The "preview" article from post #17, Section 3.2.1 says things like "perfectly compatible" and "easily modified by replacement" like it's a clip-on tie or sumthin japanese and generic. Soon they will be everywhere....

http://www.atzonline.com/Article/104...g-Systems.html

They do have a lot of low prices on parts, but they don't calculate the shipping until after you have placed the order! Are they yet another "jack up the shipping costs so we can list attractive prices" scam?

For the coils, how much efficiency would I lose if I use them in an orientation other than horizontal? I'm trying to keep all parts self contained in the original A/C case if I can. And how would the BTSSN-09 (for example) compare to the 40 plate in terms of efficiency?

This is not an equal comparison. The bphe is rated for up to 17000 btu at whatever flow rate v.temp, whereas the coax he is rated for half that capacity under normal heat pump operating conditions. The plate he is $100 plus shipping, I'm guessing it would do roughly 3 times more heat transfer under the same head pressure (based roughly on price). Surplus city has the next size up coax exchanger, rated for 1.7 tons (20kbtu) for $43 plus shipping. Compared to this coax exchanger, the bphe would still probably be more efficient. But plate exchangers have more maintenance needs than coax exchangers and efficiency would eventually drop to below the coax exchanger due to fouling. In contrast, coax exchangers take very little maintenance because they don't have little nooks and crannies for crud to settle or grow in.

In my dealings with Surplus city, they have never charged an outrageous amount for shipping. They just don't calculate shipping on the website until your order is completed because they usually ship all the smaller items in one box. Also, they sell many large, heavy items that can only be shipped by freight. If in doubt, just call them. They can supply you with white papers and such for your items as well, you just have to ask for them.

Dremd just ordered one of the 1.7 ton coax exchangers for his bayou cabin cooler project. It was around $80 shipped. He posted his surprise at the unexpected "heavy-dutyness" of the exchanger in his thread.

Yes, the shipping seamed high, until the coax coil arrived, now it seems about right.
I have to wait for the heat to break so I can pull a window unit out of service to start experimenting, can't wait though.
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Take Lots of Photos!
 

I guess in Louisiana, the supply of good used A/C units this time of year is pretty tight. Up here in Western Oregon, you gotta look where you step so you don't trip over one!

dremde, I wish you the best on this Heat Pump Water Heater project. Living in Louisiana, your COP should be quite gratifying, even through the winter months.

As I'm sure you already know, your project parallels THIS ONE. Having a well-documented and well-illustrated project to follow make things much easier.

And I should add, take lots of photos as you go along so we can all learn from your example!

Best,

-AC_Hacker

Any updates on this project Mike?

I have enough done to get it running, but it needs the controls to be usable.

Any pictures to share?

http://i43.tinypic.com/29fp3qu.jpg
The condenser didn't fit in the original case, so I put it in an old 2U rack server case and mounted the A/C on top of it. There are two extra TXVs (dirt cheap surplus ones that were under $1 each), one for the low pressure evaporator and one for the phase separator.
http://i41.tinypic.com/2utteg2.jpg
I added a line filter so the PLC receiver would operate better, along with a surge protector and homemade hard start kit.

So, how is this project running?

Do you have any performance data yet?

-AC