- Thread starter Onoff
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Onoff
In the land of the unfinished project I am King!
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I have the ST tubes. I don't have the cash for PV. Things are really tight.
Reality check. Short of winning the lottery any time soon I'm not going to do this hip to gable conversion anytime soon.
Strip the hip and re-felt / batten at least. Minimal effort / cost. Some new battens. If I don't sort the roof, then fit tubes and the roof leaks etc I'll curse.
Fit the stainless rail brackets I've already got.
Galvanised unistrut as rails. I've likely already got it.
Mount the 3 ST panels, plumb together. I'd have to keep them covered of course whilst I faff with the plumbing inside the roof.
I'll need a couple of those special tiles that let pipes through the roof.
The ST panels need repairs anyway but someone on another forum gave me spare tubes.
Need a tank then. I currently have just a standard copper, single coil cylinder in the loft heated by the oil boiler. Running the scenario through ChatGPT it reckons as I've got most of the bits then go for it. I've an acquired, similar copper cylinder as the existing one. Plan is to heat that via the ST loop to then pre heat the other tank. Aim is to have a radiator on the north, always cold side of the house as a heat dump
Reality check. Short of winning the lottery any time soon I'm not going to do this hip to gable conversion anytime soon.
Strip the hip and re-felt / batten at least. Minimal effort / cost. Some new battens. If I don't sort the roof, then fit tubes and the roof leaks etc I'll curse.
Fit the stainless rail brackets I've already got.
Galvanised unistrut as rails. I've likely already got it.
Mount the 3 ST panels, plumb together. I'd have to keep them covered of course whilst I faff with the plumbing inside the roof.
I'll need a couple of those special tiles that let pipes through the roof.
The ST panels need repairs anyway but someone on another forum gave me spare tubes.
Need a tank then. I currently have just a standard copper, single coil cylinder in the loft heated by the oil boiler. Running the scenario through ChatGPT it reckons as I've got most of the bits then go for it. I've an acquired, similar copper cylinder as the existing one. Plan is to heat that via the ST loop to then pre heat the other tank. Aim is to have a radiator on the north, always cold side of the house as a heat dump
Onoff
In the land of the unfinished project I am King!
- Messages
- 13,527
- Location
- Sevenoaks, UK
@Trevorleach are you still running your solar thermal install?
Gareth J
Forum Supporter
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- North Cornwall
If money is tight and the roof is still water tight, have you ruled out ground (or even wall) mounting the ST tubes?
You could save the roof effort until you've time/funds to do the conversion and re-roof.
I hear you regarding investing in PV. But considering where oil and gas have gone and where electric costs will inevitably follow, and the relatively low cost of PV now, personally, if you don't already have loads, I think any kind of roof work should at least take into account a future installation, if not do one.
You could save the roof effort until you've time/funds to do the conversion and re-roof.
I hear you regarding investing in PV. But considering where oil and gas have gone and where electric costs will inevitably follow, and the relatively low cost of PV now, personally, if you don't already have loads, I think any kind of roof work should at least take into account a future installation, if not do one.
You could add a hot water pump too... theyre expensive but come up cheap on ebay
That way when you're pre heat tank gets up to temperature you can circulate the water between them.
Is the original tank vented or mains pressure?
Thermostatic valve on the output is good...that way you can heat the tabs to 90'C without risking scalding yourself
That way when you're pre heat tank gets up to temperature you can circulate the water between them.
Is the original tank vented or mains pressure?
Thermostatic valve on the output is good...that way you can heat the tabs to 90'C without risking scalding yourself
OJCar
Member
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- Lothian & Westmorland
While you've the roof apart how about increasing the insulation?
Even if it is just the cheapest rockwool or similar?
