Gnidrolog
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« Reply #15 on: June 10, 2008, 12:41:52 AM » |
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Moral: Buy Navitron . Should be definitely don't buy solar collectors wind turbines etc from a company in Newark the story continues with another victim thats has paid but not received his goods and was threatened with legal action from the company for leaving negative feedback on ebay. I have passed the information to the Police at Newark and Trading standards. If anyone here has been a victim of a company trading from Newark please PM me. Tony Hello Tony. I have to say that although it took me months to get what I paid for, I did actually get it by being very persistant. So I guess my only complaint against them is that the system doesn't work very well. But as I wasn't told it would work well....... Every advertiser claims their product is better than the competition, it's expected and doesn't mean a thing, this is why I have to "take my hat off" to Navitron and this forum they created, it really gives the consumer the opportunity to discover the truth. The fact I found this forum too late is my bad luck, but let others be aware. I didn't buy from Newark because it was cheap, it was actually the same price as Navitron, I did buy because it was the only affordable system I found at the time, so it's my fault for not doing more research. Good luck with your efforts, with any luck, maybe they will go back to doing "tarmac driveways". Gnidrolog |
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Skywalker
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« Reply #16 on: June 10, 2008, 09:24:35 AM » |
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System
Chesterfield, Derbyshire
30 tube 47mm, South facing, 15m pipe run in 10mm pipe, DPS 210l thermal store, coil at the bottom. (pipe work around store, central heating/heat exchnger/backboiler needs insulation finishing off).
8/06/08 hot & sunny
AM PM
Top Temp 38.7 Top Temp 60
Bottom temp 34.2 Bottom temp 59
09/06/08 Hot & sunny
AM PM
Top Temp 35.8 Top Temp 65
Bottom temp 31.8 Bottom temp 64
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Ivan
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« Reply #17 on: June 10, 2008, 11:21:08 PM » |
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Gnidrolog,
I think we worked out that the Navitron heatpipes might fit your panel, didn't we? If so, might be worth contacting the office to buy some to replace the faulty non-navitron heatpipes - in fact, it might be worth buying just one to start with - compare with your existing tubes and see if the Navitron heatpipes work better than your 'good' tubes - might be worth replacing all of them!
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Flamethrower_
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« Reply #18 on: June 10, 2008, 11:43:58 PM » |
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Best day so far this year! 30 58mm tubes fitted on NWW facing roof (thought it was West facing until I checked with a compass  ) 210 litre cylinder 65 0C at 21.00 Water has been drawn off all day for three showers and two loads of washing (machine) Thank goodness for the TMV. Best day so far probably downhill tomorrow!  Cylinder reached 67 0C today with same draw off as yesterday! |
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Gnidrolog
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« Reply #19 on: June 11, 2008, 12:31:42 AM » |
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Gnidrolog,
I think we worked out that the Navitron heatpipes might fit your panel, didn't we?
Hello Ivan Err... actually no. I did send a dimensioned photo but haven't heard back if they would fit, or not - so I presumed they would not fit. If they will then I would be happy to buy and try. Do you know if I will need the "old" style Navitron pipes, or the new style? Gnidrolog |
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Ivan
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« Reply #20 on: June 12, 2008, 12:46:28 AM » |
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Hmm. Good question. I remember writing back to you, but we did have some problems with our email a while back, so maybe it never got there.
I'm pretty sure they looked compatible, but can't find your email pic now. From memory, you'd need the older style heatpipes, but probably better double-check that. Where are you located? Anywhere near Oakham or Monmouth, or somewhere in between?
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Gnidrolog
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« Reply #21 on: June 12, 2008, 08:08:13 PM » |
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I'm pretty sure they looked compatible, but can't find your email pic now.
