Solar Heated Water for Washing Machines with a Cold Feed only.

[Greenbeast]

ok good!

this is the switch i ended up buying:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=2504

[daftlad]

Which type?
The momentry action one?

[Greenbeast]

yeah sorry, the momentary one, i keep forgetting maplin list various types on the same page

[daftlad]

GOOD
all the right bits then.
SO how much water goes in on the first part of the fill and how much on subsequent fills?
if the answer is a lot and not much then go with the circuit above.
if not then get the timer and i will show you how to wire it in.
all the bits you have are compatable with either way of doing it.
Time to fire the scanner up (i am no good with drawing programs)
laters

[Greenbeast]

you're soon going to get sick of me!

the relay i have mentions a 240VAC coil but it also has 28VDC on the side, if this is for the contacts, then surely this isn't high enough?

[daftlad]

I don't get sick of this sort of thread, but some other ones have been known to angry up my blood (certain off topic threads)
moving on er back er you know
The 28 volts DC probably refers to the contact rating. DC contact rating is always a lot less than AC because DC can weld the relay contacs together. SO the relay should be rated 240 volt AC and 28 volt DC for the contacts (contact rating) and 230 volt AC for the coil. Is this the case?
laters

[Greenbeast]

thats very possible. the maplin item page doesn't say exactly, or at least i can't decipher it.
so i'll have to see when i get home.

i wish i'd sorted this out last week as my heat dump activated yesterday and will again today. would have been a good use of the extra energy

[Greenbeast]

Contact details:
Maximum current:   10A
Maximum voltage:   AC 300 V, DC 30 V
Maximum switching
power:   2400VA resistive
300W resistive
Contact resistance:   <50mΩ
Operate time:   20ms max
release time:   20ms max.
Insulation resistance:   100MΩ at DC 500 V
Mechanical life:   >10 million operations
Electrical life:   >100,000 operations at full load
Contact material:   AgCdO(Silver Cadmium oxide)

Coil details:
Nominal   Operating   Coil   Current at
voltage:   range(V)   resistance:   nominal voltage:
DC12 V   9.6-13.2   160Ω±5%   75mA
AC 240 V   192-264   15700Ω±5%   14mA
Size of base:   73 x 24mm
Height:   30mm

based on this you could be right, for contact voltage it says 300VAC and 30VDC and then the coil also works at 240VAC

[daftlad]

I just had a ratch around the web and....
Washing machines use about 50 liters per wash, could you just swap the wires over in the short term to run it hot only while the weather is good? 50 liters is a lot but by the time it has been mixed in the tmv you will be looking at a lot less.
Or go for the simple circuit and see how it goes.
I am pretty sure your relay is right, if you ordered the N09AW then that is what you should have.
What are your thoughts on the timer?,as far as i can see you have 3 options,

1 Maplin do a timer kit that needs 12 volts and will not switch 240 volts so a second relay (with a 12 volt coil would be needed)

2 Get a lighting timer like the one I refered to earlier (you will still need a relay (but you have one))

3 get one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Danlers-Time-Lag-Switch-TLSW-Electrical-Energy-Saving_W0QQitemZ110357913355QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_BOI_Materials_Supplies_Electrical_ET?hash=item19b1d81f0b&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A15|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50
You will probably need a relay to go with this one as well, (the one you have is fine)
What are your thoughts?

[Greenbeast]

i would definitely like to hook it up so that it only takes hot for the initial wash and then cold afterwards and once its fitted i haven't got to worry about the use of hot water. if we've got it we press the button, if we haven't we don't. also makes it simpler for my misses, and so we don't waste hot water that we need for showering.

so the circuit is the way to go, its just sourcing the right timer for the job

i can't decide between option 1 and 3

what do you think?

[daftlad]

erm
erm
erm
I was actually thinking option 2 but
The simplest to wire would be option 3
Just type "time switch" into ebay for different options.
The relay could go in the washer and the switch could be fitted into a surface box in a near cupboard.
do you want a circuit diagram?
laters

[Greenbeast]

actually any of the options does me fine, someone else said the mcb might be difficult to use outside of a consumer unit. i don't know about that.

a circuit diagram would be very handy, thanks

would be great if i could keep the machine self contained, perhaps i could fit the switch to the side of the machine

[daftlad]

If you want to go self contained then option 2 is the way forward because option 3 switch is a bit numb.
Your relay and the timer will both fit onto a bit of din rail but it would be a good idea to lock them on with a couple of din rail lockey things (a technical term) (din rail terminals do the job, you tighten a screw in the middle and it locks solid to the rail)
The timer I mentioned seems very cheap so worth a bid.
circuit to follow
laters

[Greenbeast]

the only problem with the MK switch is that i think it only does 7 minutes, i need to test tonight but that may not be enough,

thanks for the diagram, so i've got to find a permanent live inside the machine?

[tony.]

it easiest to use endstops on the din rail, as daftlad pointed out

Use 2 earth types ( so its a clip on terminal but they are green and yellow and they also earth the din rail at the same time)and it will earth the din rail at the same time and allow you to terminate any spare earths you have.


tony