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solar thermal pics

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MikeyB
MikeyB Member Posts: 696
in THE MAIN WALL
Hey Mike, nice work, I dont know much about solar, what do you have for a heat source feeding the boiler buddy? And how does the solar tank work? does it switch from the solar side to the boiler side if the solar cant keep up with the load for the hw domestic? thanks

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  • michael_34
    michael_34 Member Posts: 304
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    solar thermal pics

    Hi All,
    Here is some pics of a system I finished two weeks ago. It is heating a basement radiator and DHW. 3 Gobi 4 x 10's with pv pump (laing D5). Controlled by a Resol "E" controller (Badass). The buffer tank is a Boiler Buddy.
    Thanks all
    Michael
  • rt_2
    rt_2 Member Posts: 86
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    What's the pipe for coming off your tank drain?
  • michael_34
    michael_34 Member Posts: 304
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    CWS

    Rene,
    That is the cold water supply to the tank.
  • Mark Custis
    Mark Custis Member Posts: 539
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    Nice job

    Looks good.
  • Mark Custis
    Mark Custis Member Posts: 539
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    You have mail

    at your company site.
  • GW
    GW Member Posts: 4,696
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    can u tell me more about the boiler Buddy?

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
    Gary Wilson
    Wilson Services, Inc
    Northampton, MA
    gary@wilsonph.com
  • CC.Rob_13
    CC.Rob_13 Member Posts: 7
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    bb

    www.boilerbuddy.com
  • michael_34
    michael_34 Member Posts: 304
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    Boiler Buddy

    What cha wanna know.
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,853
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    Another interesting boiler buddy...

    http://www.magnom.com/index.php/info/product/boiler_buddy/

    ME

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • michael_34
    michael_34 Member Posts: 304
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    The Boiler Buddy takes it's heat only from the top heat exchanger of the solar tank, not ever from the boiler. When it is hot enough (via a sensor in the thermal well ) in the buffer tank and when the zone calls for heat, the circulator on the right (in the pic) kicks in and dumps it's heat into the basement zone. The pump on the left circulates at different Delta T to keep the tank ready to go for when the zone calls for heat.
    Hope that helps
    Thanks,
    Michael

  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,058
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    Nice clean work Michael

    Mad Dog

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    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • Theealchemist
    Theealchemist Member Posts: 59
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    solar thermal pics

    Do you have a backup heat source on this system?
    I like the use of the boiler buddy! Who Makes the solar tank and how do you like them?
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,218
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    nice!

    does the E control run the Laing via the PV panel? Is it C or F on the display, 120v? Did you do much programing to interface it?

    hr
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • michael_34
    michael_34 Member Posts: 304
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    E controller

    Hey Hot Rod
    The laing pump is not yet being controlled by the "E". I wanted to see how the system did without a delta T. Just start PV. I will switch it soon, it is all set up for the switch over.
    It is in Celsius, I got a conversion chart off the internet, printed and lamenated for the customer to hang by the controller. It runs on 120v.
    I did do some of the programming. I used arrangement number 1 and set everything else via the function blocks. It has work out well so far.
    Hope things are going well on your end.
    Michael
  • michael_34
    michael_34 Member Posts: 304
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    the alchemist

  • michael_34
    michael_34 Member Posts: 304
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    the alchemist again

    wopsie! I hit the wrong button!
    I just read your book!?!
    Anyway, I used an 80 gallon vaughn tank. I really like them. They are heavy SOB's
    ,but they work well.
    It is backed by an oil boiler.
  • Theealchemist
    Theealchemist Member Posts: 59
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    the alchemist again

    Wow. I didn't know Vaughn made a duel coil solar tank.
    Where is the boiler in relation to the Boiler Buddy?
    Nice job. Interesting too............
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,218
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    well done

    I'd worry that the pv powered solar pump could, under some conditions, actually pull temperature from the tank. As it has no way of knowing what the tank temperature is when it starts the Laing spinning. Keep an eye on it.

    hr
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • michael_34
    michael_34 Member Posts: 304
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    I agree

    that's why it will go on the Resol soon. During the summer months I want it to lose some heat, so I will put a switch in to go from winter (on delta t w/resol) and summer strictly PV.

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