Radiant manifolds

cc_3

PEX SUPPLY has several pre made manifolds for sale..
the stainless one is about 300 $ and it says it has all supply and return stuff for 5 loops but is "ready for accuators"
what does this mean??? Anyone know good sites for homemade manifolds and chat about them and all things radiant for regular people..?? thanksw

Mark Custis

cc what do you want to do?

Plumb manifolds or buy manifolds?

I love to plumb, the bigger the better.

I do get and read every trade publication I can get my hands on, the free and the paid. My hands are very old. I can fix stuff plumbing that younger hands can not fix, because I have burns. Dropped 15% rod on a forearm. 95/5 in a loose shoe. Getting passed over with oxy/ace by the senior tech holding a pipe.

If it comes in pipes I can fix it.

I started to build my own outside the box stuff out of spare parts. Then I discovered Hot Rod. Dan. John. I have yet learned to pay attention to Ellan.

If the machine shop in Italy can build it for me faster than I can build it, AND they do the design, for less than I can build it, buying the parts? What have I learned?

Not to burn myself.

What do I gain?

Lots of time. Time equals money.

I am working on time equals money. Ellan, Help.

Brad White_204

Ready for Actuators

Actuators are electrically operated motors or control heads (sometimes called telstats and a few other choice names) which operate the valve for that circuit.

When a manifold is said to be "actuator-ready", it has the appropriate threaded connection for attachment of the actuator. This allows individual control of that circuit, be it for space temperature, floor temperature or limit temperature, whatever your imagination dictates.

cc_3

so accuators are for the more automated temp control stuff..
can you do a manifold without that stuff..??? who makes accuators for temp control and what do they cost PER loop.??
They mix in cold water,no??????
I am getting ready to install my own radiant system, solar with electric backup and maybe run some coils thru a woodstove also for outages....
without ever having done a heating system.I need as much info as possible. I wish there was a course I could take for a few days, hands on.....

Chris Norton

Hold your horses

CC. It sounds like you might be biting off a bit more than you can chew. Some of the items on your list can cause you serious bodily harm, not to mention serious wallet harm if not installed or designed correctly.

My advice is to find an older, retired heat guy that you can pay by the hour to look over your shoulder, IF YOU INSIST ON DOING IT YOURSELF.

Or just take the plunge and have a professional do this stuff. It will be faster, better, and in the long run it will save you money.

Brad White_203

Thanks, Chris

I did not gather that cc was not a contractor new to radiant or at least was more savvy. Glad you said what must be said. CC- unless you are more confident in your abilities, confidence, qualifications and direction (I gather not, based on what you wrote above), please hire a pro. Some may let you do some tasks but in order to make a living, those are rare and patient individuals.