| [ Total Views: 788 | Total Replies: 13 | Thread Id: 90132 ] |
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 donn
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| posted on April 29th, 2011 at 07:50 AM |
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Solar hot water
Any one here had solar hot water or heat pump conected lattely? I'm looking at getting it done and after any opinions on type to get or efficient it
is. I'm in Newcastle
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beetleboyjeff
A.k.a.: Jeff Walsh
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| posted on April 29th, 2011 at 09:47 AM |
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Look at evacuated tube solar - it works at a lot more angles to the sun and is much lighter than flat panel solar, as there is even less water on the
roof. We put one in about 18 months ago, and I don't think the booster heater has been turned on yet, although a lot of the time there is only Cathy
at home, at the moment.
Heat pumps are OK, but can be noisy (although they are a lot better than they used to be), they are not quite as efficient, and have a lot more
maintenance - mainly with the pump and compressor etc.
Lem me know if you want more info on brands etc, I have it at home and can get Cathy to bring it down to Newcastle on Saturday - she is coming to the
Pit Stop Cruise with me.
From your ole' mate Jeff
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rob53
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| posted on April 29th, 2011 at 10:09 AM |
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I didn't get solar hot water, but solar panels, however I asked the installer about it and he was very confident that evacuated tubes are very
efficient and work better than the traditional style solar hot water systems. He also said heat pumps work well also, but not as good as the evacuated
tubes.
Thats not rust, it's ah ... orange primer ... yep that's what it is ...
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bushed
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| posted on April 29th, 2011 at 10:43 AM |
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having had about 4 homes over the yrs with solar hws,i fnd it's the unit's position in relation to the taps ie the length (and insulation) of pipes
the water must travel through!
esp around sthrn states as comprd to Qld etc. (nr of panels used also can change the outcome). trees can also obstruct sunlight!
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vwsteve
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| posted on April 29th, 2011 at 01:10 PM |
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.
check out reviews on the internet, heaps there, i think heat pumps had a bad wrap when i was looking, edwards was 1 of the best but they are all owned
by 1 company now anyway
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glider69
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| posted on April 29th, 2011 at 04:17 PM |
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Gas cheap clean efficient,continuous 
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donn
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| posted on April 29th, 2011 at 06:00 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by glider69
Gas cheap clean efficient,continuous
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Agreed but I would have to have bottles and I have nowhere convenient to put them that complies with the regulations. 
I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!
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donn
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| posted on April 29th, 2011 at 06:02 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by vwsteve
check out reviews on the internet, heaps there, i think heat pumps had a bad wrap when i was looking, edwards was 1 of the best but they are all owned
by 1 company now anyway
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Yep, already been there, just thought that maybe someone in my area had personal experience including contractor performance.
I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!
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ratbug
A.k.a.: Andrew Todd
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| posted on April 29th, 2011 at 10:27 PM |
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Hey Donn, my parents are getting an evacuated tube one installed at the moment. Dad has done the research and like Jeff says, they are supposed to be
the most efficient. My parents place has a lot of trees and 3/4 of the north facing roof is filled with solar panels already, so it will see a bit of
shade. Their neighbours also suggested to get them to install a booster isolation switch, so you can eaily turn off the booster when you are going
away or don't need much hot-hot water for a while, but still get it relatively free from the sun (jsut the cost of the pump). They contractor was a
bit relectant to do it (extra work), so not sure if it's getting done, if not its a job for me 
Heat pumps use about 1/3 that of a resistive element heater, but I havn't seen one yet that works on off peak tariffs, so although you are saving
electricity and carbon emissions, you don't really save and $$ as you always pay the full price for the electricity it uses.
I would go solar anyday.
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68AutoBug
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| posted on April 29th, 2011 at 11:47 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by donn
Any one here had solar hot water or heat pump conected lattely? I'm looking at getting it done and after any opinions on type to get or efficient it
is. I'm in Newcastle
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I may be wrong Donn,
but I believe the Heat pumps are no longer in the rebate scheme for hot water heaters...
They were at the start, until the government found out they didn't actually save any power... like a solar hot water system..
I don't know anything about evacuated tubed hot water...
actually never heard of it....
but You see all sorts of different hot water solar systems on rooves these days..
Only thing I know Donn, is that Solar are Expensive...
but the old offpeak heaters are supposed to be off the market in a year or so... [government legislation]
so eventually all water heaters will be Solar....
cheers
LEE
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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beetleboyjeff
A.k.a.: Jeff Walsh
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| posted on April 30th, 2011 at 12:01 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by 68AutoBug
Only thing I know Donn, is that Solar are Expensive...
cheers
LEE
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They are to buy, but even less efficient ones will save you a shitload on power costs - and the costs look like going up more and more. They soon pay
for themselves.
From your ole' mate Jeff
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
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 posted on April 30th, 2011 at 12:17 AM |
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Yes I do agree on that Jeff....
My late father in law used to switch the off peak OFF when he went to bed and back ON in the morning... ??
I read recently where someone was switching their off peak Hot water Off for a couple of days...
so saved money on their electricty bill ... lol
Problem I would find... forget to turn it back on...
and a wife with no hot water ... YIKES....
Not worth the trouble..
LEE
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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beetleboyjeff
A.k.a.: Jeff Walsh
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| posted on April 30th, 2011 at 08:08 AM |
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We have never turned our elctric booster on yet, unless my wife has done it recently. Even last winter, the water was always warm enough for a shower
in the morning, and of course, it just got hotter after that during the day. This means the only power our hot water is costing is the small amount
for the circulation pump - no heating costs, which is the big user.
From your ole' mate Jeff
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amazeer
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| posted on April 30th, 2011 at 08:09 PM |
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i've got regular panel solar water. Rheem. Had no problems. Turn on the tap, hot water comes out.
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