. ----
. .
. . 30 F
. .
. .
. pond .
.-----------. ----
12' . s 4' . 12' 10.4'
. s .
--S . s T .
. s . 6.92'
. s .
. s .
. s .
.duct duct.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
12'

We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame with a 4'x12' shallow pond
at the top (view above, in a fixed font) and 2 poly film water ducts
along the north and south edges to avoid wind sliding and overturning...
20 psf makes 208 lb and 1082 ft-lb on each 1' EW slice of the greenhouse,
so we need 12W = 1082 ie W = 90 pounds of water in each foot of duct, eg
1.44 ft^3 of water in a 16" duct.

We could make each of the 10 slightly curved "half-bows" on 4' centers
with 2 12' 1x3s with 1x3 spacer blocks every 2' and a hinge at the top,
and use 3 horizontal 1x3 purlins.

The south side could have 80% shadecloth to make hot air rise under the
pond (which could be poly film over EPDM over foil over welded-wire fence.)

If we can somehow arrange that most of the greenhouse stays cooler while
the airpath between the shadecloth and glazing and under the pond is temp
T during the day, and the space above the pond is also temp T, we might
figure 0.9xsqrt(1000^2+620^2)12' = 12,712 Btu enters a 4' slice of south
glazing on an average 30 F Jan day in Phila, and 0.81^2x4x1177 = 3813 of
that enters the pond. At 130 F, it might also gain 6h(T-130)4ft^2x1.5
= 36T-4680 Btu/day from the bottom, and more, if the ground to the south
is reflective.

If the glazing loses 6h(T-30)12ft^2/R0.8 = 90T-2700 Btu/day and the daily
energy that flows into the slice equals the energy that flows out, 12712
= 3813+(36T-4680) + 90T-2700, so T = 129 F, and the pond slice gains about
3813 Btu, and 50K/3813 = 13.1', so a 16' greenhouse might provide most of
the heat in January. With about 3813x16'/6h = 10.2K Btu/h during solar
collection, 5 gpm (2400 Btu/h-F) would rise 4 F, and 400'x1/2" PE pipe
with 75 ft^2 of U30 surface would rise 10.2K/(75x30) = 5 F.

A row house with a flat roof might have a $98 12' diameter x 3' tall
EZ-Set pool in the basement with a $60 300'x1" fresh water pressurized
PE pipe heat exchanger near the top of the pool under floating Styrofoam
and a low-head pump with a $40 400'x1/2" PE pipe heat exchanger in the
pool bottom. With lots of insulation and 0.8xPi(11/2)^2x3x62.33 = 14216
pounds of water at 110 F after 5 cloudy days, after supplying 5x50K Btu,
it needs to be 110+250K/14216 = 128 F on an average day. Then again, it
might melt :-) It might need reinforcing, eg a tarp tied up around it.
Or maybe we need a different kind of pool.

This might also be a standalone structure in a yard, with the filter pump
that comes with the pool.

Nick

Nick Pine wrote:
. ----
. .
. . 30 F
. .
. .
. pond .
.-----------. ----
12' . s 4' . 12' 10.4'
. s .
--S . s T .
. s . 6.92'
. s .
. s .
. s .
.duct duct.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
12'

We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame with a 4'x12' shallow pond
at the top (view above, in a fixed font) and 2 poly film water ducts
along the north and south edges to avoid wind sliding and overturning...
20 psf makes 208 lb and 1082 ft-lb on each 1' EW slice of the greenhouse,
so we need 12W = 1082 ie W = 90 pounds of water in each foot of duct, eg
1.44 ft^3 of water in a 16" duct.

We could make each of the 10 slightly curved "half-bows" on 4' centers
with 2 12' 1x3s with 1x3 spacer blocks every 2' and a hinge at the top,
and use 3 horizontal 1x3 purlins.

The south side could have 80% shadecloth to make hot air rise under the
pond (which could be poly film over EPDM over foil over welded-wire fence.)

If we can somehow arrange that most of the greenhouse stays cooler while
the airpath between the shadecloth and glazing and under the pond is temp
T during the day, and the space above the pond is also temp T, we might
figure 0.9xsqrt(1000^2+620^2)12' = 12,712 Btu enters a 4' slice of south
glazing on an average 30 F Jan day in Phila, and 0.81^2x4x1177 = 3813 of
that enters the pond. At 130 F, it might also gain 6h(T-130)4ft^2x1.5
= 36T-4680 Btu/day from the bottom, and more, if the ground to the south
is reflective.

