I'm in Hot Water

[stessl85]

Strewth!!! My gas hot water system (hws) just blew up.... I am going to replace it with a solar hot water system.  To tide me over temporarily till the new hws is installed , I will buy something like the Companion Aqua Cube Logic hws and use it at home for showering and washing the dishes. My thinking is that I will then have a new toy... I mean hot water system... for the camper trailer 
Quick question.....is hot water from the Companion Aqua Cube Logic hot enough for a cup of tea /coffee or will I still have to boil the jug.

Cheers

[Hogie]

Unless you only want a warm cup of tea/coffee you will still need to boil the kettle.

From the manual....

• Over Temperature Sensor – the appliance will not allow the burner to remain in operation once the outlet water temperature reaches 45-50 degrees, the burner will automatically relight once the outlet temperature falls below 45

[D4D]

I have a Solarhart solar hot water system, when it dies it is being replaced by a Rinnai gas instantaneous hot water service. The Solarhart is fine during the day but the electric booster at night costs a fortune.

[Jason B]

I have a Bosch instant hot water system (almost identical ti the Rinnai) and it was the best move we ever made. Much cheaper, electric ignition, so no pilot light. I wouldn't have anything else now.

Jas

[MrCruza]

I have a Solarhart solar hot water system, when it dies it is being replaced by a Rinnai gas instantaneous hot water service. The Solarhart is fine during the day but the electric booster at night costs a fortune.

I have a standard old Beasley solar setup and have the booster connected to a manual switch. We rarely ever need to boost, only if there's been a few days of cloudy weather. That's with three of us (2 adults, one teenager) using it.

[Garfish]

I have a standard old Beasley solar setup and have the booster connected to a manual switch. We rarely ever need to boost, only if there's been a few days of cloudy weather. That's with three of us (2 adults, one teenager) using it.

We were the same. Growing up, but with 6 in the house but again in Qld, only needed to boost after a few days of no sun. 

[stessl85]

Thanks for the replies. I will also investigate the instantaneous hot water systems - they may be an efficient and cheaper option.

I bought a Companion Aqua Cube Logic hws from Rays at Kotara (Newcastle) yesterday - they wanted $379 but price matched Anaconda's price of $349 (showed them printout from Anacondas internet site).   I went to buy something else from Rays this morning and noticed the price for the Aqua Cube Logic had been dropped to $349. Love the internet.....but also like to support locals.

cheers

[D4D]

I have a Solarhart solar hot water system, when it dies it is being replaced by a Rinnai gas instantaneous hot water service. The Solarhart is fine during the day but the electric booster at night costs a fortune.

Oh the irony, hot water service died last night.

Options:
- $400 supply and fit new element (14 year old Solarhart)
- $2000 supply and fit new Rinnai 26 continuous HWS
- $3000 supply and fit new 'Chromagen' solar gas boosted HWS

Leaning towards the Rinnai, any other options?

[Bird]

Oh the irony, hot water service died last night.

Options:
- $400 supply and fit new element (14 year old Solarhart)
- $2000 supply and fit new Rinnai 26 continuous HWS
- $3000 supply and fit new 'Chromagen' solar gas boosted HWS

Leaning towards the Rinnai, any other options?

I'd be leaning towards the new element.

[D4D]

I'd be leaning towards the new element.

Why?

[GeoffA]

Why?

$2000 v $400

Also, the instantaneous units need 3/4" gas and water supply.

[Barry G]

Oh the irony, hot water service died last night.

Options:
- $400 supply and fit new element (14 year old Solarhart)
- $2000 supply and fit new Rinnai 26 continuous HWS
- $3000 supply and fit new 'Chromagen' solar gas boosted HWS

Leaning towards the Rinnai, any other options?

Is it possible to feed the outlet of the existing solar tank through the gas instantaneous as a 'booster'?
That is how my Beasley gas boosted system works. The Beasley tank actually has an element in it - comes as standard for locations without gas - just not hooked up.

[D4D]

$2000 v $400

Also, the instantaneous units need 3/4" gas and water supply.

Agreed but I am spending $400 on a 14 year old HWS that may drop it's tank soon too

Gas meter is right next to where the instantaneous unit will go but agree the water supply reroute is a large piece of work.

[rags]

Agreed but I am spending $400 on a 14 year old HWS that may drop it's tank soon too

Gas meter is right next to where the instantaneous unit will go but agree the water supply reroute is a large piece of work.

Is the tank an enamel lined one or is it a stainless tank.

[D4D]

Is the tank an enamel lined one or is it a stainless tank.

Dunno, was there when I bought the house. Haven't had to think about it until today.

[rags]

Is it possible to feed the outlet of the existing solar tank through the gas instantaneous as a 'booster'?
That is how my Beasley gas boosted system works. The Beasley tank actually has an element in it - comes as standard for locations without gas - just not hooked up.

Yes it is how many of the newer gas boosted units work,see rinnai or rheem among many others

[rags]

Dunno, was there when I bought the house. Haven't had to think about it until today.

Some models featured a stainless tank ,so the $70 element installed in  about an hour for $400 maybe worth considering.

[D4D]

Some models featured a stainless tank ,so the $70 element installed in  about an hour for $400 maybe worth considering.

Now you tell me Already have new unit and booked in for install tomorrow.

[green47]

I run a seniors centre that has 5 blocks of units with common HWS, we were running gas storage however the price of gas is rising and will continue to do so, after a great deal of investigation we chose to install a "HeatTrap" this system uses solar panels and uses the heat pump technology to maintain the temp.
They do residential installations in WA, based on current electricity consumption I estimate that it will pay for itself in 3 years and the cost was $24K 

[GeoffA]

Some models featured a stainless tank ,so the $70 element installed in  about an hour for $400 maybe worth considering.

As a comment......our AquaMax had a stainless tank.
The tank was fine, but the ancilliaries on it failed, and replacements were not available........

[rags]

 

Now you tell me Already have new unit and booked in for install tomorrow.

Your $3000 is a good price for an install of a gas boosted system ,and you should get many years out of it.

[D4D]

Your $3000 is a good price for an install of a gas boosted system ,and you should get many years out of it.

I went the Rinnai 26 rather than new solar, probably end up costing $1600 installed.

[rags]

I run a seniors centre that has 5 blocks of units with common HWS, we were running gas storage however the price of gas is rising and will continue to do so, after a great deal of investigation we chose to install a "HeatTrap" this system uses solar panels and uses the heat pump technology to maintain the temp.
They do residential installations in WA, based on current electricity consumption I estimate that it will pay for itself in 3 years and the cost was $24K

I would make sure you do your homework before settling on heat pump technology ,although if it uses roof panels for absorption then it maybe ok. By heat trap ,do you mean a heat trace reticulation system

[D4D]

All done, only challenge was a 20m round trip for the water due to the plumbing to the old HWS being in the wall rather than in the roof. The delay from cold to hot water is about the same as the old solar system.

[Marschy]

Same as my unit. Problem with them is, if you have a power failure, you have no hot water.