thermodynamic solar system

tom1ie

www.lvprenewables.ie
anyone got any opinions on this? I'd love to know the annual running cost on this baby . Seems like a great idea, but if it seems too good to be true.............

paddy147

tom1ie wrote: »

www.lvprenewables.ie
anyone got any opinions on this? I'd love to know the annual running cost on this baby . Seems like a great idea, but if it seems too good to be true.............

I have the system installed around 5 months now,brilliant system and delighted with it,so far.:)

tom1ie

paddy147 wrote: »

I have the system installed around 5 months now,brilliant system and delighted with it,so far.:)

thanks for the reply paddy! Really thinking about getting this system but i have a couple of questions if ya dont mind!
1, how noisy is the compressor
2,how much is it costing you to run per month, ie have you noticed a big jump in your electricity bill?
3,i believe there is only a 2 year guarantee with the compressor? is it easy to replace and cheap?
4, did you go with lvp renewables?
sorry for all the questions but i have to be sure!:pac:

paddy147

tom1ie wrote: »

thanks for the reply paddy! Really thinking about getting this system but i have a couple of questions if ya dont mind!
1, how noisy is the compressor
2,how much is it costing you to run per month, ie have you noticed a big jump in your electricity bill?
3,i believe there is only a 2 year guarantee with the compressor? is it easy to replace and cheap?
4, did you go with lvp renewables?
sorry for all the questions but i have to be sure!:pac:

1-about the same noise as a modern fridge.Compressor is only on for a few mins at a time.

2-Havent worked out figures(havent had the time yet),but I barely noticed any increase in my 2 month bill.

3-Pump is very easy to access and service.

4-Yes,I dealt directly with Richard and Brian from LVP.Aftersales service was and is very good,2 phone calls and a home visit to make sure I was and am happy,and a christmass card in the post too.

tom1ie

paddy147 wrote: »

1-about the same noise as a modern fridge.Compressor is only on for a few mins at a time.

2-Havent worked out figures(havent had the time yet),but I barely noticed any increase in my 2 month bill.

3-Pump is very easy to access and service.

4-Yes,I dealt directly with Richard and Brian from LVP.Aftersales service was and is very good,2 phone calls and a home visit to make sure I was and am happy,and a christmass card in the post too.

hhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmm its all very interesting alright!
Did you go for the 280 lt tank or the 250 lt tank? Just wondering if you got a second coil installed in the tank, just in case something happens to their system, or do ya reckon it'll last the test? I think they provide this as an option.

paddy147

tom1ie wrote: »

hhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmm its all very interesting alright!
Did you go for the 280 lt tank or the 250 lt tank? Just wondering if you got a second coil installed in the tank, just in case something happens to their system, or do ya reckon it'll last the test? I think they provide this as an option.

280 litre tank.

The installers had to make some serious modifications to my hot press (fair whack of carpentry work needed),but fair play to them for doing it.

They got stuck in,and left the place the exact way that they found it,no mess left,just nice and clean.:)

2nd coil installed too.

tom1ie

paddy147 wrote: »

280 litre tank.

The installers had to make some serious modifications to my hot press (fair whack of carpentry work needed),but fair play to them for doing it.

They got stuck in,and left the place the exact way that they found it,no mess left,just nice and clean.:)

2nd coil installed too.

yeah was thinking of getting the second coil alright. I got a quote for €5400 inc vat not including the grant though. Thats not including the second coil. Was that roughly in line with yours? Also did you have to have your own plumber there to take out the old hot water cylinder and to do the neccesary cold feed/ hot water take off connections, or did the lvp installer do all that?
once again thanks for all your help paddy

paddy147

tom1ie wrote: »

yeah was thinking of getting the second coil alright. I got a quote for €5400 inc vat not including the grant though. Thats not including the second coil. Was that roughly in line with yours? Also did you have to have your own plumber there to take out the old hot water cylinder and to do the neccesary cold feed/ hot water take off connections, or did the lvp installer do all that?
once again thanks for all your help paddy

No need for a seperate plumber.
LVP did everything from taking out the existing tank and pipework to instaling the new system and commisioning it.

I'd wait, at €5400 that's big money, there are cylinders out there with air to water heat pumps incorporated in them, easier to fit, easier to repair, easier to prove savings as their a stand alone unit and much cheaper to buy, apparently Heaton Buckly do a French model, my own firm will be bringing one out in late summer that will cost €2000ish with a COP of 1/4ish, with a coil and a back up 3kw element,no setting up or special skill to fit them as they plumb like a normal unvented cylinder and you then plug the plug in, I don't normally talk up my own stuff but I think the idea is good.

tom1ie

gary71 wrote: »

I'd wait, at €5400 that's big money, there are cylinders out there with air to water heat pumps incorporated in them, easier to fit, easier to repair, easier to prove savings as their a stand alone unit and much cheaper to buy, apparently Heaton Buckly do a French model, my own firm will be bringing one out in late summer that will cost €2000ish with a COP of 1/4ish, with a coil and a back up 3kw element,no setting up or special skill to fit them as they plumb like a normal unvented cylinder and you then plug the plug in, I don't normally talk up my own stuff but I think the idea is good.

