Search found 22 matches

by sparticuss
Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:27 pm
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Solar hot water. Thermo syphon problems
Replies: 13
Views: 11613

Is it an indirect circuit (ie. is the water that runs through the solar panels a closed circuit, and separate from the water that comes out of the tap)? If so, wouldn't anti-freeze be an option? Afraid not Muddy. It's direct. The water that goes through those panels is the water that comes out of t...
by sparticuss
Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:21 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Solar hot water. Thermo syphon problems
Replies: 13
Views: 11613

Frost guard valves

These solar panels are meant to have a frost protection vlave attached. When the temperature gets below about 3 deg C the valve opens a bit of a dribble from the hot water in the storage tank and into the panels stopping ice frm forming in then and destroying the panels. These valves are $180 to buy...
by sparticuss
Sun Jan 08, 2006 6:16 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Solar hot water. Thermo syphon problems
Replies: 13
Views: 11613

No idea what the statistics are - but yes, we do have clear skies up here. The wind sees to that... Unfortunately, the sunshine hours are rather short in winter (although it's lovely out there at the moment - had a few snowshowers, a strong northerly blowing, and the sun is out!). So even if the su...
by sparticuss
Sun Jan 08, 2006 6:08 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: solar hot water falling through the roof
Replies: 1
Views: 2489

solar hot water falling through the roof

Is there a builder in the house. I'm building an older style solar HWS which mounts the main tank on the roof. Thats about a quarter of a tonne on a roof which already holds at least five tonnes of tiles. I'm building a frame like a heavy table so that the tank doesn't actually mount onto the roof. ...
by sparticuss
Sun Dec 25, 2005 10:31 pm
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Solar panels
Replies: 16
Views: 14081

I do when I am doing the dust mite covers for the mattress and pillow slips. They should be done at 95C in order to kill off any mites. However what is really irritating is the damn things shrink so much it is a real tug of war to get it back over the mattress. I do wonder if they are really effect...
by sparticuss
Sun Dec 25, 2005 10:24 pm
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Solar panels
Replies: 16
Views: 14081

On a clear day I can run the washing machine off the inverter, but it doesn't heat the water, we have washed in cold water for 20 years anyway! Nev Yeah, why DO we wash clothes with hot water? Does it make them any cleaner? Is cold water with some eco-friendly washing powder effective? I would haza...
by sparticuss
Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:52 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Solar hot water. Thermo syphon problems
Replies: 13
Views: 11613

Problems officially solved

Cloudy skiess the past few days. Even so the system got comfortably warm. Clear warm day today and the whole 175 litres came up to about the simmer. There must have been a bubble in the system the first time preventing the thermosyphon. Can't think of anything else. In any case the problems pretty m...
by sparticuss
Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:43 am
Forum: Swap Shop, Trading Area and Seed Swap Area
Topic: wind generator Looking to buy
Replies: 0
Views: 2477

wind generator Looking to buy

Something aroudn the 2000 watt mark and it doens't matter if its a touch bigger. There are limitations of course as it's for domestic use.

There are price limitations too cause I'm on the dole.
by sparticuss
Thu Dec 15, 2005 7:26 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: 240volt wind generator or 12 volt coloumn oil heater
Replies: 4
Views: 4876

I think you might have your work cut out trying to make a 240v heating element do much with only 12v trying to push through it - I think the resistance will simply be too great. Is it possible to get the element out and replace it with something that might work - a 12v travel kettle type thing that...
by sparticuss
Thu Dec 15, 2005 7:04 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Solar hot water. Thermo syphon problems
Replies: 13
Views: 11613

Just one morre quick note muddy. I know Londons reputation for smog but how clear are the skies in Scotland. Clear sun, not hot sun, is what makes the solar hot water panels work. It can be zero degrees but if its still a clear day and a bright sun the water still comes out of the panels piping hot.
by sparticuss
Thu Dec 15, 2005 6:51 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Solar hot water. Thermo syphon problems
Replies: 13
Views: 11613

Hot Australian sun

Thanks for that muddy. And believe me, the Australian sun, even down here in the relative cold of Melbourne has more than enough biter to have given me skin cancers and to boil water. I simply hook the garden tap up to ONE panel at a very slow dribble, (about the same as a slow pee) I get boiling wa...
by sparticuss
Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:06 am
Forum: Allotments, Veg Patches and Container Gardening
Topic: poly-tunnel, greenhouse or willow tunnel
Replies: 20
Views: 12215

How about a greenhouse with polycarbonate instead of glass? It's more insulating than glass too. Willow isn't supposed to be very good for burning from what I've read. And what is a DP? Dearest Partner? Does it Molly.??? I always understood that glass trapped the heatof the sun beter. Which is why ...
by sparticuss
Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:05 am
Forum: Welcome New People Say Hello
Topic: Another HELLO from Aberdeenshire
Replies: 13
Views: 6913

Hello from sunniest Australia

How popular are wind genarators up there in bleak old Scotland. How many have you seen. And how windy is it.

I'm asking cause I live in the officially windiest suburb in Melbourne.
by sparticuss
Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:01 am
Forum: Welcome New People Say Hello
Topic: Peas in polly tunneles
Replies: 4
Views: 2805

Probably carrotts or beetroot. :mrgreen:
by sparticuss
Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:55 am
Forum: Welcome New People Say Hello
Topic: testing testing can you see me
Replies: 11
Views: 5232

Nearly bought a pommie motorbike actually. An eco bike which gave almost 200 mpg. Called a Quasar.