New PV solar install arranged, heating upgrade advice please - solar compatible hot water tank

2

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  • NoobSolar
    NoobSolar Posts: 117 Forumite
    Second Anniversary 10 Posts
    edited 7 April 2022 at 8:55AM
    I have the Gledhill stainless cylinder with two immersions and an iboost. I don't find problems with it so I don't think I would need a destrat pump.
    London. 6.4kwh system, South facing. 16 Hyundai 400kw all black panels w/ optimisers, 6kw Solaredge HD Wave inverter, Solar Iboost with two immersion heaters on one 240l hw tank. Octopus Flux. Ivar 5 Wood Burning Stove. Leaf 62kwh plus Zappi. Two chickens: 1 Light Sussex, 1 Speckled Rock. Omlet walk-in run. Approx 1.5 eggs per day egg generation rate using Marriage's organic layers pellets.
  • mickyduck55
    mickyduck55 Posts: 676 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 7 April 2022 at 9:17AM
    NoobSolar said:
    I have the Gledhill stainless cylinder with two immersions and an iboost. I don't find problems with it so I don't think I would need a destrat pump.
    Totally understand but re the original question "I think" you would only need one immersion if you had a destratification pump.
    That would remove any issues with having to have two immersions driven by the iBoost.  Does it split the diversion between the two immersions equally? 

    Just read the manual it suggest powering the bottom immersion so that indicates the simplest solution is just have one immersion in the bottom of the tank
    3.995kWP SSW facing. Commissioned 7 July 2011. 24 degree pitch (£3.36 /W).
    17 Yingli 235 panels
    Sunnyboy 4000TL inverter
    Sunny Webox
    Solar Immersion installed May 2013, after two Solar Immersion lasting just over the guarantee period replaced with Solic 200... no problems since.

    13 Feb 2020 LUX AC 3600 and 3 X Pylon Tech 3.5 kW batteries added...

    20 January 2024 Daikin ASHP installed
  • ispookie666
    ispookie666 Posts: 1,194 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Recirculation pump or destratification pump is a good idea. 
    Can this be retrofitted? 
    “Don't raise your voice, improve your argument." - Desmond Tutu

    System 1 - 14 x 250W SunModule SW + Enphase ME215 microinverters (July 2015)
    System 2 - 9.2 KWp + Enphase IQ7+ and IQ8AC (Feb 22 & Sep 24) + Givenergy AC Coupled inverter + 2 * 8.2KWh Battery (May 2022) + Mitsubishi 7.1 KW and 2* Daikin 2.5 KW A2A Heat Pump
  • paul991
    paul991 Posts: 425 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts
    i dont see the use of a destat pump for a domestic tank. a  recirc pump would  be good if you live in avery  large house to give  hot water with little  wait time
  • mickyduck55
    mickyduck55 Posts: 676 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    paul991 said:
    i dont see the use of a destat pump for a domestic tank. a  recirc pump would  be good if you live in avery  large house to give  hot water with little  wait time
    With a standard size top mounted immersion the bottom of the tank is usually cooler than the top.  As the thermostat is also in the immersion heater the solar diverter (and mains electricity) is turned off before the complete tank is at the set temperature.
    Solutions (I think) as Destratification  pump or longer immersion element.

    Personally I have not bothered but if a retro fit pump was an option without changing my tank I would probably go for it.
    3.995kWP SSW facing. Commissioned 7 July 2011. 24 degree pitch (£3.36 /W).
    17 Yingli 235 panels
    Sunnyboy 4000TL inverter
    Sunny Webox
    Solar Immersion installed May 2013, after two Solar Immersion lasting just over the guarantee period replaced with Solic 200... no problems since.

    13 Feb 2020 LUX AC 3600 and 3 X Pylon Tech 3.5 kW batteries added...

    20 January 2024 Daikin ASHP installed
  • paul991
    paul991 Posts: 425 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts
    yes  on my standard  tank that is the case its never been a problem with only the darkest  days not  having enough hot water but in a commercial setting would be worthwhile as would be using much larger tank its best to feed second output to a electric radiator or convector  heater,usually a long  immersion element is mounted at the  top and  short one at  bottom  
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 16,648 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Recirculation pump or destratification pump is a good idea. Can this be retrofitted? 
    and
    Personally I have not bothered but if a retro fit pump was an option without changing my tank I would probably go for it.
    In principle, if you've got suitable tappings at the top and bottom of your tank (or if you want to fit a pair of shower flanges) it shouldn't be too hard to retrofit a pump.

    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 33MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
    Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!
  • Reed_Richards
    Reed_Richards Posts: 5,220 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I have a recirculation pump for my hot water but the return feeds in towards the top of the tank so it does not destratify.  A quick lock online suggest that pumps suitable for potable water cost upwards of £125 so a destratification pump is not a cheap option.

    I looked at using my recirculation pump for destratification but that would require at least one motorised valve and motorised valves suitable for potable water are both hard to find and expensive.   
    Reed
  • mickyduck55
    mickyduck55 Posts: 676 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    @QrizB
    thanks for the video.. I don't think so LOL

    I'm a reasonable DIY plumber but that is a lot of messing about for not a lot of gain.  I did installed a Surrey flange on the top when I installed the shower.

    Re the video..
    1.I would have a MUCH longer safety wire probably longer than the height of the tank so no chance of dropping it inside 
    2. If he thinks that is working in a confined space I really have no idea how he would describe doing that in an airing cupboard which is what most of us would be dealing with

    I wonder if running some water off to force a cold refill would stir it up a bit or maybe run the gas heating through the coil would destrat to a degree.. now I am clutching at straws ;)
    3.995kWP SSW facing. Commissioned 7 July 2011. 24 degree pitch (£3.36 /W).
    17 Yingli 235 panels
    Sunnyboy 4000TL inverter
    Sunny Webox
    Solar Immersion installed May 2013, after two Solar Immersion lasting just over the guarantee period replaced with Solic 200... no problems since.

    13 Feb 2020 LUX AC 3600 and 3 X Pylon Tech 3.5 kW batteries added...

    20 January 2024 Daikin ASHP installed
  • Solarchaser
    Solarchaser Posts: 1,751 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    For recommendations I'd go with this
    https://www.advanceappliances.co.uk/product/153-electric-thermal-store-hot-water-only/

    @Coastalwatch has one, I'm planning on buying in in the next month or so.
    Thermal store means the water is clean as its only heated when run through the coil.

    I will be ditching my gas and going electric as I've wanted to for a while, and when gas is 7.5p and electric on the cheaper rate is 7p then its cheaper to heat by electric.

    The problem is the cheap rate is only 3 hours for me, so an electric boiler to heat a large water tank, or internal immersion heaters is the way I'm going.
    West central Scotland
    4kw sse since 2014 and 6.6kw wsw / ene split since 2019
    24kwh leaf, 75Kwh Tesla and Lux 3600 with 60Kwh storage
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