[RE-wrenches] Chofu Hot Tub Heater

[Dan Fink]

Tom I sure agree with the silence on the Snorkel and the Scuba, here off
grid at 8200 ft!
The issue one client had with the redwood tub was draining for the winter
(summer only folk) and the wood shrunk; the easy and cheap solution was the
plastic liner from Snorkel. I Have the Scuba and a stock tank (Snorkel 3 ft
deep, Scuba 2 ft deep) This tub and stove have been in place since about
1986 - 8 years before I was in the business.
The canoe paddle works fine against stratification, the cabin has a tiny
power system and great that zero electricity is needed; Bubbles and jets
are possible as long as you say "excuse me" afterwards.


Dan Fink
Buckville Energy
IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
~ PV Installation Professional
~ Small Wind Installer
NABCEP / IREC / ISPQ Accredited Continuing Education Providers™
970.672.4342



On Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 12:34 PM, Tom Elliot <tom at wagonmaker.com> wrote:

>   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 <solar1online at charter.net>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 04, 2015 9:14 AM
> *To:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> *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 Solar314 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> 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 Engineer303 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 Solar314 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] *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* <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 <505%20780-2738> cell*
>
>
>
>
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