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friscofrankie

Went out to the hot springs in Mae On yesterday (San Kampaeng Hot Springs, Go figure). There is installation of several (solar) water heaters and photocell collectors, it was late no one was about. One thing didn't lead to another, so I am on my out there again this morning. Taking my notebook (paper kind) plan on stopping there to get you some information, This place was about 200 - 300 tw in area and packed with mostly the hot water heaters, Perhaps they make or distribute them, maybe it's some kind of research facility. Either way, they should have some info on local availability. Will post what I find out this evening.

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DrAndy

Thanks FF, sounds interesting

you obviously got home safely the other night

friscofrankie

^quite safe and (semi) unmolested.

watterinja

Anyone had dealings with air-to-water hot water heat pumps in Thailand?

friscofrankie

No soap. The place looked empty. it is certainly active and the equipmetn shed and shop appears to ahve had recent activity. There was no one to answer me yelling "HALLO." It is a solar energy station. You would think that there would be someone on hand at all times but I guess not. They have mostly photovoltaic panels thee and a few solar water heaters. On closer examination it appears they have dismantled more than half of their original units.

Hmmm, one might wonder if they are concentrating on electricity and looking to dump the rest of the water heaters? Might be worth a trip out there to talk with them, closer than the nearest Global anyway. They could probably help with sourcing, or maybe load one of their units into your truck even.

DrAndy

I was wondering about the last option!

they obviously don't need them all

friscofrankie

^Road trip? probably best done on a weekday.

DrAndy

Ok FF, I will call you at a reasonable hour to set a little trip up

DrAndy

well, we went, we saw, we bonkered

the chatty girl at the government station was very happy to explain every last detail of each and every project they had working on the front yard

she gave us all the ins and outs and also a price list, as everything was for sale

a 160 litre stainless tank with a suitable solar panel was B49,000, made in Thailand, and a seven year guarantee on the tank. This was for a simple passive direct system, which is all I need. Whilst a bit more than Global House, at least the units are made by the government station (EGAT actually) so parts would be easily replaceable. GH are made in China.

They will also deliver and fit, for approx B6000 extra

so thanks FF for your kind guidance, and we shall ignore your showing off how well you read Thai

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keep 'em coming

friscofrankie

Obviously Not.

DrAndy

wot! you home already

obviously Gecko books did not have any dark Lao beer

get anything interesting? I was going to say, I have a few shelves of books, you may find something to your liking

friscofrankie

I picked up a copy of that book you had on your table and some others; "The Name of the Rose," "In Our Time" and "Grapes of Wrath." I do love Steinbeck and have not read Grapes for a very long time. Hemingway is some one I have avoided but since reading his "Moveable Feast" I thought I'd give "Time" a shot. What the hell if ain't a keeper I can always take it back and pick up somethgn worth keeping around. I prefer to buy books if I like them I generally want to keep them.
I'll save the Dark Beer Lao for aother time; a time when I don't have to come home and write goddam code.

watterinja

Do you folks have any pics to show us - D_Randy & FF?

friscofrankie

gimme a minute
Think I got one or two

friscofrankie

They have 4 sizes:
100 liter, 2.08 sq meter solar collector
160 liter, 2.16 sq meter
320 liter, 4.32 sq meter
600 liter, 8.64 sq meter
The mounting foot prints are 2.5, 3, 6.5 & 15 sq meters respectively.
Weights range from 180 kilograms to 970
Prices range from 39k - 180k
All of the setups have a choice of 304 or 316 stainless. Price difference on the 600 liter job is about 43k on the 100 liter job 10k

Although 316 is more resistant to corrosion that 304 I'm not sure it's al that big a deal with fresh water at approximately 25% of cost for the higher grade stainless, if and when I buy I'd opt for the 304. No specs on wall thicknesses that I can see in the brochure.

Yeah, 316 is better but is it really necessary for a home water heater? I do believe 304 will out last any galvanized tank I had back in the US and they lasted for about 15 years or so.

The fit up and build quality looks good, although one of the display installations had some leaks where it had been plumbed in, that is an installation issue not a build issue.

Oh, I should add they have to "stores" the one in Mae On and another in nontaburi.
The one in Mae On is about 40 kilometers from the CM airport on highway 1317. tel. 053 037 088
Nontaburi 02 436 5994 (I think, that's what's on the brochure anyway) they've also got some handy fish (fruit meat, etc) driers that are probably best cobbed together at home from odds and ends but the place is all about solar energy. g

Norton

^Those look like they will do the trick for Dr Andy.

Might be in a previous post but will the solar heater be used in the main house only?

Also, what will be used for hot water out? Copper pipe?

DrAndy

yes, they look good

I was thinking of using plastic for the hot water pipes (HEP2O, not the blue stuff), but copper prices have dropped a lot recently

the problem with using copper is that the installers/plumbers want to charge by the metre installed! at B600 a metre for 1/2", that works out very expensive

in the UK they just solder the joints, here they seem to want to braze them, which is overkill. I think that as hot water systems are not common, and the installers are in the aircon industry usually, it has just got done that way.

watterinja

Lovely pics, FF.

If you've got any close-up details of the pipework closer to the tank, I'd be most interested.

I'm currently thinking about the feasibility of manufacturing solar rigs in Laos, based on a new panel design concept. Those selling prices look to be fairly useful. These beasts are not cheap over here, that's for sure.

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friscofrankie

Only two pictures I took, full res give no added value for plumbing

Norton

Looked for pics on the net but seem to be none with detail.

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