If the glazing loses 6h(T-30)12ft^2/R0.8 = 90T-2700 Btu/day and the daily
energy that flows into the slice equals the energy that flows out, 12712
= 3813+(36T-4680) + 90T-2700, so T = 129 F, and the pond slice gains about
3813 Btu, and 50K/3813 = 13.1', so a 16' greenhouse might provide most of
the heat in January. With about 3813x16'/6h = 10.2K Btu/h during solar
collection, 5 gpm (2400 Btu/h-F) would rise 4 F, and 400'x1/2" PE pipe
with 75 ft^2 of U30 surface would rise 10.2K/(75x30) = 5 F.

A row house with a flat roof might have a $98 12' diameter x 3' tall
EZ-Set pool in the basement with a $60 300'x1" fresh water pressurized
PE pipe heat exchanger near the top of the pool under floating Styrofoam
and a low-head pump with a $40 400'x1/2" PE pipe heat exchanger in the
pool bottom. With lots of insulation and 0.8xPi(11/2)^2x3x62.33 = 14216
pounds of water at 110 F after 5 cloudy days, after supplying 5x50K Btu,
it needs to be 110+250K/14216 = 128 F on an average day. Then again, it
might melt :-) It might need reinforcing, eg a tarp tied up around it.
Or maybe we need a different kind of pool.

This might also be a standalone structure in a yard, with the filter pump
that comes with the pool.

Nick


You used the word "Might" 8 times, "Could" 3 times, "If" 3 times, with a
"Maybe" and "Somehow" once each.

"Could" it be that you "Might" be proposing that "If" "Somehow" you
"Maybe" actually built one you could prove your point without using
those words that only confirm that you are in fact just guessing.

"George Ghio" wrote in message
...


Nick Pine wrote:
. ----
. .
. . 30 F
. .
. .
. pond .
.-----------. ----
12' . s 4' . 12' 10.4'
. s .
--S . s T .
. s . 6.92'
. s .
. s .
. s .
.duct duct.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
12'

We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame with a 4'x12' shallow pond
at the top (view above, in a fixed font) and 2 poly film water ducts
along the north and south edges to avoid wind sliding and overturning...
20 psf makes 208 lb and 1082 ft-lb on each 1' EW slice of the
greenhouse,
so we need 12W = 1082 ie W = 90 pounds of water in each foot of duct, eg
1.44 ft^3 of water in a 16" duct.

We could make each of the 10 slightly curved "half-bows" on 4' centers
with 2 12' 1x3s with 1x3 spacer blocks every 2' and a hinge at the top,
and use 3 horizontal 1x3 purlins.

The south side could have 80% shadecloth to make hot air rise under the
pond (which could be poly film over EPDM over foil over welded-wire
fence.)

If we can somehow arrange that most of the greenhouse stays cooler while
the airpath between the shadecloth and glazing and under the pond is
temp
T during the day, and the space above the pond is also temp T, we might
figure 0.9xsqrt(1000^2+620^2)12' = 12,712 Btu enters a 4' slice of south
glazing on an average 30 F Jan day in Phila, and 0.81^2x4x1177 = 3813 of
that enters the pond. At 130 F, it might also gain 6h(T-130)4ft^2x1.5
= 36T-4680 Btu/day from the bottom, and more, if the ground to the south
is reflective.

If the glazing loses 6h(T-30)12ft^2/R0.8 = 90T-2700 Btu/day and the
daily
energy that flows into the slice equals the energy that flows out, 12712
= 3813+(36T-4680) + 90T-2700, so T = 129 F, and the pond slice gains
about
3813 Btu, and 50K/3813 = 13.1', so a 16' greenhouse might provide most
of
the heat in January. With about 3813x16'/6h = 10.2K Btu/h during solar
collection, 5 gpm (2400 Btu/h-F) would rise 4 F, and 400'x1/2" PE pipe
with 75 ft^2 of U30 surface would rise 10.2K/(75x30) = 5 F.

A row house with a flat roof might have a $98 12' diameter x 3' tall
EZ-Set pool in the basement with a $60 300'x1" fresh water pressurized
PE pipe heat exchanger near the top of the pool under floating Styrofoam
and a low-head pump with a $40 400'x1/2" PE pipe heat exchanger in the
pool bottom. With lots of insulation and 0.8xPi(11/2)^2x3x62.33 = 14216
pounds of water at 110 F after 5 cloudy days, after supplying 5x50K Btu,
it needs to be 110+250K/14216 = 128 F on an average day. Then again, it
might melt :-) It might need reinforcing, eg a tarp tied up around it.
Or maybe we need a different kind of pool.

This might also be a standalone structure in a yard, with the filter
pump
that comes with the pool.

Nick


You used the word "Might" 8 times, "Could" 3 times, "If" 3 times, with a
"Maybe" and "Somehow" once each.

"Could" it be that you "Might" be proposing that "If" "Somehow" you
"Maybe" actually built one you could prove your point without using
those words that only confirm that you are in fact just guessing.

LOL, that was good. Nothing personal Nick. :-)

George Ghio wrote:

. ----
. .
. . 30 F
. .
. .
. pond .
.-----------. ----
12' . s 4' . 12' 10.4'
. s .
--S . s T .
. s . 6.92'
. s .
. s .
. s .
.duct duct.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
12'

We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame...

You used the word "Might" 8 times, "Could" 3 times, "If" 3 times, with a
"Maybe" and "Somehow" once each.

Thank you for counting.

"Could" it be that you "Might" be proposing that "If" "Somehow" you
"Maybe" actually built one you could prove your point without using
those words that only confirm that you are in fact just guessing.

The only big risk is the plastic pool losing strength at 130 F, and there
are solutions for that. I go overboard on the "mights" to avoid ignorant
people like you raising angry challenges to 300-year-old settled physics.

Nick

wrote:
George Ghio wrote:


. ----
. .
. . 30 F
. .
. .
. pond .
.-----------. ----
12' . s 4' . 12' 10.4'
. s .
--S . s T .
. s . 6.92'
. s .
. s .
. s .
.duct duct.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
12'

We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame...


You used the word "Might" 8 times, "Could" 3 times, "If" 3 times, with a
"Maybe" and "Somehow" once each.


Thank you for counting.


"Could" it be that you "Might" be proposing that "If" "Somehow" you
"Maybe" actually built one you could prove your point without using
those words that only confirm that you are in fact just guessing.


The only big risk is the plastic pool losing strength at 130 F, and there
are solutions for that. I go overboard on the "mights" to avoid ignorant
people like you raising angry challenges to 300-year-old settled physics.


Perhaps a scale model would help settle the mights, coulds and maybes.

--
Humbly--Ed

"If the man doesn't believe as we do,
we say he is a crank, and that settles it.
I mean, it does nowadays, because now we
can't burn him." (Mark Twain)

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On Thu, 21 Jul 2005 16:06:19 GMT, Ed Earl Ross
wrote:

You used the word "Might" 8 times, "Could" 3 times, "If" 3 times,
with a "Maybe" and "Somehow" once each.


Thank you for counting.


"Could" it be that you "Might" be proposing that "If" "Somehow"
you "Maybe" actually built one you could prove your point without
using those words that only confirm that you are in fact just
guessing.

The only big risk is the plastic pool losing strength at 130 F,
and there are solutions for that. I go overboard on the "mights"
to avoid ignorant people like you raising angry challenges to
300-year-old settled physics.


Perhaps a scale model would help settle the mights, coulds and
maybes.

Possibly.




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Version: PGP 7.1

iQA/AwUBQt/6MwIk7T39FC4ZEQLBjwCgpHYWnOSLaajjDZmYg9350EvoM8UAo LVE
FlQy9xY3IU5FvMX4IEtvEE9T
=t78N
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

Ed Earl Ross wrote:

Perhaps a scale model would help settle the mights, coulds and maybes.

EEs abandoned models 20 years ago in favor of simulations, and they don't do
simulations for simple systems. Any sufficiently advanced technology appears
to be magic, and the less you know, the more it seems to be magic. George Ghio
measures risistors in amps, so a large part of the world is magic to him.

Nick

wrote:
Ed Earl Ross wrote:


Perhaps a scale model would help settle the mights, coulds and maybes.


EEs abandoned models 20 years ago in favor of simulations, and they don't do
simulations for simple systems. Any sufficiently advanced technology appears
to be magic, and the less you know, the more it seems to be magic. George Ghio
measures risistors in amps, so a large part of the world is magic to him.

If thermal simulation software is available, by all means, use it.

--
Humbly--Ed

"If the man doesn't believe as we do,
we say he is a crank, and that settles it.
I mean, it does nowadays, because now we
can't burn him." (Mark Twain)

"Nick Pine" wrote in message
...
. ----
. .
. . 30 F
. .
. .
. pond .
.-----------. ----
12' . s 4' . 12' 10.4'
. s .
--S . s T .
. s . 6.92'
. s .
. s .
. s .
.duct duct.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
12'

We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame with a 4'x12' shallow pond
at the top (view above, in a fixed font) and 2 poly film water ducts
along the north and south edges to avoid wind sliding and overturning...
20 psf makes 208 lb and 1082 ft-lb on each 1' EW slice of the greenhouse,
so we need 12W = 1082 ie W = 90 pounds of water in each foot of duct, eg
1.44 ft^3 of water in a 16" duct.

