Tankless without electricity! (PAH)

Dave Yates (PAH)

I am by that mini-turbine! Too many of the members are doctors and lawyers for anything that would require plugging in a car battery(G).

Their current water heater is propane 6 gal & just 8,800 Btu's. Makes for a short shower! The gravity-fed springhouse system (complete with family of frogs) grants 30-PSI & that drops off to 25-PSI with the shower running full-tilt. A drop to 20-PSI for multiple-use of fixtures occurs initially & climbs up to 22-PSI. That's the combined draw of shower + W/C + lav. KS faucet had no additional affect. W/C by itself sees a momentary drop to 22-PSI & fairly steady climb to 26-PSI while filling. Lav & KS both drop to 25 initially, but quickly climb to 28-PSI while running full bore. A quick shut off sees a hydraulic jump to 35-PSI, which rocks back & forth till settling in at 30-PSI.

I know know the exact elevation of the water's surface in that springhouse relative to the floor of the cabin(G).

18-PSI min required for the tankless, although they have a low press model that will work with 8-PSI.

<A HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=98&Step=30">To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"</A>

Dave Yates (PAH)

Seasonal use - grid not available

Other than the Bosch Aquastar, I don't see any tankless water heaters that operate without electricity. Anyone have info on other models?

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Brian (Tankless)

Hi Dave

Just a suggestion.

A very small 12 volt PV panel charging a battery, feeding a small inverter, powering a Takagi Jr. It only requires 0.8 amps max.

This wouldn't cost much at all. The owners could also use it to charge cell phones & the like.

Don't forget the charge controller.

Regards, and good luck.

Brian.

Edited version:

OK. I'm assuming the members get there in a vehicle, or a 4wheeler of some kind, which has 12VDC available. If they really want low-cost, and don't mind a little ritual when they need hot water. Just get a small (but good quality) inverter, and hook it up just when they need it. Or, as Bailey suggested, just take a fully charged big gel-cell deep-cycle battery and inverter, and haul it home when they leave.

Or, if the camp is close to the stream, check out the DC turbine generators powered by the stream. Then an inverter.

How are they getting their water pressure? Gotta ba a way.

Good luck, & let us know what you do, so we can pass it on to others.

Brian, in 78* Swampland, but supposed to get down to 39* tonight. Time for sweaters.

RadPro

tankless power back up

There fore the takagi Jr could run almost 8-10 hours on Batt. back up with a Good 12 v deep cycle battery....not bad

Dave Yates (PAH)

Lack of sunlight

The cabin is nestled into a wooded valley, a stone's toss away from a pristine trout stream and backs up tightly to a very steep mountain/hillside. Direct sunlight is not available for much of the day and there's no heat to protect a battery system. In addition, the water heater will be installed on the outside wall and winterized each year (as is the entire plumbing system). They currently utilize a 6-gallon RV-style water heater that's on its lasst legs. There's an outdoor shower and a number of the club's members have complained about running out of hot water. I will be presenting them with options & believe a tankless is their best bet to meet expectations.

We've installed many Takagi units, most recently a Mobius in place of a Burkay that failed in a factory (using ProPress to minimize disruption of service) and coupled it to the existing storage tank. When the tank fails, a second Mobius will join the first one to meet peak hot water demans at each shift's change.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Brian (Tankless)

Hi Dave

I found a 12VDC output hydro generator, but I don't think you'll like the price.

I googled and found :Aquair UW" $1,200.....ouch! Without accesories.

Bump.

Brian.

I think running an inverter from an ATV is your cheapest bet. Heck, you can get a 300Watt inverter for $40.

Cheers, let us know.

Bosch does make a 125 model with hydro/gen operated ignition, but it's not 125Kbtu, it's 117Kbtu @ 84% eff (98,280 btu's). If the water is really cold, this unit may not cut it. Go for the inverter off a battery.

Michael_19

Myson 325 DV

How about a Myson 325 DV? This wall hung unit needs no electricity, it is a direct vent sealed combustion, 100 btu, thermostaticaly controlled tankless water heater. And it's tiny. I believe they were available for both NG and LP gas. These units are no longer sold in the US but perhaps you could find one on ebay. I'm currently using one to heat my home and all of my domestic water. 8 years and no problems. Just a thought

Ed_26

tankless/no hydro

How about Paloma? several models available.
www.tanklesswaterheaters.ca (.com?)