HO Help: 2nd floor fin-tube: split with 'T' or in series??

[Deleted User]

Thanks Gary.

The loop would be approx 20ft with elements for the bedrooms to the left of the wet wall, then 40ft with no elements as it travels to the far right 3rd bedroom, then 20ft with elements back to the return line in the wet wall.

I wasn't sure if that 40 ft run would cause problems for the elements on the receiving end.

[Deleted User]

HO Help: 2nd floor fin-tube: split with 'T' or in series??

I plan to run fin-tube baseboard on the 2nd floor. The easiest access for the supply/return is through a wet wall. The wet wall has two bedrooms to the left and a bathroom and bedroom to the right, all at the rear of the house. I figure I have 2 options of running the fin-tube:

(1) Run heating elements into the two bedrooms to the left of the wet wall (in series), return the tube back thru these bedrooms, thru the bath and into the 3rd bedroom, then run heating elements in this bedroom and then the bath (in series) before returning to the wet wall return line. In effect, I'd have single loop wiht 2 elements, a long stretch of copper pipe, and another 2 elements in series.

(2) The other option would be to split the supply with a 'T', feeding the bedrooms to the left and the bath/bedroom to the right. Then those loops would come back to a T at the return line. A schematic is shown here (http://www.heatinghelp.com/heating_howcome4.cfm) see "split the loop"


My concern w/ the first option is the lower supply temps to the 3rd bedroom and bath as a result of the long length of pipe.

thanks for your help!

GW

how many feet of fin?

seems like a small loop, why bother splitting it?

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Brad White_203

I would split it

and put a TRV on each sub-circuit. Why not enjoy the fine tuning? Baths most people like to be warmer, bedrooms cooler.

I would not bullhead the returns though, but rather elbow down then join the second return branch into a tee or wye.

But for the effort, I would split them. You have the opportunity.

[Deleted User]

I'm sorry Brad, but you lost me on

"I would not bullhead the returns though, but rather elbow down then join the second return branch into a tee or wye."

Are you suggesting what is pictured in the last 'Q' here: http://www.heatinghelp.com/heating_howcome4.cfm ?

thanks