Need Advice on Passive Hot Water System

 I'm looking at this passive solar water heater, tankless water heater
system:

http://shop.solardirect.com/product_info.php?products_id 4

For $2000.  I plan to install it myself.

The building is a garage with a 300 sqft apartment.  Most of the hot
water will go for the shower in the apartment and a washingmachine in
the garage.

This is in Tucson, AZ.  We get light freezes but we have a lot of sun
most of the year.

Is this system worth it?  I guess the passive part won't help much in
the mornings when most people shower?

We'll probably stay in this house for a long time.

Comments?  Suggestions?

--
.
http://sf-f.org , weblog and search engine for fans and writers of
speculative fiction.
.

 

Looks like this one has no freeze protection.
 

You might homebrew a draindown system for less, eg a poly film duct
on a platform with a reflective wall to the north and an insulated
box tank underneath.


You might make the tank large enough for a few cloudy days and use
an efficient greywater heat exchanger, eg 300' of 1" plastic pipe in
a 55 gallon drum. One for the draindown system and one for greywater
heat recovery.

Nick

 I can hook you up with a Vac. tube SDHW system with a stainless tank for
$2000 Canadian. This unit really works well at gathering heat , even on
overcast days and stores 35 gals. in a very well insulated tank at the
collecting area.
steven.lantz@videotron.ca

 On Sun, 30 May 2004 07:58:37 -0400, "steven lantz"


  Whose vacuum tube system? How many tubes? A business name and
number?
Acts of creation are ordinarily reserved for gods and poets. To plant a pine,
one need only own a shovel.
-- Aldo Leopold

 
I dont like the look of it much myself. Some noticeable issues, and
the price! 2000 for something as basic as that - not for me.


Regards, NT