Solar Heating / Power

[d000hg]

... And I never understand this rubbish about turning room thermostats down a few degrees. Most boilers run at 72-80degs and water tanks at 60+degs and they never tell you to turn those down. Most systems (in our house anyway) except in the harsher winters can run quite adequately nearer 50-55degs which if you do you the specific heat capacity maths is a colossal energy saving.

Does the cost of keeping water in an insulated system at a higher temperature change much? You mean through loss due to the insulation not being perfect?
Still, keeping your whole house 1 degree warmer has to use far more energy than keeping the contents of your insulated heating system 1 degree warmer. Maybe lowering the working temperature of the system would save energy but that doesn't mean lowering the overall house temperature is pointless. Also, how hot does the water have to be to adequately heat a room... when you spec up radiators for a room isn't the heat output of the radiator factored in based on how hot it will be?

Also, maybe bleeding the radiators would help

[Troll]

I think they are too costly. I would like give DIY a go using some pipes, aluminium sheet black paint, Perspex and a heat pump a go.

That's exactly what i am using to build my collectors

[Troll]

....but then I got to thinking why not just hook up the immersion heater component in the tank to a big jobbie invertor (think they're up to 8kw output now) a few deep cycle batteries and solar panels

[Troll]

You are Dick Strawbridge & I claim my handlebar moustache.

had to google that

[Troll]

I can't believe no one has suggested one (or more) of those ridiculous small wind generators, and/or a waterwheel.

Actually, if you have a decent head & flow of water, a water wheel (or rather water turbine) is an excellent choice.

Very efficient, small, quiet & lots of power*.


*This assumes that it's a Proper water turbine, rather than A Dick Strawbridge Special

Your assumption is that we all live in the valleys, next to a stream, beside the mountains

There's loveley

[Troll]

Indeed. It is lovely then.

There's a stream a couple of hundred yards up the road that'd make a wonderful feed to water turbine.

I suspect the council would object though.

Any ideas on the height differential and capacities needed to make it worthwhile?