EcoRenovator - View Single Post - Dump the plumbing and use PV to heat water?

Xringer · 03-20-10, 04:41 PM

I'm starting the 250 watt heater smoke test today.
It's installed on the boiler and all should be running 24/7 for a week or two.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/applia....html#post6094

It seems stable at 246 watts (839.38 BTUh). I'll keep an eye on it tonight, just in case it over-heats the boiler..

(Not likely). Both smoke alarms test ok.

Anyways, the reason I'm wasting energy is to simulate the heating power
I would get from a very small PV array. (If I every buy some panels).

Once I see there that 839.38 BTUh is actually more than the heat loss
and is actually enough to save a bit of oil, I'll switch the heater to a timer
and only apply AC power for 5 hours a day.. And see how that works for me..

One of the things that got me interested in better insulation of my boiler,
replacing the mixer and PV solar assist, was a post I read somewhere
about just using the pilot light on a gas water heater.
I was amazed that anyone could heat their hot water tank with just a little pilot light.
Edit: Found it! Water heating using ONLY the pilot light - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com

I'm planning an experiment as I type this.. I'm going to turn off the oil burner and observe the rate of loss in the boiler.
(With the hot pad on).
If I can keep my wife from using any hot water for a while, I can get some interesting data..

03-20-10, 04:41 PM	#12
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I'm starting the 250 watt heater smoke test today. It's installed on the boiler and all should be running 24/7 for a week or two. http://ecorenovator.org/forum/applia....html#post6094 It seems stable at 246 watts (839.38 BTUh). I'll keep an eye on it tonight, just in case it over-heats the boiler.. (Not likely). Both smoke alarms test ok. Anyways, the reason I'm wasting energy is to simulate the heating power I would get from a very small PV array. (If I every buy some panels). Once I see there that 839.38 BTUh is actually more than the heat loss and is actually enough to save a bit of oil, I'll switch the heater to a timer and only apply AC power for 5 hours a day.. And see how that works for me.. One of the things that got me interested in better insulation of my boiler, replacing the mixer and PV solar assist, was a post I read somewhere about just using the pilot light on a gas water heater. I was amazed that anyone could heat their hot water tank with just a little pilot light. Edit: Found it! Water heating using ONLY the pilot light - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com I'm planning an experiment as I type this.. I'm going to turn off the oil burner and observe the rate of loss in the boiler. (With the hot pad on). If I can keep my wife from using any hot water for a while, I can get some interesting data.. Last edited by Xringer; 03-20-10 at 05:45 PM..