Copper Cricket SHW [RE-wrenches]

[Bob Maynard, Energy Outfitters]

Randy,

Newt Loken of Solar Assist in Eugene, OR still services several Copper
Crickets.  Email: newtlok at efn.org  Phone: 541/338-4957

He's extremely sharp and an all around great person!

Regards,
Bob Maynard
Energy Outfitters

-----Original Message-----
From: Randy Brooks [mailto:Randy at BrooksSolar.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 10:41 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Copper Cricket SHW [RE-wrenches]

Wrenches,

I'm working to get a Copper Cricket solar hot water system back on line
for
a customer.  I have an identical unit on my house and I still have the
fill
kit and manuals (including MSDS), but have not been able to determine
the
methyl alcohol:water dilution ratio to use for the collector fluid.  The
installation manual just says to pour the methyl alcohol provided (I
think
it was 32 fl. oz. but recycled the can years ago) in the mixing
container
provided and add four gallons of water.  Anyone have any idea what the
dilution ratio should be?  I found a source for methyl alcohol on the
web
(www.jtbaker.com) and a regional distributor in Portland, OR.

The fuse plug was melted and open on this system (indicating the
collector
exceeded 285°F while stagnant for about two years!) and the collector
fluid
mostly evaporated.  I temporarily repaired the fuse plug by melting pipe
solder in it, but suspect this solder melts at a higher temperature than
the
original 285°F.  Can anyone confirm whether it does or not?  Any source
for
similar 1/2" NPT 285°F fuse plugs?  I didn't have any luck finding a
source
on the web.

I've drained, flushed and pressure tested the solar loop and it seems
fine.

I've left a voice mail for Mike Tierney at Aspen Solar Systems, who I
was
told is the remaining authority on Copper Cricket systems.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Randy Brooks
Brooks Solar, Inc.
Solar Power for People
140 Columbia View
Chelan, WA  98816
509-682-9646
Randy at BrooksSolar.com
www.BrooksSolar.com 


--
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
==^================================================================
This email was sent to: michael_welch at sbcglobal.net

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html
==^================================================================