Heating using the hot water tank.

[MtnDon]

The only thing a worry wart like myself would be concerned about is maintaining a sufficient flow of water through the pipe loop in the fire. You don't want a steam explosion.

[lrrowe]

40 degrees out last night. 72 degrees inside. Had fan going all the time.
Forgot and left back doors open and all there was between cold and inside was an one inch wood frame and foam wall with one gap in it.
I hope the temperature control comes in soon so I can regulate the temperature and how long the fan blows as 72 would have been too hot to sleep in. Oh and the water heater was at it's lowest setting. I also wish my new amp meter would arrive soon so I can see what my battery consumption will be.



As mentioned earlier, my experiment with the 10 gal holding tank of 120 degree water also worked. Had my in floor and radiator project not worked so well, I would probably be getting a 20 gal stand alone tank for the radiant source of heat. But I do not need that weight and complexity now.

[lrrowe]

I just stumbled across this You Tube link for a 12V Prius water pump.

http://youtu.be/1ojNID2jDz4

Unfortunately for me, I cannot use it because I am using potable water and one of these certanily is not made with this in mind. But there just may be uses for it elsewhere.

[Shadow Catcher]

Also better than an amp and a half. Using a new one of very thoroughly sanitizing a used one (a bit iffy). Ours should be tested this week it is now installed.

[lrrowe]

Yes I forgot that point about the current draw.
I am brainstorming how to redo my plumbing so I can fire it up and shut it down during this cold weather.
I am anxious to see your results.

[Shadow Catcher]

As it is set up the pump and fan come on at the same time driven by the thermostat. The double cutoff quick disconnects isolate the pump heater core in a removable unit.

[lrrowe]

I have a thermostat also. I meant to say that I am looking for a way I can easily winterize it when back from camping and then start it easily and quickly when I want to go it is a quick prep job. Just the heater, radiator and fan, not my in floor tubing.

[Kenp51]

Read this thread start to finish tonight. Some really interesting work here.

Ken

[lrrowe]

MtnDon, Shadow Catcher,
Look at the premade hot water/air exchanger I stumbled across today. A 12" x 12" is $68.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Water-to-Air-He ... kdKt24HSyQ

When my system needs an upgrade, I may consider it.



In fact, I may see about a larger one for my radiant hot water heat in the house going through a larger one put in my air handler.

[Shadow Catcher]

Interesting and quite frankly an area I had not thought about, actually go to the source for water heat...

The idea of using a coil in a fire or boiler does not have to be dangerous. Some of the very early gasoline engines had an open water jacket and the water was just allowed to boil, as long as the coolant is open to atmosphere and can boil it can not create pressure.

[MtnDon]

[lrrowe]

While brainstorming in operations I worked for, there was never a stupid idea. It is interesting how one leads to another and then hopefully to the successful one.

[Shadow Catcher]

Finally the weather has broken and I am getting ready to actually install, we got the heaviest snow fall all winter a couple of weeks ago.
Wiring is going to use an Anderson PowerPole plug and I was getting that ready to install. It takes a 1 3/16 hole and I had to order the hole saw. The creeping metrification set in it is 30mm not that I mind.
Question? I set it up like this again to check the thermostat is playing well, not real happy, hard to program... so may change that.



And also wanted to check and see if the pump will self prime, and it will not. which means I have to either pre-charge the system (the quick disconnects will keep water in the system) or come up with a different pump, any one else come up with a better pump?

[ELM]

I'm using the same pump but I have mine mounted low so I'm hoping it won't have a problem with priming. I haven't tested it yet so time will tell.

[lrrowe]

Same here. My pump is lower then the hot water tank exit. No priming needed. I used it this week for a 4 day outing at VA Beach with a TearJerker event and it worked perfectly. I turned the heat down to 64 for the night and all was great.
My next modification will be to put a rheostat on the fan to slow it down and maybe one on the pump so the hot water will flow through the heater more slowly thus maybe reducing the propane used.

Also my air flow has slowed down. Seems like I broke one of the fan blades last fall and had to purposely break off one on the opposing side to balance things out. That for sure reduced the air flow.