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From: daemon@houligan.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Re: Heat pump/water heater energy conservation
Message-ID: <241@houligan.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 19-Dec-85 16:07:38 EST
Article-I.D.: houligan.241
Posted: Thu Dec 19 16:07:38 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Dec-85 23:36:49 EST
Sender: daemon@houligan.UUCP
Organization: Gould Electronics, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Lines: 49

In article <637@hlwpc.UUCP>, cb@hlwpc.UUCP (Carl Blesch) writes:
> > Another possibility is to do what I did -- scrap the electric water
> > heater entirely and replace it by an oil- or gas-fired heater.
> Along these lines, the PBS television show "This Old House" recently
> demonstrated a tankless gas water heater.  Water is heated only as used
> by this gizmo -- apparently the incoming water goes thru enough length
> of coiled tubing to pick up all the kilocalories it needs to become hot.
> On the show, the heater kicked in as soon as the homeowner turned on
> the hot water faucet, and shut off as soon as he shut it off.

I have seen this idea in practical use in 3 different countries.
	1.  Australia.  Visiting several of my relatives <undisclosed number>
	    years ago, they (each house) had a "box" (in the electrical wiring
	    sense) about the size of a "lawn sprinkler" timer, high up in the
	    wall inside the house, opposite the main feed into the house (for
	    short wire losses, I would guess).  Since this "box" was somewhat
	    old, it would buzz rather loudly when activated, but worked great.
	    The idea was: suck HEAVILY on the 220V input and heat that water
	    FAST as it went through.  A flow-sensing switch turns on the
	    heating element once you get enough flow to carry away the heat
	    (so it won't boil itself away if you just turn on a trickle).
	2.  Brazil.  Yes, I have led a weird life.  These would probably NEVER
	    get UL or CSA approval, but they sure worked great!  Take an
	    ordinary electric kettle.  Reshape it a little to make it look
	    like a tupperware cylinder for holding a cake.  Add a pipe in, and
	    punch lots of little holes in the bottom (and close the spout, of
	    course).  Now, a flow-sensor switch turns on the heater, and
	    PRESTO, you have a hot shower with only 1 valve (slower water =
	    more time to heat it up = hotter water, faster = colder), and no
	    need for large hot water tanks.  Our house had only a 15 litre
	    tank (about 10 gals) and it was enough for dishes (what else
	    besides shower/bath and dishes do you need hot for?).  Laundry was
	    just tough cookies, since all houses (that could afford to have
	    machines) were pre-piped for cold only.
	3.  Grenada.  Yes, same place, but much earlier.  Same idea as (1),
	    but substitute natural gas for electric.  Didn't work out as well,
	    but mostly because the unit in the borrowed house was underpowered.
	    To get a strong blast from the shower head was too much for the
	    poor thing.  Came out rather cold.

--tgi

	while (--tgi)	/* my mind continues to decay */
		;	/* even though I do nothing.. */    

{brl-bmd,ccvaxa,pur-ee,sun}!csd-gould!midas!tgi (Craig Strickland @ Gould)
305/587-2900 x5014  CompuServe: 76545,1007   Source: BDQ615   MCIMail: 272-3350

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