Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: solar power and hot water

  1. #1
    Senior Member ozchips's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Ipswich QLD
    Age
    51
    Posts
    2,515
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked 418 Times in 197 Posts
    Rep Power
    322
    Reputation
    2059

    Default solar power and hot water

    ok as the title suggests , we currently have solar hot water , however we will be moving soon and may not have it .
    question is does anyone have experience with the different things available and ititial set up costs to period that we will see savings (I also understand that power prices will soon be skyrocketing)
    ok solar hot water
    do you go solar hotwater
    evacutated tube solar hot water
    or heat pump ,
    all these are covered by the govt rebate

    also for solar panels to cut down costs
    how is the pricing for these things and what sort of benefits . I figure we could almost be independant on a 3kw system as currently we spend approx $350/quarter ?

    anyway , first hand experience ? links , prices etc ?



Look Here ->
  • #2
    Senior Member viper5150's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    731
    Thanks
    30
    Thanked 133 Times in 85 Posts
    Rep Power
    244
    Reputation
    1141

    Default

    Only $350? Last bill here was over $500 and some friends have had back to back $800 bills.

    I would say heat pump for hot water. I have heard of a few problems with solar and cold mornings. Might not be a huge problem for you north of the border.

    A grid connect 3kw system based on the website of a dealer here in Newcastle is listed as $19,000, cost price before rebates. That is made up of 18 x 170w panels so roof area may not allow for a system that size.


  • #3
    Administrator
    admin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Victoria
    Age
    56
    Posts
    31,150
    Thanks
    2,238
    Thanked 13,731 Times in 5,823 Posts
    Rep Power
    4552
    Reputation
    165805

    Default

    I'd steer away from a grid connected system if financially possible. You have no power storage , mains power goes off , your power goes off as well.

    But it depends on your reason for going solar. Mine would be to totally disassociate myself from the power companies and have self sufficiency. I would have no desire to have to sell power to them for X amount only to have them sell it at a massive profit to others.

    Grid systems dont allow you to have batteries. What you create during the day you use , any extra goes in to the grid. You are buying back off them at night, unless you have created enough extra.

    Power prices are a joke though , but in all honesty if I was only paying $350 a quarter I wouldnt bother going solar.

  • #4
    Senior Member mickc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    newcastle
    Posts
    1,473
    Thanks
    160
    Thanked 201 Times in 139 Posts
    Rep Power
    270
    Reputation
    1154

    Default

    installed a heat pump 6 months ago and with the rebates it was cost free
    power bill has gone down a little but its permently connected not off peak
    nice on the back veranda when its running

  • #5
    Senior Member ozchips's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Ipswich QLD
    Age
    51
    Posts
    2,515
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked 418 Times in 197 Posts
    Rep Power
    322
    Reputation
    2059

    Default

    i will change the hot water system , but I was just thinking about the solar electricity . with the rebates and 10 grand interest free loan it seems like an ok thing to do .
    am also thinking about switching to gas for cooking . Atthis place we have induction which also uses a lot less power , but gas would be easy and conveniant for when there is a power outage

  • #6
    Senior Member viper5150's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    731
    Thanks
    30
    Thanked 133 Times in 85 Posts
    Rep Power
    244
    Reputation
    1141

    Default

    Its a shame you arent supposed to use wind power in residential areas. I mean how much noise could a small unit make?

    Someone really needs to figure out how to generate using a wind setup attached to the whirlybird roof vents. They usually turn even when there is no wind.

    Off to the shed of invention i go!

  • #7
    Senior Member
    xnavyman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Tasmania
    Age
    77
    Posts
    3,779
    Thanks
    1,909
    Thanked 2,800 Times in 974 Posts
    Rep Power
    620
    Reputation
    14868

    Default

    I have heat pump hot water and it was the best thing I have ever had installed. I have 250lt unit which is 90lts more that the old electric one.

    It will still heat the water @ -10 degrees temp. It only uses electricity for the compressor, fan & electronics. It has no element and at the moment I am saving a $1.10/day on my electricity.

    All up cost to me after rebates was $1,700.00. This included relocating the unit outside and the electrician to do the wiring.
    Some people need to get their finger out of their arse so that the brain can get some oxygen"

  • #8
    Banned
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Posts
    25
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    23

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sanity View Post
    I'd steer away from a grid connected system if financially possible. You have no power storage , mains power goes off , your power goes off as well..


    It depends what inverter you choose...

    see here...


    It's australian made and designed...!

    Quote Originally Posted by Sanity View Post
    But it depends on your reason for going solar. Mine would be to totally disassociate myself from the power companies and have self sufficiency. I would have no desire to have to sell power to them for X amount only to have them sell it at a massive profit to others..
    With the SP pro you can achieve it all.

    Please note that you now get in Victoria 66cents per Kw for power you upload and pay 26c for download.

    It's a win-win at the moment, especially Victoria.

    Quote Originally Posted by Sanity View Post
    Grid systems dont allow you to have batteries. What you create during the day you use , any extra goes in to the grid. You are buying back off them at night, unless you have created enough extra..

    See above re-batteries...


    Please also note that at night ALL your power is at 9c a Kw...so all the power you use is as if it were connnected to your hot water discounted rate.

    A very fair arrangement at the moment.

    Quote Originally Posted by Sanity View Post
    Power prices are a joke though , but in all honesty if I was only paying $350 a quarter I wouldnt bother going solar.
    With the generous feed in tarriffs you can make money out of legislated feed in tarriffs...an excellent way to screw your power company...

