Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site anasazi.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!hao!noao!terak!anasazi!chad From: chad@anasazi.UUCP (Chad R. Larson) Newsgroups: net.consumers Subject: Re: Heat pump/water heater energy conservation Message-ID: <459@anasazi.UUCP> Date: Tue, 31-Dec-85 00:39:26 EST Article-I.D.: anasazi.459 Posted: Tue Dec 31 00:39:26 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 1-Jan-86 02:39:54 EST References: <637@hlwpc.UUCP>, cb@hlwpc.UUCP (Carl Blesch) Reply-To: chad@anasazi.UUCP (Chad R. Larson) Organization: Anasazi, Phoenix Az. Lines: 58 In article <637@hlwpc.UUCP>, cb@hlwpc.UUCP (Carl Blesch) writes: > 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 also seen these described (I think in Consumer Reports). They are rated in delta-t (what temperature rise do you want?) and have a thermal switch that cycles the electric power when a given exit temperature is reached. My question is: Does anyone know where I can get one in the good old U.S. of A.? My wife tells me they were very common in Brazil and Honduras where she grew up, but the plumbing supply companies around here look at you very strangely when you try to describe one. They seem like a natural here in Phoenix to supplement my solar heater on cloudy days. >I have seen this idea in practical use in 3 different countries. > 1. Australia. Visiting several of my relatives > 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 > >(echo ".ft B"; echo ".ps 999"; echo "$disclaimer") | troff -t # :-)