Reply to: Solar Heating / Power

[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?

[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]

You are Dick Strawbridge & I claim my handlebar moustache.

had to google that

[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]

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

[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

[moorfield]

... 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.

[DimPrawn]

I'd prefer boring technology..

Zzzzzzzzzzz

[d000hg]

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.

I'd prefer boring technology of radiators and pipes too, you can even dispense with the heat pump. Solar panels don't convince me.

[DimPrawn]

Buy Solfex CPC 6 INOX 4 PANEL Domestic Hot Water Solar Kits Online DSK05926

Don't forget the ladder.

[Paddy]

Anyone got this gubbins on their roofs?
The thought of not using gas to heat water in the summer is attractive - thinking about building the collector myself (cheapskate & I need a project to do at home ) and enough info on t'internat to avoid the pitfalls

or should I just spend the 20k and get someone in to do it?

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.

[n5gooner]

I thought they only lasted for about 17 - 23 years.....

[original PM]

my in laws got some a few years ago

they expect to breakeven after about 15 years assuming no major change in number of sunlight hours over the course of a year.

makes them feel green n groovy.

[moorfield]

Nope. Looked at them but a waste of money IMO. I think the only way solar panels is going to take off is if all new builds from now on have to install them and that would take a generation to happen.

Spent our eco budget instead on a new boiler with the hot water tank inside it rather than in another part of the house. It has noticeably helped to reduce our heating bills this year.

[shaunbhoy]

Why not look into ways of simply harnessing some of the hot air that you produce as a matter of course?

HTH