[RE-wrenches] Chofu Hot Tub Heater

Wed Mar 4 11:34:30 PST 2015

We chose not to put any pumps or filters on our Snorkel stove heated cedar tub and would never choose otherwise for off-grid.  Wood heats water faster than any other fuel and even in the coldest winter the tub can freeze and both tub and stove survive quite nicely and heat up faster than you’d think.  Also in winter water treatment isn’t an issue, we’d just change out the water every few weeks (not as big a deal as it sounds) and occasionally scrub down the tub inside in summer when we changed the water.

The beauty of the Snorkel stove is the silence.  At 9000’ and miles from anyone in winter the silence was amazing.  Sitting in a steaming tub listening to the Earth breathe is an unbeatable experience.  I’ve never liked bubbles, jets or motors running.

Even better the Snorkel stove and cedar tub we ordered had, hands down, the absolute best instructions on any piece of equipment that needed assembly that I’ve ever seen.  Not a blind alley in any of the instructions.  Follow them to the letter and the whole things goes together perfectly.

Tom

From: Bill Loesch 
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2015 9:14 AM
To: RE-wrenches 
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Chofu Hot Tub Heater

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 1094On 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> 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
303 505-8760On 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 1094On 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] 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
        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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