Thmax: Solamax vs Mazdon [RE-wrenches]

[Kelly Keilwitz]

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Brad, Tom & Don,

Thanks for your comments. It's clear that you believe that flat plates are
preferable to evacuated tubes. There are a few situations where it seems to
me that tubes might be considered:

1. Tom acknowledges that tubes work better at higher temperatures. When
space for
storage is limited (as it frequently seems to be) more BTU's can stored in a
given volume by working at a higher temperature. We're using highly
insulated SS tanks that can take the high temperature.

2. The tubes seem to collect better than flat plates at a low angle of
incidence. That means tubes can be mounted on off-south orientations with
better performance than flat plates. Also each tube can be rotated 15
degrees or so toward South  without shading each other. And, the tubes don't
need to be tilted as steeply as flat-plates when mitigation of seasonal
variation is desired. That is important for customers who have aesthetic
concerns of steeply tilted panels.

3. Installation of the tube collectors is simpler. All the components can be
easily carried up a ladder and assembled on the roof. No boom truck
necessary. That mitigates some of the extra material cost of the tubes.

I appreciate the feedback from more-experienced installers. Keep it coming!
BTW, I HAVE read Tom's book - I have both the Third and Twenty-Sixth (!)
editions.

-Kelly


----- Original Message -----
From: "Brad Bassett" <bsbassett at earthlink.net>

I agree that flat plate is preferrable to evacuated tube collectors for
domestic hot water in most of the country. Particularly if you are
looking at a mild climate and moderate water temperatures when the sun
actually shines. Much of the time you are heating cold water in warm
weather, where a flat plate selective surface collector will outperform
evacuated tube. All of the time in this part of the country (Pac NW
coast) flat plate definitly outperforms them, also financially and in
reliability as well.

If you are looking to heat space with solar in the winter in western WA
I challenge anyone to show me that it is in any way going to pay, ever.
Use the money to put in better insulation and/or south facing windows,
or more efficient heating equipment.

Brad

>
> tom at ecs-solar.com writes:
>
> There  seems to
> be a total lack of understanding of the correct application   and use of
> evacuated tube collectors especially by people whose primary  experience
> is with photovoltaic installations.
>
>
I2P at aol.com wrote:
>
> Read Toms book!!~

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