Time for New Hot Water Heater

[Daox]

I was thinking a bit differently than you. I was planning on using this very simple radiator setup for a garage heating system. It wouldn't be hooked up to household water, and thus not need to hold 50 psi.

Keep us updated on the progress. I'm quite interested.

[dremd]

Just upgraded from garden hoses + lots of adapters -> PVC + CPVC all painted black with krylon fusion. However I have a leak where I'm interfacing from home copper to cpvc ergh.

Edit: Leak Repaired. Upgraded fittings FTW

[dremd]

I just "Ran out" of solar hot water for the first time.

Time to actually get the electric heater in place.

Now I'm thinking that I'll need a Tankless powerful enough to support usage all on it's own, but just stay off/ low power the majority of the time.

[AndrewJ]

Daox: I think the radiator thing would work great as long as you're using it for hot non-potable water. Many radiators are made with some unsavory materials (like lead) and I wouldn't want to drink water that's been heated up through a radiator...

dremd: Awesome score with the solar water heater! My dad has been talking about getting a solar "batch" water heater like yours for a while, but I don't think it'd be such a great idea in Missouri where the winters are (way) below freezing.
I remember reading a book about solar hot water that said that in the 20's the vast majority of hot water in the state of Florida came not from gas or electricity, but from solar water heaters.

How far we have fallen...

[dremd]

Ordered a Bosch Powerstar Ae 125 last night
http://www.cpotanklesswaterheaters.c.../ae125-re.html

10 year BOSCH Warranty on Referbs. I have a BOSCH DishWasher (refurb 4 years ago) that is simply great, so I decided to give their water heater's a shot

Fed Ex says it will be here on Monday the 14th, Now I Just wish I had ordered it a few days earlier so I could get it working this weekend.

[dremd]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

dremd: Not so sure it would be such a great idea in Missouri where the winters are (way) below freezing.


I remember reading a book about solar hot water that said that in the 20's the vast majority of hot water in the state of Florida came not from gas or electricity, but from solar water heaters.

How far we have fallen...

He (your dad) could just use it in the summer.

I set mine up with Cut offs/ bypass for those 5~10 freezing nights we get a year. If I were him I'd just build one. I'm planning on making a pseudo DIY build build a Solar hot water heater like mine once I'm done.

I also read the bit about Solar Hot water in Florida. I saw it in the Orlando Paper Thanksgiving day, inside an article about resurgence of solar hot water in Florida.

[Ryland]

Did the on demand hot water heater you bought have an incoming water temp sensor? or variable flame? alot of cheap on demand hot water heaters are either on, or off, so if you are just using a little water it will either cycle on and off, or over heat it, and if the incoming water is already hot, then they still come on and over heat it, or get confused and cycle on and off because they don't always monitor the outgoing temp, they just monitor the amount of water going thru the water heater, of course some of them do monitor the in and out temp, and heat accordingly.

[dremd]

Originally Posted by Ryland

Did the on demand hot water heater you bought have an incoming water temp sensor?

I saw quite a few that appeared to be like you are talking about, this unit does have in/ out temp senders, and I have spoken to 2 people who are using one in their system with no issues. I do wish that there was a "solar rated" or the like making the process easier, I'm guessing others would work as well, but I didn't know.

[dremd]

Installed AE125 today and MAN IS IT COOL.

1'st note, yes I know it says it in the instructions, but I wasn't prepared for 3 double pole 40 amp breakers to feed the beast with.

2nd note "Powering" it up is kind of like the first time you used a CD burner, you "know" it will be quite, smoth, no smells, but you just expect something to smoke/ hiss/ groan/ buzz etc. just the sound of water flowing through the unit.

3rd note DAMN it will make your water HOTTTTTT FAST. Watch that thermostat knob!

4th note It does work properly with changing input temps, I cycled my solar byp*** (for freezes) and I couldn't tell the difference in output temps.

5th note SMALL I just wasn't prepared for how small the thing would be. It is about like a small medicine cabinet

So far (2 hours) I'd highly recommend this unit with or without a solar system.

[dremd]

Water heater is still kicking butt and taking names.

Well pump contacts froze up today, probably ran 8 hours straight, not very eco. But it's fixed now.