22 Apr 2011 1:38 PM:

Hi Keith,

I have visited your website and I can see that we are both supplying compact solar water heaters which use incredibly efficient vacuum tubes to heat the water. Both systems have an internal coil and deliver hot water at mains pressure. If your heater gets over pressure the excess pressure is vented through a pressure relief (steam) valve. Our heater never gets over pressure because it has a vented to atmosphere system, the latest technology for small compact or combined units. In this system an extra tank is added. Vented to atmosphere systems are instantly recognisable with their small assistant tank or cystern on top.  With a vented to atmosphere system a pressure releif valve is not necessary . This avoids any possibility of calcium build up causing the valve to fail.

Perhaps the water in Murcia where you are doesn't contain as much calcium as it does in the rest of Spain. Or perhaps your customers have water softeners fitted. You seem to have averted the disasters others have suffered. I can only speak from personal experience. A good friend of mine runs a log cabin holiday resort just around the corner and he had two of these pressurised units blow on him and had to be replaced. Not a mile from here there is another buckled tank on a roof top. The audience to this debate may well have their own experiences to add. It would be interesting to find out.

Pressurised systems with pressure releif valves work well when they are incorporated in a split system where you have an expansion vessel and you have more control over pressure and temperature. The solar collector is located on the roof and the tank elsewhere. We are very much in favour of pressurised systems of this type. We have a split system €1,999 + IVA as part of our current range of solar water heaters. Our split system has two internal coils so a seperate heat source such as a boiler can be incorporated.

I felt that I needed to respond to your comments to set the record straight but I haven't the time for a heated debate!

Un Saludo,

Ellis

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Thread: Solar water heaters

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04 Feb 2011 7:08 PM:

Hi Tony,

Thanks for commenting. I'm glad you agree

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04 Feb 2011 7:07 PM:

Hi Georgia,

It can be done but you'd need a massive power plant and a massive investment. When you go solar you have to make some small lifestyle changes. Generally speaking any heating or cooling appliances are big power consumption and a no no. Electric cookers for example and air conditioning units which you need to replace with ceiling fans. Also investigate more natural ways of cooling. A naya outside the door for example. The plants evaporate moisture and this latent heat displacement cools the air before it enters your home. You can use the same principle with running water and water sprays.

Yes wind generators are excellent. A hybrid solar and wind power sytem makes an excellent combination.

I hope this helps. If you want a quote you'll have to contact us through the website

Thread: Solar water heaters

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04 Feb 2011 1:51 PM:

Hi Everyone,

I'm Ellis M.D. of gosolarinspain - We supply vacuum tube compact water heaters to expats throughout mainland Spain. We only sell the new vented to atmosphere models. Those are the ones with the small assistant tank or cystern on top. We are (probably) the number one supplier of solar electric home kits to expats in Spain. Before adding solar hot water heaters to our Spain range we did a great deal of research. We heard so many horror stories from people in Spain who had bought systems which had steam valves instead of vent to atmosphere systems. When buying a solar water heater in Spain because hard water is a problem we strongly recommend you avoid systems which use steam valves to relieve pressure. These systems work OK until the steam valve fails then they often explode. Alternatively they may boil dry and implode when they cool down. I hope this helps - any information you need please use contact us on our website

P.S. You are right - only gravity systems need to be roof mounted.

Thread: Solar water heaters

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