Nanook wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 7:29 am I will be moving to a location which is off grid. The location will be in Mondulkiri which is cooler and rainier than most of the rest of the country. I am considering installing a solar hot water system and was wondering if anyone has experience using one. I have previously used one and was not impressed but that might have been due to poor installation. My main concern is does it work well when it is overcast or raining and when the temperatures are low. Thanks.

Nanook wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 7:29 am I will be moving to a location which is off grid. The location will be in Mondulkiri which is cooler and rainier than most of the rest of the country. I am considering installing a solar hot water system and was wondering if anyone has experience using one. I have previously used one and was not impressed but that might have been due to poor installation. My main concern is does it work well when it is overcast or raining and when the temperatures are low. Thanks.

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2023 7:42 am

Nanook wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 7:29 am I will be moving to a location which is off grid. The location will be in Mondulkiri which is cooler and rainier than most of the rest of the country. I am considering installing a solar hot water system and was wondering if anyone has experience using one. I have previously used one and was not impressed but that might have been due to poor installation. My main concern is does it work well when it is overcast or raining and when the temperatures are low. Thanks.

My guess is you will only use it in December, January and maybe February, and early mornings only, the rest of the year a cool shower isn't a burden but a blessing, even in Mondulkiri.

The black pipes on the roof seem a good idea, it will work, but only on sunny days. It involves the risk of Legionella bacteria building up in the water because it doesn't get warm enough to wipe them out, which can be very dangerous. The warm water in the pipes will make a perfect habitat for the buggers especially if the water is stagnant for a while. It's something to consider when using it. A water heater doesn't have that risk as long as it heats the water at a temperature over 60 degrees Celsius if I recall well.

Tootsfriend wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2023 8:32 am

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2023 7:42 am

Nanook wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 7:29 am I will be moving to a location which is off grid. The location will be in Mondulkiri which is cooler and rainier than most of the rest of the country. I am considering installing a solar hot water system and was wondering if anyone has experience using one. I have previously used one and was not impressed but that might have been due to poor installation. My main concern is does it work well when it is overcast or raining and when the temperatures are low. Thanks.

My guess is you will only use it in December, January and maybe February, and early mornings only, the rest of the year a cool shower isn't a burden but a blessing, even in Mondulkiri.

The black pipes on the roof seem a good idea, it will work, but only on sunny days. It involves the risk of Legionella bacteria building up in the water because it doesn't get warm enough to wipe them out, which can be very dangerous. The warm water in the pipes will make a perfect habitat for the buggers especially if the water is stagnant for a while. It's something to consider when using it. A water heater doesn't have that risk as long as it heats the water at a temperature over 60 degrees Celsius if I recall well.

Speaking from experience, the water in black water pipes gets so bloody hot you cannot put your hand in it, and that is in NZ where temperature in summer occasionally get to 30 degrees. My brother had a 100 m of water pipe from a dam in the hills running to his house and he was always bitching about how he would have to turn on the tap for 10 minutes and waste water before he could get some cold water in summer time.. Even on cloudy days the water was warm enough to take a shower and the 20 m closest to the house was encased in insulation [ old polystyrene ] and buried underground which kept about 10 liters fairly hot until about 8 pm at night. As for bacteria in the water,, my brother used that water for the last 50 years and has just turned 90 years old two weeks ago .