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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat
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    Solar Hot Water heaters

    Has anyone had a recent experience fitting these?

    I am looking at a heater with a tank about 200litres, supplied by an on-demand pump (so needs to be able to handle pressure variations) to fit on the roof

    any recommendations for type, and supplier in Chiang mai area?

    Please note, just a simple passive system is required, with collector tubes and a tank above
    I have reported your post

  2. #2
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    Nice inquiry DrA, I too would be interested in pursuing a complete solar energy system....off the grid sort to speak. I trust those whom have knowledge and experience will respond. I'd like to know more about this shite myself.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat lom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rural Surin
    off the grid sort to speak.
    You can run it for your house only, no need to connect it to the hot water grid.

  4. #4
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    I thought of a large stainless steel tank on the roof that ran into lots of tubes that ran accross the roof many time and then down into a very well insulated tank inside the roof. I dont know if this would be successful, but it would be virtually free hot water.

  5. #5
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    There would need to be a temp sensor in the line so the cool water in the morning would not go into the inside tank. Needs more thought????????????????????

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat
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    that is essentially what they are

    Some use vaccuum tubes, others just copper pipes; they have a holding tank above the pipes for collection. It is all done by thermal movement, no pump

  7. #7
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    Ok DrAndy, I have never looked into it.

  8. #8
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    I'm sure there was a thread on here explaining how to make your own system. It was a couple of years ago, though.

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat lom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by maily
    I thought of a large stainless steel tank on the roof that ran into lots of tubes that ran accross the roof many time and then down into a very well insulated tank inside the roof. I dont know if this would be successful, but it would be virtually free hot water.
    I have a friend in Sweden (of all cold places) who has a system like that.
    He is getting 75-85 degree hot water from solar 8 month a year between March and October.
    No need for a pressure pump if the tank is positioned high enough over the usage points.
    The solar collector should be positioned lower than the tank so that the hot water
    in the collector auto-circulates up to the tank.
    The auto-circulation will stop when tank water has the same or higher temp than
    the collectors water.
    Most important is the insulation of the tank, you don't want to get heat losses there.

  10. #10
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Not water,….but here is a solar site.

    Hope you get a lot of information (I am curious, also). I was thinking about setting up a system at the Khon Kean home and when I was looking around I found this site,………..

    http://www.leonics.com/html/en/pd_ecs/pd_ecs_ses.php#shs

    Hope it gets you started.

    They have an office in BKK

    Office
    Address:
    119/50-51 Moo 8 Bangna-Trad Road, Bangna, Bangkok 10260, THAILAND
    Telephone number:
    (66) 2746-9500, (66) 2746-8708
    Fax number:
    (66) 2746-8712
    Office time:
    8.00 - 17.30 Monday - Friday



    And they might be able to help you in your area????????? I think I read it someplace on their site.
    Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat
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    thanks for that SL, but that is for Solar electrics, not the same at all

    to the others, I have done some research and just need to know a good supplier with reasonable prices

    I don't want to make my own Marmite as I am lazy

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrAndy
    I don't want to make my own Marmite as I am lazy
    I guess time is a bit tight up there....

  13. #13
    Have you got any cheese Thetyim's Avatar
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    I don't know of one up in Chiangmai but here is one on LOS

    Solar Energy Asia

  14. #14
    watterinja
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    Try to avoid stainless steel if you're using chlorinated tap water. It suffers from stress-corrosion cracking.

  15. #15
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    The best thing we have ever added to our houses and hot water you could boil an egg in.

    We have only applied solar heating to our new houses and during the contruction as the systems use copper pipes. I am not sure whether normal plastic water pipes can handle the connection to one of these solar heaters.

    Most large retail outlets sell this technology and it would be best to have an engineer visit you first and to have a look at the job, assess what type and size of unit you need and then to quote accordingly. As these units are normally roof mounted they must check your roof structure to make sure it can stand the weight of the working unit.

