Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Solar hot water sytem

  1. #1
    Member jamisiah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    302
    Thanks
    93
    Thanked 34 Times in 25 Posts
    Rep Power
    212
    Reputation
    204

    Default Solar hot water sytem

    Hi just wanting some opiniom from people in regards to Solar hot water sytem.
    How does it really save money ? Currently there are government reabates which is looking very attractive. My hot water system is electric & off peak 2.
    Is it worth coverting ? I know it's good for the enviroment.



Look Here ->
  • #2
    Senior Member z80's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    5,840
    Thanks
    112
    Thanked 77 Times in 48 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    708

    Default

    Without the rebate it is not worth it.

    but with rebate it's fine.

    Ours lasted 12 years, then shit itself.

  • #3
    Member jamisiah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    302
    Thanks
    93
    Thanked 34 Times in 25 Posts
    Rep Power
    212
    Reputation
    204

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by z80 View Post
    Without the rebate it is not worth it.

    but with rebate it's fine.

    Ours lasted 12 years, then shit itself.
    12 years is not bad. I was told the panels/tank are made in Germany the other was Japanese so i would expect quality. Did it save $$$$ for you ?

  • #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Age
    66
    Posts
    402
    Thanks
    162
    Thanked 148 Times in 95 Posts
    Rep Power
    227
    Reputation
    842

    Default

    The amount saved would depend on where you live, they sure work well in Qld.Had mine for the past 6yrs and saved shitloads.
    It was installed to boost at night on the cheap tarrif but the tarrif surcharge was way more than it used so I had it put to a manual switch on ordinary supply and pissed of the night tarrif and its charges, on average I need to turn the booster on maybe 6 times a year for about 1/2 an hour. There are usualy five of us, two women that are either shaving legs or washing hair and one of my sons seems to just have nothing better to do than stand under runing water! I make him shower last so if it gets cold its bad luck!

  • #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    831
    Thanks
    174
    Thanked 434 Times in 193 Posts
    Rep Power
    269
    Reputation
    2277

    Default

    This thread has some interesting stuff regarding the same issue.

  • #6
    Member jamisiah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    302
    Thanks
    93
    Thanked 34 Times in 25 Posts
    Rep Power
    212
    Reputation
    204

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Joey View Post
    This thread has some interesting stuff regarding the same issue.
    Thanks Joey

  • #7
    Registered User mate's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    1,615
    Thanks
    88
    Thanked 162 Times in 118 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    -233

    Default

    An instantaneous hot water system is also very cost efficient. The old electric systems that heat a big tank of water all day even if you don't need it are the dinosaurs of hot water systems.

  • #8
    Banned kevin1341's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Wilcannia Far West NSW.
    Age
    72
    Posts
    367
    Thanks
    1,225
    Thanked 89 Times in 69 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    819

    Default

    Hi Jamishiah, We have solar hot water here and in the summer we don't have to switch it to power at all to boost it.
    The unit was installed in 1989 and most probably not as good as the new ones but does us.
    We have no off peak supply here so when boosting in winter cost about 65c per hour so we do watch hot water usage.
    Good tip is to let nobody grow trees so they grow up and shade the collector like what has happened here. In winter it is shade most of the day.
    Soar is the way to go if you are getting the rebate or not on off peak.

    kevin1341 Far West NSW AU

    Gear used :- 85cm dish, H-H drive, 2 11300 LNB's, 1 LNB for Optus sats, Dreamax DT470, Strong STR3650 for blind scan.
    Last edited by kevin1341; 01-11-08 at 09:50 PM. Reason: Adjustment

  • #9
    Senior Member z80's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    5,840
    Thanks
    112
    Thanked 77 Times in 48 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    708

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jamisiah View Post
    12 years is not bad. I was told the panels/tank are made in Germany the other was Japanese so i would expect quality. Did it save $$$$ for you ?
    expect all you like, those countries make crap as well.

    It didn't save anything when you factor in $350 a year in wear and tear.

    I would go for instant on gas if doing it again.

    Hot water storage systems are for the birds.....

  • #10
    Junior Member angel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    68
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 17 Times in 9 Posts
    Rep Power
    201
    Reputation
    96

    Default

    I saved around $120 a quarter, its certainly worth it in the long run

  • #11
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    708
    Thanks
    78
    Thanked 121 Times in 75 Posts
    Rep Power
    232
    Reputation
    575

    Default

    Any one had a play with those vacuum tube solar panels .

    Seen them on ebay ????

  • #12
    Banned
    watchdog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    2,966
    Thanks
    136
    Thanked 869 Times in 514 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    8320

    Cool

    Quote Originally Posted by pieces View Post
    Any one had a play with those vacuum tube solar panels .

    Seen them on ebay ????
    I've heard that the biggest problem is the plumbing fittings not being standard. The other consideration is that they work on a heat exchange principle so they need to be located as close as possible to the storage tank.

  • #13
    Member jamisiah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    302
    Thanks
    93
    Thanked 34 Times in 25 Posts
    Rep Power
    212
    Reputation
    204

    Default

    thank you all for the inputs...I might just hold off untill my current system needs replacing, hopefully the rebates will still be available.

  • #14
    Senior Member
    MrElectricity's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Penriff
    Age
    57
    Posts
    1,931
    Thanks
    23
    Thanked 231 Times in 112 Posts
    Rep Power
    326
    Reputation
    3243

    Default

    Don't even think about it if there is more than 2 of you in the house.
    It's hard to make a come back when I havn't been anywhere
    I finally got my head together, now my bodies falling apart.
    為什麼不做你被塞滿

  • #15
    Member jamisiah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    302
    Thanks
    93
    Thanked 34 Times in 25 Posts
    Rep Power
    212
    Reputation
    204

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MrElectricity View Post
    Don't even think about it if there is more than 2 of you in the house.
    why is that ?

  • #16
    Senior Member
    MrElectricity's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Penriff
    Age
    57
    Posts
    1,931
    Thanks
    23
    Thanked 231 Times in 112 Posts
    Rep Power
    326
    Reputation
    3243

    Default

    Solar units run out of hot quite quickly then you are relying on the electric booster element (charged at top rate) I find that families get an electricity bill that is not much better that a house with off peak hot water.
    It's hard to make a come back when I havn't been anywhere
    I finally got my head together, now my bodies falling apart.
    為什麼不做你被塞滿

  • Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •