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Wobblycogs/Roy thanks for you thoughts. Open vented systems (ie with an open header tank) I am sure are not allowed here in France. So the sealed expansion vessel with relief valve would seem to be the answer? All of my planned system would be located in the basement/garage (except the solar...

Roy, The reasons for the separate tank are as follows. I have not seen that type of immersion heat exchanger in France. If I buy one in the UK it will not be easy to fit any tank bought over here either. If I put a system together as per my sketch with UK sourced parts these will not meet with...

I still don't see where to place the expansion tank on my proposed system. The existing electric water heater vents out a litre or so of water most nights. Does my proposed preheated water tank require an expansion tank, if so as this tank is filled with water at mains pressure what is the...

Mike thanks for the link. I knew there would be complications. The 1st plan on the page you liked to is doing what I will call the usual solar water heating system Using the heat the exchanger filled with antifreeze to preheat mains water before entering a water heater is a wee bit different...

Is the expansion tank deemed necessary because the solar water heated water would just get hotter and hotter and needs somewhere to "expand" to? If one had a valve that prevented the warmed fluid in the collector and exchanger from circulating over a certain temperature would the expansion tank...

Mike/Roy, I see no reason why it has to go on the roof. In my head I plan to place the collector on an angled stand in the garden as close as possible to the exiting water heater. Running the necessary water pipes to and from the roof is adding complications especially as I wold need to drill...

I't will take me a while to get all this together and I am a bit bothered by Roy's remarks - see my earlier post. But I do feel like giving this a try. Of course sourcing the bits over here is bound to be more complicated than in blighty, but if I can get the planning right (the 6 Ps) I could...

Roy, It's the "A little more complicated in practice" bit that bothers me. Could you explain further? Andy

Mike, I hope I can make sense of this:- If I place one of those solar hot water heat exchangers in a hot water tank with water input from the mains and water output to my existing electric water heater and then made a collector from copper pipes, wooden box, glass panels etc and filled the...

Roy, Surely there is a way of slowing down the feed rate into the solar heater such that a tank can be heated. The existing electric water heater would then draw its water from the heated tank rather than cold from the mains? Andy

Roy, the problem here is that there is no domestic hot water cylinder just an electric hot water cylinder that heats the water on a economy 7 type tariff overnight. Hence by theory is to use solar heated water to heat an auxiliary feeder tank which then feeds warmed water to the water heater...

thanks Mike. Plenty to read there. cheers Andy

Every time I look at doing something as regards renewable energy for the house I baulk at the cost. Then the other night it occurred to me that expecting a financial payback over x years could be deemed as a wee bit selfish. Am I trying to save the planet or save money? Using solar heating to...

IIRC I remember reading some time back abut someone who installed a computer cooling fan right up in the apex of his gable ended shed to suck out the cold damp air. Would this be a sensible solution to moving the air around? Andy

John, my finish of choice for sheds is Cuprinol Shed and Fence Preserver. It is spirit based and soaks well into the wood. It does not leave a "skin" on the surface so re-treatment is just a matter of brushing the dust and dirt off and slapping on another coat. I used to do my sheds every two...

I have a new front door coming soon and am keen to use an oil finish. The wood is Makore which has a redish mahogny type colour to it and will match the existing windows. Anyone like to comment on the merits of using either OSMO Osmo UV Protection-Oil 420 or OSMA One Coat Only HS Plus. The...

Andrew, FWIW I made an oak table top from 45mm oak boards (4 of them) and used a single row of dowels (ramin) spaced IIRC about 6 inches apart. After 15 years there is no sign of movement. If the mating surfaces are good and true the dowels or biscuits help more with alignment when you are...

full fixing instructions for onduline or equivalents here http://www.slecladding.co.uk/ondulfix.htm edit, One tip I would give is try to find roofing screws rather than nails just in case you need to take a sheet up for repair. Andy

Roger, if you've blocked up the entrance, and hence exit, how are the rates going to get away from the ultrasonics? Andy

John, the ones on the LM site are these which do send the cable out at an angle rather than straight down I do, like Dick, think these are flimsy and nowhere near of such as qood quality as those found ready moulded onto appliances, extension leads etc. The legrand ones on Steve's link do...