    I have found the Thai manufactured systems are very suitable so no need to purchase an imported one and good luck.

  16. #16
    I'm not in jail...3-2-1. Jack meoff's Avatar
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  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy View Post
    The best thing we have ever added to our houses and hot water you could boil an egg in.

    We have only applied solar heating to our new houses and during the contruction as the systems use copper pipes. I am not sure whether normal plastic water pipes can handle the connection to one of these solar heaters.

    Most large retail outlets sell this technology and it would be best to have an engineer visit you first and to have a look at the job, assess what type and size of unit you need and then to quote accordingly. As these units are normally roof mounted they must check your roof structure to make sure it can stand the weight of the working unit.

    I have found the Thai manufactured systems are very suitable so no need to purchase an imported one and good luck.

    yes, our local Global House burnt down recently, they used to sell them at about B35,000

    As to pipe connections, we had copper installed at our house for the hot water system. They charged by the metre at extortionate rates, so I would be happy to know if they are importing plastic hot water pipes to Thailand yet. They say the blue water pipes eventually get fragile, which is a bad thing if buried in the walls behind tiles etc

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jack meoff View Post

    they may be good at solar power but they are not much good at websites

    I can't get their page to respond

  19. #19
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrAndy
    They say the blue water pipes eventually get fragile, which is a bad thing if buried in the walls behind tiles etc
    Thailand now producers every different type of extruded plastic pipes for most applications but as a plastics man myself I would never use plastic pipes for hot water.

    Up to you mate and to save some money I would purchase all the copper pipes and connections and just get a quote for the labour. Make sure your employed labour know how to silver solder correctly though!

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by watterinja View Post
    Try to avoid stainless steel if you're using chlorinated tap water. It suffers from stress-corrosion cracking.

    yes, that's why I mentioned I need a tank that can take pressure without cracking

    so it is the chlorine that causes it rather than the pressure variations?

  21. #21
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    ^ I have been using solar panel heating for about 8 years and have never had a tank crack. Yes they need servicing after about 5 years with some of the connection couplings being replaced but never a tank rupture.

    Like anything mate things have to be serviced once in a while!

  22. #22
    watterinja
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrAndy View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by watterinja View Post
    Try to avoid stainless steel if you're using chlorinated tap water. It suffers from stress-corrosion cracking.
    yes, that's why I mentioned I need a tank that can take pressure without cracking

    so it is the chlorine that causes it rather than the pressure variations?
    The chlorides cause cracks that develop along the grain boundaries. Under a low pressure situation, the crack depth may not be too much of an issue - but, it will be there. The issue comes when applied pressure plus chlorides act simultaneously.

    If the system is thermal-current driven (tank-panel), with gravity feed to the house, or draw-off to a pump suction, then the problem may not really show up as a serious failure, within a reasonable time.

    Above 65'C is where the cracking really accelerates, although for most solar panels, they probably don't get up quite as high as that in the tank (well-mixed) too often (could, though in principle, if not careful on a very hot day, with excellent solar panel & very slow water circulation rate).

  23. #23
    Boxed Member
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    They do have the other material for hot water pipes here now, imported from germany I believe. I have a sample on my desk.

    A company called SiamConsulting has it, not sure on prices though. No need for copper pipes anymore and the expense.

    However the pool heater I have designed for Khao Yai will need copper pipe as it runs through 2 external heating sources.....fireplace and wood fired oven.

    The black pipe coiled up on the roof works a treat....just looks ugly if you can see the roof, if not then go for it.
    I like poisoning my neighbours dogs till they die cos I'm a cnut

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat Airportwo's Avatar
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    ^^ Chlorides or chlorine? don't believe the water in Thailand - in most areas has any noticeable chlorine, but chlorides - yes.............?

  25. #25
    watterinja
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    The free chlorine component will generally form a chloride compound.

    Stress corrosion cracking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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