    But it all starts at 3kw...don't bother with 1 kw systems
    Last edited by BF2010; 01-02-10 at 12:32 PM.

  • The Following User Says Thank You to BF2010 For This Useful Post:

    iwacelect (02-02-10)

  • #9
    Senior Member ozchips's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Ipswich QLD
    Age
    51
    Posts
    2,515
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked 418 Times in 197 Posts
    Rep Power
    322
    Reputation
    2059

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by xnavyman View Post
    I have heat pump hot water and it was the best thing I have ever had installed. I have 250lt unit which is 90lts more that the old electric one.

    It will still heat the water @ -10 degrees temp. It only uses electricity for the compressor, fan & electronics. It has no element and at the moment I am saving a $1.10/day on my electricity.

    All up cost to me after rebates was $1,700.00. This included relocating the unit outside and the electrician to do the wiring.
    I also see you can have these installed and retrofit the current hot water tank which would cost even less .

  • #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    831
    Thanks
    174
    Thanked 434 Times in 193 Posts
    Rep Power
    269
    Reputation
    2277

    Default

    This thread covers quite a lot that has already been discussed on this topic.




    BF2010 , most of what is needed to run the above setup is not covered by any subsidy , it's classed as a luxury , Even if it were covered 10K would only give you a deposit on something like this.
    Well worth looking into if being independent of your power company motivates you .

    BTW there are quite a few very informative threads already regarding Solar Hot Water if this is your main focus.
    Last edited by Joey; 01-02-10 at 03:26 PM. Reason: more info

  • #11
    Administrator
    admin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Victoria
    Age
    56
    Posts
    31,150
    Thanks
    2,238
    Thanked 13,731 Times in 5,823 Posts
    Rep Power
    4552
    Reputation
    165805

    Default

    You sure you dont want to post the link again BF ? Just in case anyone missed who you work for.

    Thats all good and fine if dont plan on claiming a government subsidy. I am yet to see anyone " making money " other than a few dollars. But I would suggest reading some of the previous threads as there has been a number of recent discussions on the topic.

    Quote Originally Posted by Joey
    BF2010 , most of what is needed to run the above setup is not covered by any subsidy , it's classed as a luxury , Even if it were covered 10K would only give you a deposit on something like this.
    Thats more the point But it all depends on what the individual wants and why they want it.

  • #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    708
    Thanks
    78
    Thanked 121 Times in 75 Posts
    Rep Power
    232
    Reputation
    575

    Default

    If you have natural Gas

    A solution for electricity and hot water

    Last edited by pieces; 01-02-10 at 05:37 PM.

  • The Following User Says Thank You to pieces For This Useful Post:

    exited (03-02-10)

  • #13
    Senior Member Ramjet's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    962
    Thanks
    222
    Thanked 225 Times in 160 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    927

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sanity View Post
    You sure you don't want to post the link again BF ? Just in case anyone missed who you work for.
    Hmmm...no response. I wonder if your right Sanity?

  • #14
    Banned
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Posts
    25
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    23

    Default

    Well excuse me .

    I saw an opportunity to enlighten you guys with a link to some of the latest technology, instead of being misinformed.

    No, I don't work for the manufacturer.

    Maybe if you guys were a bit friendlier you might learn something.

  • #15
    Senior Member porkchops's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Mt Gambier
    Age
    48
    Posts
    536
    Thanks
    168
    Thanked 95 Times in 81 Posts
    Rep Power
    203
    Reputation
    543

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ozchips View Post
    am also thinking about switching to gas for cooking . Atthis place we have induction which also uses a lot less power , but gas would be easy and conveniant for when there is a power outage
    Beware of state and local planning laws if installing gas, as found out that in our area if you have a gas conncection, and your electric hot water service dies, the plumber has to replace with a new gas unit! Unsure how this works with solar hot water services, although have seen these with gas backup!

    We delibrately got our plumber to install a larger capacity copper piping to run cooking for now with ability to expand heating and HWS down the track, with no bottlenecks in supply! As for cooking, notice the difference burnt a few pots dry in the beginning as its so much more efficient!
    We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them - Albert Einstein

  • #16
    Administrator
    admin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Victoria
    Age
    56
    Posts
    31,150
    Thanks
    2,238
    Thanked 13,731 Times in 5,823 Posts
    Rep Power
    4552
    Reputation
    165805

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BF2010 View Post
    Well excuse me .

    I saw an opportunity to enlighten you guys with a link to some of the latest technology, instead of being misinformed.

    No, I don't work for the manufacturer.

    Maybe if you guys were a bit friendlier you might learn something.
    First post and 2 links to the same site......what do you expect me to think ? 99% of the time I see the above its spam. Apologies if you are the 1%.

  • Similar Threads

    1. Replies: 44
      Last Post: 03-08-09, 05:55 PM
    2. Homemade solar water system
      By PostScriptum in forum Home
      Replies: 22
      Last Post: 18-01-09, 10:33 PM
    3. Solar hot water sytem
      By jamisiah in forum Home
      Replies: 15
      Last Post: 05-11-08, 03:42 AM
    4. Chinese solar hot water system
      By spider98 in forum Home
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 05-10-08, 06:03 PM
    5. Solar Hot Water Collector - E-bay
      By pieces in forum Home
      Replies: 0
      Last Post: 26-04-08, 06:03 PM

    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
    •