Hello Ivan Thanks for getting back to me. It would be good to compare your heat pipes against the ones I'm using. If the results are significantly better I guess it would be good to post results for other members - if not, I guess I'll keep quiet. I've attached the photo again to remind you of the dimensions. I live in Colchester, so it won't be easy to visit. I'll give you a call at the office tomorrow. Regards Gnidrolog |
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O MidKnight
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« Reply #22 on: June 16, 2008, 05:41:52 PM » |
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Total flow and return pipe work of approximately 54 metres in 10mm copper tube. 20 vacuum tubes and some old flat plate panels. 1200 x 450mm non solar dedicated twin coil cylinder (slightly more capacity and slightly less efficient heat exchange). Panels facing due south situated on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire
16 june Sunny with clouds
Sensor 200mm from top of cylinder finish 59C 2 litres approx water used between start and finish
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Solar heating - makes you feel good when you open the hot tap and when you look at your heating bill
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O MidKnight
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« Reply #23 on: June 20, 2008, 09:40:44 AM » |
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Total flow and return pipe work of approximately 54 metres in 10mm copper tube. 20 vacuum tubes and some old flat plate panels. 1200 x 450mm non solar dedicated twin coil cylinder (slightly more capacity and slightly less efficient heat exchange). Panels facing due south situated on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire
19 june Sunny someclouds
Sensor 200mm from top of cylinder finish 65C 2 litres approx water used between start and finish heat dump radiator in operation
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Solar heating - makes you feel good when you open the hot tap and when you look at your heating bill
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O MidKnight
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« Reply #24 on: June 30, 2008, 05:06:16 PM » |
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Total flow and return pipe work of approximately 54 metres in 10mm copper tube. 20 vacuum tubes and some old flat plate panels. 1200 x 450mm non solar dedicated twin coil cylinder (slightly more capacity and slightly less efficient heat exchange). Panels facing due south situated on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire
Sunny some clouds
Sensor 200mm from top of cylinder water at 65C and heat dump radiator in operation for quite a few days now.
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Solar heating - makes you feel good when you open the hot tap and when you look at your heating bill
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Gnidrolog
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« Reply #25 on: June 30, 2008, 08:49:42 PM » |
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Fitted my second 20 tube collector late Friday, so now one facing SE and one SW. Monitored them over Saturday and Sunday (mixed sun/cloud) 59C top of tank 48C bottom of tank both days. Today I had to work so couldn't monitor, I opened 2 towel rail heat dumps in case the system overheated while I was out. Got 60C top and 50C bottom and 2 very hot towel rails - now that's more like it! 8.30PM and still adding heat  |
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dhaslam
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« Reply #26 on: June 30, 2008, 09:20:08 PM » |
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Just to recap. You are using the Newark panels and presumably have left out two faulty tubes out of your 22. Your system seems to be working well but what size cylinder are you using?
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Gnidrolog
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« Reply #27 on: June 30, 2008, 11:48:41 PM » |
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Just to recap. You are using the Newark panels and presumably have left out two faulty tubes out of your 22. Your system seems to be working well but what size cylinder are you using?
I have 2 Newark panels with 20 tubes each, I also purchased 2 extra tubes. The first collector was fitted to my SW roof, but because performance was poor, I tested the remaining unused 22 tubes. 3 of these had low heat gains 50-60C after a few hours in the sun. 19 reached over 100 in just over half an hour (same day - same sun levels). What gives concern is the 20 fitted in the SW collector - they may all be naff for all I know. The new SE collector uses the 19 tested tubes plus another I managed to get from a new local supplier. On testing the "extra" tube I found it heated up much quicker than my other "good" test sample one, it reached 110C in the same time it took my "good" one to reach 88C. So I guess even my "good" ones aren't what they could be. My tank size is 117 litres. There is only me and "head office" in the house but she was away over the weekend (no washing machine/dishwasher/bath - just my shower and washing up by hand), so my weekend test wasn't really an average hot water usage, but I'm much more hopeful the system will work now. Got to figure out a way to make the towel rails work automatically now. The 3 port motorised valve is not behaving as expected. |
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