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solar power water heating

solar power water heating

Postby mfc » Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:47 am

Our electric water tank has developed a slow leak so contemplating its replacement with a solar power supply. My friend has one and in 2 years has only twice had to turn on the "immersion " to heat the water. Any thoughts and experiences to share to help with my research to make a decision on what to do. TIA.
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Re: solar power water heating

Postby Trevor52 » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:58 am

We have one that we inherited when we bought our property. It is fine in the summer when the sun is hot but in winter we have to plug it in to heat the water as the sun is not strong enough.
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Re: solar power water heating

Postby chelleon » Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:20 pm

I would say it depends on your circumstances. Permanent or Holiday home. If Holiday then it would take a long time to recoup the cost of a solar installation. Also size of family, number of showers/baths required daily. These all add up to what might work. We are permanent 5 people. 4 bathrooms (1 with big bath) 2 kitchens. We have a 3 panel solar collector array to a 400l tank with a small 90L "backup" electric tank for the days/weeks in winter when the sun doesn't shine. Big Tank feeds 90l tank, so even in winter we are only heating the 90l which is fed by however warm the 400l tank gets, so is turned off most of the time. It saves us personally a fortune! but we use a lot if hot water. The panels are angled to catch more winter sun than summer and we often have to cover 1 or 2 of the panels in summer to stop so much production. I hope that helps, and if you want the name of the guy that helped design this then just let me know. He is in Quesada.... (All Legal!)
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Re: solar power water heating

Postby mfc » Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:13 pm

Thanks for that chelleon, we now full time ( at last after 14 years HOL home) only 2 of us, 2 shower rooms, 2 kitchens but only 1 really used. Can I ask is the back up 90l tank on the roof too or in the house??? And if you don't mind me asking "ball Park figure" for installation???.
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Re: solar power water heating

Postby daz » Thu Jul 09, 2020 9:36 am

No idea what you situation is, the size of property, how much hot water u need etc,... for me, there are two of us, have a 24hr 15 minute segmented timer on the boiler. In winter it is on for maximum 1.5 hrs a day spread into 3 slots. In summer it is on 3/4 of an hour a day. Enough for showers, and washing pots each day. I find it hard to believe the cost of supplying and installing solar power for water, is cost effective, compared to what many home owners actually use, unless u have the hot tap on far more than average. For comparison though, I would be interested in knowing how much a system costs, if any one can offer a figure they have paid.
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Re: solar power water heating

Postby earlybay » Thu Jul 09, 2020 11:18 am

We have a gas (butano) heating system. We (2 adults) have all the instant hot water we need, plus all our cooking on the same system. A bottle of butano lasts us 6 weeks at approx 16 euros a bottle. Approx 2.60 a week. I’d consider a solar system if I were a younger man, but being of pensionable age question if it would be cost effective.
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Re: solar power water heating

Postby mfc » Thu Jul 09, 2020 12:53 pm

daz wrote:No idea what you situation is, the size of property, how much hot water u need etc,... for me, there are two of us, have a 24hr 15 minute segmented timer on the boiler. In winter it is on for maximum 1.5 hrs a day spread into 3 slots. In summer it is on 3/4 of an hour a day. Enough for showers, and washing pots each day. I find it hard to believe the cost of supplying and installing solar power for water, is cost effective, compared to what many home owners actually use, unless u have the hot tap on far more than average. For comparison though, I would be interested in knowing how much a system costs, if any one can offer a figure they have paid.



Hi daz, just 2 of us normally and presently we only have the boiler on during the cheaper day time electric supply from Iberdrola and ample water to be honest. it is only because the boiler needs replacing that i have thought about solar. Prob just replace like with like.
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Re: solar power water heating

Postby chelleon » Thu Jul 09, 2020 1:20 pm

mfc wrote:Thanks for that chelleon, we now full time ( at last after 14 years HOL home) only 2 of us, 2 shower rooms, 2 kitchens but only 1 really used. Can I ask is the back up 90l tank on the roof too or in the house??? And if you don't mind me asking "ball Park figure" for installation???.



The backup immersion tank is 'in line' after the main 400l tank - both in the underbuild so not on the roof. Only the collectors are on the roof. For our system, I do not think you would need as big of a system, but expect to pay around £4-5K
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Re: solar power water heating

Postby chelleon » Thu Jul 09, 2020 1:30 pm

All I would add is to ENSURE you get someone that knows what they are doing. The original installer (Not the one I would recommend) and before we bought the Villa, used plastic pipes for the collector run. Rated to 90c - Those pipes need to be copper all the way - They melted constantly and blew off. A 'reputable' company came to quote and also said that they would be fine!!!! (Even in the UK where not so hot it is illegal not to use copper) SO please do your homework or use the company that did a thorough engineering survey (Even to work out the best efficiency of the copper pipe diameter for minimum flow loss efficiency)
The company is KVASolar and the owners live in Quesada. Get in touch, they would quote your for exactly what you actually need
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Re: solar power water heating

Postby chelleon » Thu Jul 09, 2020 1:37 pm

Oh and KVA Would also replace the boiler for you if you just need to keep like with like..
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