Hi , have had an Apricus 30 tube system for about 6 weeks and have not had to use the booster yet but wondering how much power the controller and pump use if any one has checked this . I don' want to buy a power meter for a one off test! obviously the pump is switching on and off all day while the sun is around
thanks
wroscoe
Apricus SHW system , how much power used???
(27 posts) (10 voices)-
wroscoe
MemberPosted Tuesday 13 Oct 2009 @ 9:42:20 am from IP # -
Sunshine
Memberwroscoe,
I have a Hills 30 tube system, I'm pretty sure the pump uses 22w, the controller not sure, wouldn't be much either.
I am a few weeks off having the system for a year, haven't used electric boost yet.
I admit for a family of 3, a 30 tube system with 315 litre tank is a bit over size for our requirements, but it means less or no boosting is required.
It means I can run dishwasher off hot water, saving electricity use, as the dishwasher won't need to heat the water.Posted Tuesday 13 Oct 2009 @ 10:45:16 am from IP # -
Solgen
MemberI have a similar system to Sunshine, the power draw on the pump is around 24W so on average around 0.2kWh would be used by the pump.
I also have only used the boost when required and so far in 9 months of use have only used 107 kWh on about 10 nights.Posted Tuesday 13 Oct 2009 @ 10:49:11 am from IP # -
Sunshine the dimensions of your statement don't match. Watts = Power, Watthours = Energy. How much energy a 24W device uses depends on how often the pump is runs. If the pump runs constantly then 24 Watts would equate to daily power consumption of 0.576kWhr/day. If it runs only 50% of the day time then I guess it would be about .144Kwhr/day.
For what its worth - I put my power mate lite on the bosch 21e gas boosting unit I will be using to boost my future solar hot water system and found it uses 6.5W in standby and about 20 Watts when being used to generate hot water. I'd estimate then that it uses about 0.16kWhr/day.
Posted Tuesday 13 Oct 2009 @ 11:09:40 am from IP # -
Hi wroscoe. I put a energy meter on a few nights ago for 24hrs, for an Apricus 30Tube, 315L electrical Aquamax Tank. So your posting is quite timely. Mine was installed mid Aug 09, and No boosting done as yet, Off-peak is off, via manual switch. We are waiting for the day where shower temp drops, requiring cold tap off. This will then be our benchmark Tank temp for when manual heating maybe needed. I have the SolarStat screen up against the bathroom window, so we can see the tank temp while we shower.
Note Conditions of Tested day where overcast and late afternoon rain. Tank temp was down a bit due to serveral days of simlar condition. So I'd say the pump cycles would have been more during testing, then a clear day, with a higher tank temp.
So after 23hrs/48mins, powermate showed 0.53kWh/Day, Yearly cost (@19.7c kWh) $37.96.
3 watts idle (screen on 24/7), and 3 speed Bianco pump set to 67w mode, so 70w when pumping. I've set the pump speed to 67w mode. Selectable from 46w (3m lift), 67w (5m) and 100w (6m). I suspect a longer term average would be less than this.Further more I have borrowed this PowerUsageMeter from our local councils - Hunter, Mid North and Central Coast councils in NSW for 2 weeks. Comes with home energy advice booklet to average values and usage of the homes appliances for the user to compare to. Not bad for government. See if yours does it too. Hope this helps.
Posted Tuesday 13 Oct 2009 @ 12:23:34 pm from IP # -
dymonite69
MemberIt's difficult to know how to interpret these figures because boosting depends on
1) The climate zone - Darwin has four times as much sunshine in winter than Hobart (and 50% more over averaged over the year)
2) The season - Mid spring insolation can be up to three times higher than mid winter insolation
3) Water consumption of household - If you don't use the full tank then boosting may not be required (you don't bother to heat the cold stratified layer at the bottom until next day).
