Anybody any experience of solar hot water heating here?

[ianc66]

I'm having a house built. It occurs to me to do my bit or the environment so I'd like to investigate it. I've seen a few hotels with panels. I know there is a shop (or was) in Khao Takiab. Does anybody have real experience here? My worry is poor plumbing could have hot water cascading through my house.

[Burger]

Ian,

I have no experience with them, but there is an English guy who has started up this very business in Hua Hin. Think his was the shop you saw in Takiab.
I Can give you his number if you PM me. Obviously his advice regarding them may be a bit 'biased', but he can supply and install if you decide to go ahead.

Burger

[jambo]

again no personal experience
have seen these on a few places and also real estate agents state thes in there advertisments
i have wondered if these can be used in more than just hot water could they generate enough energy to run air cons or whole houses?
thanks
jambo

[ianc66]

Jambo,

Yes the technology is available but not likley to be cost effective see this for instance. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4685150.stm. I believe hot water is likley to be economic will investigate further.

[caller]

Don't know why, but I've been trawling through the Hua Hin Today paper on-line.

Theres an article here about solar heating. I don't think I'm breaking any rules? Apologies if I am.

http://www.huahintoday.net/index.php?ac ... ews&id=707

I'd be interested in some feedback if you go ahead.

[jambo]

ianc66
thanks for the reply cant open the link but i will take your word for it
cheers
jambo

[Guess]

I have a question here. I have seen Dumbo's comments. What I need to know is why would you need hot water in Thailand.

If you need to make a cup of tea than get a water bolier for about 400 Baht.

Of course I agree totally with the conservation of energy concept.

Maybe someone cut and paste an article from a newspaer web site.

[lomuamart]

I have a question here. I have seen Dumbo's comments. What I need to know is why would you need hot water in Thailand.

If you need to make a cup of tea than get a water bolier for about 400 Baht.

Of course I agree totally with the conservation of energy concept.

Maybe someone cut and paste an article from a newspaer web site.

Not sure I'd agree with that. The place I'm currently in has a hot water heater. It's the first I've had in 8 years here - luxury.
At this time of year. I find cold showers pretty uncomfortable and even when the weather's hot, cold water never cleans you properly - grease and all.
The temperature can always be turned down if desired.

[jambo]

guess wrote

I have seen Dumbo's comments.

guess who was this comment aimed at?

[ianc66]

To answer two points the site I quoted was

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4685150.stm

In my previous post a full stop was inadvertently added.

And why do I want hot water, for showers.

[Jaime]

i have wondered if these can be used in more than just hot water could they generate enough energy to run air cons or whole houses?

There are two basic types of solar heating technology for use in domestic applications:

1. Solar water heating. This is what I believe is being referred to in this thread. In simple terms water is pumped through pipes set into a panel on the roof of a house. The pipes are painted black so that when the sun shines on them they get hot. This warms up the water, cutting down the load on your electric water heating system and therefore lowers both your bills and your contribution to global carbon dioxide emissions. They work well in places with long hours of sunlight.

2. Solar (Photovoltaic) Panels. These panels use silicon cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity and can be used to power your property. One square metre of panel can power a 100W light bulb. It is basically the same technology that powers solar powered calculators etc. and they need only daylight rather than direct sunlight to work. They are more expensive than the solar water heaters here in the UK.

For an animated illustration of how photovoltaic panels work go to:

http://www.energex.com.au/switched_on/a ... ltaic.html

Hope this helps someone.

Jaime

[Jaime]

I have also wondered how effectively wind power could be utilised in Hua Hin to generate domestic electricity as it is quite breezy there. There are domestic wind-power generators available here in Europe but probably not in Thailand yet. I could be wrong though.

Sorry - just read the Hua Hin Today article about solar and wind power referenced in the thread above!