solar geyser

spiff

spiff

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ok I'm thinking about installing a 200l solar geyser.

some questions:
direct our indirect system?
vacuum tubes or flat panel?
what do I do with the old electric geyser?
can I use it to store more hot water?
or just disconnect it? and go with the tank on the solar geyser?
the existing geyser is more than 20 yrs old.

thanks
 
While you are doing your research, why not also consider a heat pump, as I understand that with a SWH you can never truly go off the grid. Just a thought for your consideration.
 
I went solar. Best move ever. Bill is down just under R1k per month.

I got mine through Teljoy Solar and paid it off over 6 months.

300L with flat panels.
Disconnected the old geyser, but there was an option to hook it up to store more hot water.

Timer is set for 3AM to 6AM for morning shower etc... and again at night from 7PM to 10PM. During winter I also have it on from 3PM to 5PM.

In summer the thing cooks and timer is hardly needed at all.
 
Last edited:
Mike Smit said:
I went solar. Best move ever. Bill is down just under R1k per month.

I got mine through Teljoy Solar and paid it off over 6 months.

300L with flat panels.
Disconnected the old geyser, but there was an option to hook it up to store more hot water.

Timer is set for 3AM to 6AM for morning shower etc... and again at night from 7PM to 10PM. During winter I also have it on from 3PM to 5PM.

In summer the thing cooks and timer is hardly needed at all.
Click to expand...

I'll make sure their plumber puts in an option to use the old geyser to store hot water. don't like the idea of disconnecting and emptying the old geyser.
 
It all depends on how much money you willing to spend.
Vacuum tube is the best, but also extremley expencive.
Also, go for the glycol based units. This gives you extra heating as you not heating the water directly.

I am not convinced about the heat pump.
Solar and gas is the only way to go "off grid", sorry.
With a heatpump you still need electricity.

P.S. I would not use the 20 year old geyser for extra storage. Heatloss and the possability of failure is just too big.
 
wetkit said:
It all depends on how much money you willing to spend.
Vacuum tube is the best, but also extremley expencive.
Also, go for the glycol based units. This gives you extra heating as you not heating the water directly.

I am not convinced about the heat pump.
Solar and gas is the only way to go "off grid", sorry.
With a heatpump you still need electricity.
Click to expand...

Not true, sorry.
Glycol is basically antifreeze. You need a glycol based unit if you use a flat panel in an area prone to freezing temperatures, as if the water in the panel freezes it will burst.

Vacuum tube systems are unlikely to freeze, as the collectors are actually insulated from the surrounding air.

Also - storing extra hot water? You mean leave the old geyser plumbed in and connected, just fed from the solar geyser?
Be aware, you will not get your eskom rebate in this situation. You are required to disconnect the old geyser from the power supply to qualify for this.
 
Sinbad said:
Not true, sorry.
Glycol is basically antifreeze. You need a glycol based unit if you use a flat panel in an area prone to freezing temperatures, as if the water in the panel freezes it will burst.

Vacuum tube systems are unlikely to freeze, as the collectors are actually insulated from the surrounding air.

Also - storing extra hot water? You mean leave the old geyser plumbed in and connected, just fed from the solar geyser?
Be aware, you will not get your eskom rebate in this situation. You are required to disconnect the old geyser from the power supply to qualify for this.
Click to expand...
Just disconnect the wire.
 
ok some food for thought. thanks guys

regarding the heat pump - its supposed to be more efficient electricity wise as opposed to an electric heater element in your geyser.

some say about 70-80% more efficient?? any comments?
 
Ia it cheaper to only switch your geyser on when you shower or bath? compared to leaving it on whole day?
 
We also had a very old geyser. Didn't see any point in keeping it when we installed the solar system. We went for vacuum tubes.

wetkit said:
I am not convinced about the heat pump.
Solar and gas is the only way to go "off grid", sorry.
With a heatpump you still need electricity.
Click to expand...
Only if you get a solar system that doesn't use a pump.

CamiKaze said:
Ia it cheaper to only switch your geyser on when you shower or bath? compared to leaving it on whole day?
Click to expand...
Only if there is something wrong with your geyser. If you almost never use the hot water, then that would be a case for leaving if off most of the time.
 
Ah almost forgot I had a post here.

Just an update on my solar geyser installation:

I went for a 200l - flat panel from AGSsolar ( www.agssolar.co.za ) as I know them, having worked at their factory in Killarney Gardens. System was installed on the 28th July.

total cost with all new valves / electrics / labour / vat etc. came to R16000-00. that's with the eskom rebate.

the guys came in on the saturday morning early and were done by 11am. they disconnected & drained my old (1986) geyser, then wired my geyserwise to the new geyser so I can see the actual temp and set my backup temp just in case it drops below 60deg.

up to now I've seen a high of 67deg and a low of 47deg and have not had a single day without hot water. also seen the new well insulated geyser hold its temperature way better than my old geyser - only drops a few degrees over night.

so far I VERY happy with the system :) its nice to shower now whenever I feel like and not have to worry about geyser times & electricity - problem now is I can't get out the shower in the mornings :(
 
Wait till the savings kick in and you will appreciate it even more.
I save an average of R1,000 a month now. Well worth it.
 
The hottest my geyser got was 90 degrees. I had to run the taps this week to cool of the geyser. The heating element rarely gets used as I set it at a low temperature. In one week a saved about R300 on my bill. Will monitor my next bill to see how big a saving it really is.
 
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