4) Thermostat location - Won't be triggered if it remains above the hot stratification zone.A system might struggle in a busy 5 person household with teenagers using a 300L/30 tubes system in a Hobart winter but comfortably provide water to an elderly couple in Darwin all year round with 100L/10 tubes
Posted Tuesday 13 Oct 2009 @ 8:33:27 pm from IP # -
wroscoe
Memberthanks for all the replies , I assume the controller is on all the time and the pump only runs when the preset temperature difference is reached between the roof tank sensor and the ground tank sensor ? mine is partially shaded by tall trees through the day but still no boosting required yet and what I am after is an approximate $ cost or Kwh per week or quarter , as the pump is on and off all the time I will take BJM's advice and see if I can get a power meter from Taree council to check
thank you allPosted Wednesday 14 Oct 2009 @ 12:31:02 am from IP # -
johnw7000
MemberHi guys, I'm on the Gold Coast QLD and would like to know if theres anyone from QLD that has bought one of these systems recently and for how much with rebates etc. I just got a quote and at the time of inspection the guy told me approx $1K to $2K but it ended up being just over $3300 after rebates. The plumbing quote alone was $1K!!!!! Any reply's and help would be greatly appreciated
Posted Thursday 29 Oct 2009 @ 8:26:59 pm from IP # -
Sunshine
Memberjohnw7000,
I bought a Hills evacuated tube system in Brisbane, 30 tube, 315 litre with electric boost. 12 months ago I paid $4800 (incl RECS rebates) installed.
As I went from gas, I didn't have any rebates except for RECS.
I didn't ask what the system cost, so I don't know how much install was. It wouldn't have been cheap as I needed a new electric power run to be installed, another powerpoint for the pump/controller. Tradies aren't cheap these days, so $1000 for install wouldn't surprise me.
New systems by law need a tempering valve, that ups the cost by another $250..Posted Thursday 29 Oct 2009 @ 10:11:35 pm from IP # -
wroscoe
MemberBJM and all, meter reading was 107 watts per day over sunny cloudy and rainy days which would be nearly 40Kw a year so around $7.60 a year, still have not had to use the booster.
johnw7000 , my system 30 tube 315 litre cost $1500 installed after all rebates , depends on recs value and difficulty of install as well , hope that helpsPosted Thursday 29 Oct 2009 @ 10:13:48 pm from IP # -
franks
MemberIm looking at a Gas booster on demand/ Solat HWS, what is the total power used from 230V AC, assuming running power (Solar circulation pump, on demand/booster gas heater) and phantom power on standby.
would typical figure be 300wh per day for planning for a RAPS stand alone system.Posted Wednesday 11 Nov 2009 @ 2:40:33 am from IP # -
hillslope
MemberFranks - if you are looking at a system with 12v power, Apricus had a 12V pump and controller option - so can wire them up outside your inverter. I have also heard of solar panel option for circulating pump.
Can also get instant gas systems with either 12V or water pressure only ignition (I think Bosch).Posted Wednesday 11 Nov 2009 @ 2:50:07 am from IP # -
franks
MemberMy RAPS system battery voltage will be 24or48 volts, as I will need a 48/24 to 12Vdc converter (85% conversion effencey) to run the 12 volt option, I might as well use the inverter (rated at 3000w 90% efficiant) not to mention the standard 230Vac solar and gas heater would be cheaper than a DC operated option.
As my planned location will reqiure 150mts run for mains power connection (total cost $14k)and ongoing costs for service charge and power used.
My planned RAPS system 5kw/h per day, will cost me $20k (2.0kwPVs, 3kw inverter charger, 1000ah@24v VRLA battery bank,MPPT charge reg)
I will install myself only use a sparkie to connect up the inverter.
As im under 1km from the power distrtrubition network I cannot get a remote area power rebate.Posted Wednesday 11 Nov 2009 @ 3:08:48 am from IP # -
hillslope
Memberbummer about the RAPS ineligibility. I heard the Gov't had pulled the program anyway - too popular like the PV rebate.
Sounds like sticking to the inverter only option, and only leaves the hydro power gas boost - http://www.bosch.com.au/content/language1/html/1716.htm
Posted Wednesday 11 Nov 2009 @ 10:24:04 am from IP #
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