cheers for the info gary.
These guys offer another option of a 250 ltr stainless steel with an incorporated immersion heater as back up also. The price for that is 4600 not including grant of 800. Thats a straight swap and then just plug in the plug! Be interested to hear about those other brands though.
The main thing i want to find out is if the idea actually works and wether or not its gonna break down 2 years down the road!:eek:

Buzzbarr

gary71 wrote: »

I'd wait, at €5400 that's big money, there are cylinders out there with air to water heat pumps incorporated in them, easier to fit, easier to repair, easier to prove savings as their a stand alone unit and much cheaper to buy, apparently Heaton Buckly do a French model, my own firm will be bringing one out in late summer that will cost €2000ish with a COP of 1/4ish, with a coil and a back up 3kw element,no setting up or special skill to fit them as they plumb like a normal unvented cylinder and you then plug the plug in, I don't normally talk up my own stuff but I think the idea is good.

I too am considering getting the Thermodynamic System. I have concerns about running costs. I cant seem to get any definitive answers on running costs. I also have concerns about the compressor, why has it only got a 2 year warranty?

Gary have you any idea what the running costs on your system might be? Any information you have on it, i would be very interested. Please PM me. If you can pick this air to water heat pump sytem up for about 2000 and the running costs are low this could be a no brainer.

tom1ie

According to the spec sheet i got off lvp, the compressor works off 390w.
They reckon the compressor will run for between 3-5 hrs per day in a "normal" household. (whatever that is!)
The cost of a kwh off esb is 18.38c inc v.a.t
If my maths is correct, and thats open to correction:D, taking the compressor usage at 5 hrs per day then, 390/1000=0.39*5hrs=1.95Kwh*18.38c=35.841c per day. Therefore 35.841c*365=13081.965c/100=€130.81 per year./12=€10.90 per month. I suppose you'd have to see if this is cheaper per month compared to using your gas or oil or solid fuel to heat 250/280 litres of hot water to 55 degrees celcius.:)

Buzzbarr

tom1ie wrote: »

According to the spec sheet i got off lvp, the compressor works off 390w.
They reckon the compressor will run for between 3-5 hrs per day in a "normal" household. (whatever that is!)
The cost of a kwh off esb is 18.38c inc v.a.t
If my maths is correct, and thats open to correction:D, taking the compressor usage at 5 hrs per day then, 390/1000=0.39*5hrs=1.95Kwh*18.38c=35.841c per day. Therefore 35.841c*365=13081.965c/100=€130.81 per year./12=€10.90 per month. I suppose you'd have to see if this is cheaper per month compared to using your gas or oil or solid fuel to heat 250/280 litres of hot water to 55 degrees celcius.:)

Your sums look good to me. But you have to realise that the compressor is running at a MINIMUM of 390w. So on a cold night in january its energy useage is going to be a lot more. Thats why i am saying its hard to find definitive running costs.

tom1ie

Buzzbarr wrote: »

Your sums look good to me. But you have to realise that the compressor is running at a MINIMUM of 390w. So on a cold night in january its energy useage is going to be a lot more. Thats why i am saying its hard to find definitive running costs.

see this is the thing. Is the compressor running at a min of 390w or is it 390w every time its being used, rather like when you turn on a 60w lightbulb your using 60w.
I was thinking the variable is the refridgerant in the panel, and how much is turned into vapour, for the compressor to turn back into a liquid, thus creating the heat.
And seen as the refridgerant boils at -25 degrees celcius, your gonna get a constant supply of vapour to the compressor thus the compressor is gonna use a constant wattage when its on which will be 390w
What ya reckon? Could be fairly wrong!:)

Buzzbarr

tom1ie wrote: »

see this is the thing. Is the compressor running at a min of 390w or is it 390w every time its being used, rather like when you turn on a 60w lightbulb your using 60w.
I was thinking the variable is the refridgerant in the panel, and how much is turned into vapour, for the compressor to turn back into a liquid, thus creating the heat.
And seen as the refridgerant boils at -25 degrees celcius, your gonna get a constant supply of vapour to the compressor thus the compressor is gonna use a constant wattage when its on which will be 390w
What ya reckon? Could be fairly wrong!:)

Not sure about that. My understanding is that the colder the temp is outside the cop decreases which means the compressor works harder which increases the power useage. I might be wrong on this. If anyone has a different opinion please let me know. I was also told that their is electrical heating element in it which boost the temp aswell. Might be wrong on this too.

tom1ie

Buzzbarr wrote: »

Not sure about that. My understanding is that the colder the temp is outside the cop decreases which means the compressor works harder which increases the power useage. I might be wrong on this. If anyone has a different opinion please let me know. I was also told that their is electrical heating element in it which boost the temp aswell. Might be wrong on this too.

yeah the heating element is only there for a backup supposedly.