[RE-wrenches] Laing Solar Eco Pumps vs. El Sid

[Luke Christy]

>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:59:13 -0500 (US/)
> From: "Howie Michaelson" <howie at suncatchervt.com>
> To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Laing Solar Eco Pumps vs. El Sid
> Message-ID:
> 	<50860.71.169.178.212.1291064353.squirrel at mail7.atypica.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi All,
>
> I'm looking for feedback on the Laing EcoCirc Pumps for use in closed
> glycol PV driven SHW loops as well as closed loop off-grid hydronic
> heating loops (24 vDC battery systems or 12 vDC stepped down).   
> Probably
> the D5 is the pump I'd use, but I'm open to any and all feedback.
>
> In particular, I'm looking for comparisons to El Sids.  The Laings  
> appear
> to have a stronger pump curve than the El Sids.  I've used El Sids a  
> fair
> amount for these applications and have had less than stellar  
> results, as
> the El Sids often seem to have very short life spans.  Dan F at El Sid
> suggests that they blow up due to high voltages, although he claims  
> the 24
> volt battery based pumps are good to 31 vDC and I've had them break at
> much lower voltages.  I've also run the B12 pumps on a converter  
> from BZ
> Products which was voltage limited (to 15 volts) - supposedly a safe
> voltage for the 12 volt battery based El Sid pumps (although Dan  
> inferred
> at one point that voltage limited converters can have a higher voltage
> spike at start-up.  I haven't ordered any over the last couple of  
> years so
> I don't know if anything has changed, as I got tired of replacing  
> them.
>
> Anyone have experience with the Laings in these circumstances? Or any
> similar or perhaps hopefully experience with the El Sids?  At $2-300  
> a pop
> for the El Sids, I'm feeling gun-shy about spec'ing them any more.
>
> Thanks,
> Howie
> -- 
> Howie Michaelson
> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer?
>
> Sun Catcher, LLC
> Renewable Energy Systems Sales and Service
> VT Solar & Wind Incentive Program Partner
> http://www.SunCatcherVT.com
> (cell) 802-272-0004
> (home) 802-439-6096
>

Howie,
I have used half a dozen of the Laing D5 solar pumps over the last  
several years, all in various PV-direct glycol loop configurations.  
Several have been running continuously for 2 1/2 years with no  
problems. I've also used the El-Sid pumps, and I have had good results  
with them though I have basically stopped using them in favor of the  
D5. I've been very pleased with the D5s, and they are quieter than the  
El-Sids, which is an issue in some cases. The ability to sweat  
directly to the pump body is also nice, as you don't have to worry  
about thread sealing like on the El-Sid.  I did have an issue with a  
pump failure several years ago (Not the pump's fault-my customer  
destroyed a pump by meddling with the system), and I wasn't too happy  
with the Laing customer support people I talked with as I was trying  
to get a replacement rotor. However, I might have just gotten the  
wrong person at the wrong time.
That being said, I'd definitely recommend the Laing D5 over the El-Sid  
for most situations.

Luke Christy

  NABCEP Certified PV Installer™: Certification #031409-25 (Luke  
Christy)
  CoSEIA Certified PV Installer (Luke Christy)

Solar Gain Services, LLC
Monte Vista, CO.
SGSRenewables at Gmail.com




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