Fafco Hot20 water heater. Anyone tried it?

System

I just bought a house out in the sticks and I have no shade and lots of scalding hot, just right pitched roof for solar. I've got 3 little ones and wash a lot of clothes so hot water is the first thing I want to tackle.

I am in Coastal Mississippi so freezing isn't a huge deal but it still happens, so I like the idea they have on the drainback tank. It also looks like the panels are cake to install but I bet they would be lot more efficient in the winter time if they were cased which I might do too.

I have one hot water closet...since we use a good bit of hot water for baths at night I doubt that a single tank would be very efficient without the storage tank. I don't have enough space for one though (single storage closet)...so my thought there was to get a single, skinny 80 gallon and disable the bottom element. Hopefully we wouldn't use over 40 gallons at night and by the time we need it in the next day the panel could reheat it before the cold makes it to the top element. Thoughts?

Any one have any experience with thier kits in general?

P.S. I've been reading tons in here...thank you all for the great info...I'm very excited to turn our new house into a green machine.


Thanks,
JT

mike95490

Re: Fafco Hot20 water heater. Anyone tried it?

http://www.hot2o.com/How-FAFCO-Solar-Products-Work.html

After looking at that, their easy install, limits you to electric water heaters.

Another one I have heard of, but have no experience with, its the "solar wand"
http://butlersunsolutions.com/html/pr_solar_heat_exchagne_wand-46-reg.html
which can run a anti-freeze solution in (double wall) and they have a PV pump kit too
http://butlersunsolutions.com/html/pr_pvptanktop-big.html

And there are many home-brew systems too. this is just the first off the top of my head.

icarus

Re: Fafco Hot20 water heater. Anyone tried it?

It looks like you can use this system for preheat for a demand gas tankless water heater. You may need to use a dummy electric for a storage tank. I confess I didn't read the whole link.

Tony