On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:10:17 +0000, Cicero wrote:

On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:05:38 +0000, Andy Hall wrote:

On 2007-10-30 13:31:26 +0000, Cicero said:

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I'm not defending or supporting the 'Tadpole' in any way, merely saying
that it should be tested properly. If it's found wanting then people
should be properly warned against wasting money, but if tests support
the claims made for it then it would be worth every penny of the cost.

Yes understood.



Basically I'm sceptical as it appears to have nothing really new even if
the patent claim is true. One claim made for it is that it is 'small'
but compared with what exactly? A picture suggests that it is actually a
large drum-like item about the size of a small domestic bucket. In fact
it appears to be about 9" diameter and about the same in height. That
would give it a capacity of about 1.5 gallons (weighing about 15lbs /
7kg). I certainly wouldn't like that kind of weight suspended in the
pipework adjacent to my CH boiler.

Quite. It probably achieves a degree of effectiveness in terms of air
extraction by being able to move the water through relatively slowly but
swirling it. The pipe connections suggest that. It does look like a
small pressure vessel.



The claims made in respect of fuel savings will soon bring it to the
notice of Trading Standards, I'm sure. Similar miracle products for car
fuel savings soon come to a sticky end.

The only fuel saving mechanism I can think of is if the boiler is cycling
rapidly because of gross amounts of air in the system.




===================================
I notice that nobody has volunteered any personal experiences in response
to the OP's original request which seems to suggest that the 'Tadpole'
hasn't yet gained a major place in the market.

When I installed my first CH and learned that air had to be expelled from
the system the recommended method was to wire the pump as a separate item
and run it for a few hours, periodically bleeding air from individual
radiators. That method worked pretty well then at start-up and of course
the radiators can always be bled conventionally through the bleed valves
if needed. I think that I can manage with the present simple system for
some time to come but if any convincing test results prove the efficacy of
this gadget I'll be quick to join the queue. I don't think I'll be
contributing to the inventor's pension fund very soon!

It might serve the same function as an Aerjec or similar in an open
heating system but at many times the cost and size.

It will, IMHO, serve no purpose in a sealed system. All that is
needed is to run the system for a while at full tilt. The do a final
bleed on the raidators and a final top up.




--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
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