[RE-wrenches] Chofu Hot Tub Heater

Wed Mar 4 11:14:59 PST 2015

Gentlemen and Ladies,

If you really want a powerful therapeutic whirlpool in your hot tub, the 
best solution I have experienced is a portable vintage Jacuzzi J300-B, 
1/3 HP, 115 VAC, 5.6 A, manufactured by Jacuzzi Research, Inc. in 
Berkley, CA. 28 pounds. This model was available before GFCIs became 
commonly available, so original users were more than a bit of an 
adventuresome breed. It is intended for tub use but a snorkel on the air 
tube would allow "deep water" placement.

Today, eBay has six units listed, ranging from $100 to $450 plus 
shipping including pink and turquoise as well as white, some sellers 
quote 1950's vintage. Not exactly the longevity you would get from a 
current day Jacuzzi _branded_ product.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xjacuzzi+j300-b.TRS0&_nkw=jacuzzi+j300-b&ghostText=&_sacat=0

Stay warm,

Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
314 631 1094

On 03-Mar-15 5:33 PM, William Miller wrote:
> Ray:
>
> Nothing is more civilized than heated flush water!
>
> William
>
>
>
> On Mar 3, 2015, at 10:30 AM, Ray Walters <ray at solarray.com 
> <mailto:ray at solarray.com>> wrote:
>
>> I think the jet tub is the better way to go for off grid.  You are 
>> only heating the water and running the circ pumps a few hours/ week, 
>> and as Bill mentioned: no chemicals.
>> I've tried all of the choices, and while hot water alone is nice, 
>> having the massage bubblers is definitely better.  Not having 
>> chemicals and/ or nasty recirculated bacteria is also much better 
>> than regular hot tubs.  Off grid folks don't have to do with out 
>> modern conveniences, instead they can do it even better.
>> If you wanted to get savvy, you could recycle the water after to a 
>> grey water cistern dedicated for toilet flushing and irrigation.
>> R.Ray Walters
>> CTO, Solarray, Inc
>> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
>> Licensed Master Electrician
>> Solar Design Engineer
>> 303 505-8760
>> On 3/3/2015 7:30 AM, Bill Loesch wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Brian,
>>>
>>> Great alternative and _proven_ solution. Moreover, the sanitation 
>>> aspect to heat the water once per use all but eliminates the 
>>> prospect of breeding "bugs" in the stagnant warm water. It is my 
>>> understanding that spas/hot tubs that continuously reheat the same 
>>> water need to have chemicals added to keep them sanitary (at least 
>>> that is the way it works here for a public spa/hot tub).
>>>
>>> One other item, necessary to mention for all the rest of us not 
>>> living in the relatively mild CA/coastal climate-since the tankless 
>>> stores no heated water all tankless water heaters are subject to 
>>> freezing conditions.  Oh, yes, one can take on Mother Nature and add 
>>> electric heaters, anti-freezing firing, etc. but for real world 
>>> practicality, don't subject water to freezing conditions. Solution: 
>>> mount the tankless inside the heated structure and run the hot tub 
>>> line through a freeze protected faucet.
>>>
>>> Thanks for sharing, Brian,
>>> Bill Loesch
>>> Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
>>> 314 631 1094
>>> On 02-Mar-15 1:15 PM, Brian Teitelbaum wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hey Allan,
>>>>
>>>> For many years, my wife and I have been using an old 6’ long 
>>>> claw-foot tub as our hot tub on the mountain. The 6’ tub is large 
>>>> enough, but very cozy for two people. We just run straight hot 
>>>> water from our Aquastar propane water heater into it, which gets it 
>>>> very hot. It takes a little time to let it heat up the cast iron 
>>>> tub, which cools it down just enough for a great soak. It stays hot 
>>>> for a pretty long period of time, but If it gets too cool, we just 
>>>> run more hot water into it.
>>>>
>>>> Then we just use the gray water for garden irrigation the next day. 
>>>> No chemicals, filters, or electricity needed.
>>>>
>>>> Brian Teitelbaum
>>>>
>>>> AEE Solar
>>>>
>>>> *From:*RE-wrenches 
>>>> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org 
>>>> <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>] *On Behalf Of 
>>>> *Allan Sindelar
>>>> *Sent:* Sunday, March 01, 2015 6:05 PM
>>>> *To:* RE-wrenches
>>>> *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Chofu Hot Tub Heater
>>>>
>>>> Wrenches,
>>>> I have an off grid client who wants a hot tub, and would prefer a 
>>>> propane heater rather than wood. The Chofu appears to be the only 
>>>> unit that doesn't require a circulation pump. He had located this 
>>>> on his own, but told me that "The propane fired, self igniting, 
>>>> hydrosiphoning Chofu is no longer available domestically. Seems the 
>>>> Japanese do not wish to export these to the USA anymore.  I will 
>>>> keep looking as this was the most sane idea for the project and of 
>>>> course cheapest. Chofu listed on Island Hot Tub is currently 
>>>> unavailable. I talked to him a week ago and it sounded like there 
>>>> was no availability for the foreseeable future."
>>>>
>>>> Does anyone have a line on where one can be located before they're 
>>>> all gone? Or a good alternative?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks, Allan
>>>>
>>>> -- 
>>>>
>>>> *Allan Sindelar*
>>>> _allan at sindelarsolar.com_ <mailto:allan at sindelarsolar.com>
>>>> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
>>>> NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
>>>> New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
>>>> Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc.
>>>> *505 780-2738 cell*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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