My neighbour don't have a pump.

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Added on November 17, 2011, 8:27 pmYour solar heater don't have backup heater?

This post has been edited by ozak: Nov 17 2011, 08:27 PM

Your solar heater should have a built in backup heater. Unless u r having the very very old model about 10 years back, then you might not have the backup heater.

If very old model without backup heater, can use storage heater as backup ?

The best is to get a new solar

Then the old solar can trade in or anything? or just throw away?

This post has been edited by ashiezai: Nov 17 2011, 11:16 PM

cant trade in. I guess ur solar is very old d, solar panel heat absorption efficiency is much lower and storage tank might not b able to store the heat.

Ya .. very old already .. like 10 years ..

Thanks for your info

10yrs lifespan is quite short for solar heater with the expensive price tag.

What is the temperature of the water during raining season?

During raining season (like these few days in KL), the water temperature is only slightly warmer than cold water, sometimes unbearably cold to bathe in, if you are not used to cold water.

That is the problem with solar in Malaysia weather. Hence they put a sub system to warm it. This still take up electric.

easier to just use a central gas heater then. cheaper also (upfront and gas is less than electric).

I wonder why we pay the expensive solar heater and yet not totally save at all. It still need electricity to boil when we most need it in bad weather.

What is the logic of this solar heater.

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Added on November 18, 2011, 11:22 amYup, gas heater is still the cheapest.

But why not much ppl using? Ppl afraid of kaboom?

This post has been edited by ozak: Nov 18 2011, 11:22 AM

Rinnai have the gas heater. About 1k+ to 2k depend on model.

I wanted to use that. But piping cost a bomb. You don't want this unit in the roof. Better put near kitchen open area. So Have to get SS from ground floor up to roof than distribute.

1. logic of solar heater.. expect to save but when divide across accordingly about the same... either save very little or dont save at all..

2. gas heater, so far never see ppl using, its attached to the normal "gas tank" for cooking ? how does the fire start and stop ? need electricity to control the circuit ?

gas heater is super easy. cannot install in the roof but outside at the wall of the house. connect to power source to run the computer inside (rinnai model; uses almost no electricity) and gas pipe (can use normal cylinder; no problem). piping: use warm water pipe. because you can set the temp to a normal fixed temp (i.e. for us 50°C) it will only heat to 50°C and the pipes dont have to tahan higher temps. used PB piping and just connect to existing warm water piping. otherwise you will have to add that. piping cost is the same for solar and gas.

but the price is huge diff. my model only 1,6k RM, gas usage per month mayb 10 RM, electric maybe 1kWh that's all. unit needs no service so far (4 yrs) and always produces the same warm water no matter if raining season or not.

do the maths:

solar is like 5k with storage heater, then need to pay electric for backup too. assume no electric and a lifespan of 20yrs then the warm water costs you 250 RM per year. if you assume have to pay say 5RM for backup warm water (just guessing) then total cost is already 310 RM per year.

gas: install 1.6 k; running costs say 15 RM per month.

lifespan 10 years: cost is 180 gas + 160 RM for the heater = 340
lifespan 15 years: 180gas + 106 heater = 286 per month
lifespan 20 years: 260 yearly cost
25 years: 244 per year

solar:

lifespan 10 years: 60 RM backup + 500 solar heater = 560 yearly
15 years: around 390 RM per year
20 years; around 310 RM per year
25 years: 260 RM per year

if you assume that lifespan is actually closer to 10 than to 20 years then gas is cheaper for sure. only prob is that the gas price will increase over time as well as electric. so the two will meet sooner in terms of pricing. but i doubt either will last 25 years. so for a reasonable lifespan gas heater should be the more economical choice.

seems like those "gas-water heater" isn't that big.. at all

http://www.rinnai.com.my/productdetail.php?c=1&s=8&pkid=12
W: 694mm D:420mm H:212mm

http://www.rinnai.com.my/productdetail.php?c=1&s=8&pkid=96
372mm (H) x 290mm (W) x 136mm (D)

apart from that not much info on their website.. failed website..

http://www.rinnai.com.my/productdetail.php?c=&s=8&pkid=12 - i am using this one. funny that they have zero info on it. no its not very big and can be installed in like 10 minutes. just screw to wall and connect case closed.

PJusa how do you know solar cost u RM 5k? it is actually RM 3k+ only nowadays. Whether u nd to turn on the backup heater or not depends on the weather and also how many ppl using the hot water. I have customers with 4 family members, they never turn on the backup heater in 6 years. Bought a new unit from me when they move in to their new house.

Old solar like ashiezai is using have poorer heat absorption and most probably somewhere is leaking (minor leak). Nowadays good solars like SOLAR POWER has improved absorption panels. Solar Power has 10 copper riser tubes in each panel which is the most in the market while other brands and the old models averagely have 7-8 only.

Solar heaters could generate hot water and it could also b an extra water tank. A 60gal stainless steel water tank will cost u RM 600. So, you can save the $$ to get a smaller water tank.

Gas heaters might have better cost efficiency but like what ozak said may b ppl scared it KABOOM. It actually happened before, if u google in the internet. THis is what i found.
http://www.ehow.com/about_5365634_dangers-...er-heaters.html

FYI, gas water heaters have a shorter lifespan averagely 4-5 years. I studied in Aus few years back, my gas heater broke down during winter... according to the agent, it is ard 3-4 years only. If gas water heaters have a long lifespan, why they don give 10 years warranty like solar heaters?

There is still reason rinnai selling gas water heated tank. Is actually very efficient, I have few Singapore friend using it. And many Singapore using it too.

FYI, is one of the best seller in the State.

I don't see Singapore hdb go Kaboom.

so if your staying in non landed property without dedicated roof then best alternative is having the gas water heater...

for those that manage to afford landed and not townhouse, solar water heater is a good option