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Thread: Chromagen solar hot water

  1. #1
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    Default Chromagen solar hot water

    Does anyone has experience with a Chromagen solar hot water systemm?
    The system offered to us is 2 CR 100.
    Is it longlife-proofed, sturdy, reliable and efficient?

    another question: the guy who made the quote said the systems which have the tank on the roof are actually too heavy for normal roofs (nevetheless it is made everywhere) because these post-war houses never were designed to hold another 300 or more kilos. I think our house has got a hardwood frame but the roof timber has got only a height of 10 cm.

  2. #2
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    Default

    Welllll, I've never heard of them, but I don't count. The people who *do* count are plumbers. Ring 3 or 4 of them in your local area and see if they know of them. Don't mention that you're buying one (they will try and sell you their own preferred brand), but say you're buying a house with one, and you've never heard of the brand before and do you know if it's any good?

    They're going to be the ones fixing it - if they don't know .... steer clear of that brand.

    As for the weight concern, the best person to see is a builder or engineer, not someone who's presumably trying to sell you a more complex remote tank system. But as you've said, there's plenty of roof mounted tanks on plenty of houses.....

  3. #3
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    Default

    well, it's actually one of the biggest brands, but this does ot mean anything!
    The person who made us the quote is plummer and has a longterm experience. Asking a builder or an engineer would be good, but you pay expensive for the advice.. howewer they will say the same because they know that these roof never were made for holding an extra 300 kg and they want always to be on the very safe side with their advice...

  4. #4
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    Default

    well, it's actually one of the biggest brands, but this does ot mean anything!
    Apparently not :-P

    Looking around all the local roofs - where there is a sizeable number of solar hot water systems - I see Solahart, Edwards, Rheem, some mysterious ancient system with 3 parabolic (and usually dead) trackers..... but no Chromagen, or systems with off-roof tanks. Your post is the first time I've heard of that brand!

    Interesting to note that all of those have large roof-mounted tanks, on houses that are 50+ years old....

  5. #5
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    Oct 2009
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    Default Re: Chromagen solar hot water

    Thanks for great info....

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Chromagen solar hot water

    Cromagen's site:-
    http://www.chromagen.com.au/

    A friend has just installed a heat pump system and raves about it.
    I still can't get my head around how they work

    FROM GOOGLE [PDF]
    HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS
    File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
    or side arm heat exchanger with natural circulation. ... Air source systems with enclosed fan and evaporator on top of the tank. Air source system with passive ... Heat pump can deliver more hot water over the day (continuous recovery). ...
    solar1.mech.unsw.edu.au/glm/papers/Heat_pump_water_heaters.pdf - Similar -
    #
    Domestic Product Range - Rheem Australia Water Heaters
    The Rheem Heat Pump water heater has been specifically designed for Australian ... transferring heat into the storage cylinder using heat exchange design. ... An in line gas booster is used to provide a constant supply of hot water for ... solar Loline system makes it equivalent to a nine star gas water heater*. ...
    http://www.rheem.com.au/domestic_browse ... n=list...3 - Cached - Similar -
    # [PDF]
    Choosing a hot water system (PDF) - Sustainable Energy Authority ...
    File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
    The life of any hot water system is determined by many factors, such as water quality. ... ten years for heat exchangers of continuous flow water heaters. ...
    www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/.../Choos ... system.pdf - Similar -
    # [PDF]
    Solar Hot Water What systems are available?
    File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
    protection for your solar hot water system. Passive forms of protection include using an indirect heating system (using some form of heat exchanger) o ...
    www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/resources ... eet_07.pdf - Similar -
    #
    Helton heat exchangers - camp hot water systems and camping showers
    Helton vehicle mounted camping showers and hot water systems. The ultimate in on board hot water.
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  7. #7
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    Default Re: Chromagen solar hot water

    Heat pump system? = Reverse cycle air con but rather than use compressing the gas to release energy (heat) inside your house with a condensor/radiator thing plus a fan - the radiator is instead in a hot water cylinder. So heat goes in to water and cold-er air is blown out of the compressor unit on top (could be great in warmer areas to help cool your house but not so good in colder parts as they rely on ambient air temp - not like traditional tubes and panels that use the sun's radiant energy).
    If you want to know about problems with anything try searching "chromagen + problems + defects or + leaking" - like schools and hotels and everything else on the net if someone has had a problem with anything they will tell the world on a blog or some such.
    People are very complicated machines – to get them to do what you want, you have to be very careful. You have to behave towards them in a very definite sequence.

    Mike Oldfield 1979

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Chromagen solar hot water

    I've got a Chromagen system, and haven't had a problem so far. They are one of the larger brands world-wide, but perhaps not so well known here because we have some strong local brands. The company has been around for a long time, so it's not just some Johnny-come-lately cashing in on the rebates.
    http://www.green-change.com - our journey towards sustainability

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