a least a 25 Gallon cold water storage tank which are around 2 foot square(ish)

Good Luck

Lightfoot

[pmarston]

Hi Lightfoot - yeah you're right it is a "spring fed catchment tank" as you put it - I guess you'd be familiar with something like that around these parts, but I don't suppose it's common down south - well is easier to say.

Thanks for the tip on the cold water supply - I saw you give the same tip to Jude and made a note - that's how everythings setup just now, so I'll probably copy it.  The 25 gallon tank sounds like what's currently in the roof above the bathroom (the extension at the front of the house) where the current hotwater tank resides (and where I want to put my shower!).  By the sounds of things I'll essentially be moving the CW tank to the landing and the HW tank to under the stairs and running the solar pipes from straight above them - sounds tidy

Sounds like you're familiar with my kind of setup - I dare say it's pretty common round these parts - so if there are any "gotchas" you know of I'd certainly be pleased to hear!

Cheers,

Phil

[lightfoot]

Don't pee on that side of the hill 

Sorry most of these springs are from small perched aquafors and not deep ground water thats one of the reasons the water can be on the acid side.

Lightfoot