We could make each of the 10 slightly curved "half-bows" on 4' centers
with 2 12' 1x3s with 1x3 spacer blocks every 2' and a hinge at the top,
and use 3 horizontal 1x3 purlins.

The south side could have 80% shadecloth to make hot air rise under the
pond (which could be poly film over EPDM over foil over welded-wire
fence.)

If we can somehow arrange that most of the greenhouse stays cooler while
the airpath between the shadecloth and glazing and under the pond is temp
T during the day, and the space above the pond is also temp T, we might
figure 0.9xsqrt(1000^2+620^2)12' = 12,712 Btu enters a 4' slice of south
glazing on an average 30 F Jan day in Phila, and 0.81^2x4x1177 = 3813 of
that enters the pond. At 130 F, it might also gain 6h(T-130)4ft^2x1.5
= 36T-4680 Btu/day from the bottom, and more, if the ground to the south
is reflective.

If the glazing loses 6h(T-30)12ft^2/R0.8 = 90T-2700 Btu/day and the daily
energy that flows into the slice equals the energy that flows out, 12712
= 3813+(36T-4680) + 90T-2700, so T = 129 F, and the pond slice gains about
3813 Btu, and 50K/3813 = 13.1', so a 16' greenhouse might provide most of
the heat in January. With about 3813x16'/6h = 10.2K Btu/h during solar
collection, 5 gpm (2400 Btu/h-F) would rise 4 F, and 400'x1/2" PE pipe
with 75 ft^2 of U30 surface would rise 10.2K/(75x30) = 5 F.

A row house with a flat roof might have a $98 12' diameter x 3' tall
EZ-Set pool in the basement with a $60 300'x1" fresh water pressurized
PE pipe heat exchanger near the top of the pool under floating Styrofoam
and a low-head pump with a $40 400'x1/2" PE pipe heat exchanger in the
pool bottom. With lots of insulation and 0.8xPi(11/2)^2x3x62.33 = 14216
pounds of water at 110 F after 5 cloudy days, after supplying 5x50K Btu,
it needs to be 110+250K/14216 = 128 F on an average day. Then again, it
might melt :-) It might need reinforcing, eg a tarp tied up around it.
Or maybe we need a different kind of pool.

This might also be a standalone structure in a yard, with the filter pump
that comes with the pool.

Nick

I read the first paragraph and there was nothing to tell me what all this
was about, so I stopped reading. What is the function of the A frame? Then
I may read the rest of it.

"News" wrote in message
eenews.net...

"Nick Pine" wrote in message
...
. ----
. .
. . 30 F
. .
. .
. pond .
.-----------. ----
12' . s 4' . 12' 10.4'
. s .
--S . s T .
. s . 6.92'
. s .
. s .
. s .
.duct duct.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
12'

We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame with a 4'x12' shallow pond
at the top (view above, in a fixed font) and 2 poly film water ducts
along the north and south edges to avoid wind sliding and overturning...
20 psf makes 208 lb and 1082 ft-lb on each 1' EW slice of the
greenhouse,
so we need 12W = 1082 ie W = 90 pounds of water in each foot of duct, eg
1.44 ft^3 of water in a 16" duct.

We could make each of the 10 slightly curved "half-bows" on 4' centers
with 2 12' 1x3s with 1x3 spacer blocks every 2' and a hinge at the top,
and use 3 horizontal 1x3 purlins.

The south side could have 80% shadecloth to make hot air rise under the
pond (which could be poly film over EPDM over foil over welded-wire
fence.)

If we can somehow arrange that most of the greenhouse stays cooler while
the airpath between the shadecloth and glazing and under the pond is
temp
T during the day, and the space above the pond is also temp T, we might
figure 0.9xsqrt(1000^2+620^2)12' = 12,712 Btu enters a 4' slice of south
glazing on an average 30 F Jan day in Phila, and 0.81^2x4x1177 = 3813 of
that enters the pond. At 130 F, it might also gain 6h(T-130)4ft^2x1.5
= 36T-4680 Btu/day from the bottom, and more, if the ground to the south
is reflective.

If the glazing loses 6h(T-30)12ft^2/R0.8 = 90T-2700 Btu/day and the
daily
energy that flows into the slice equals the energy that flows out, 12712
= 3813+(36T-4680) + 90T-2700, so T = 129 F, and the pond slice gains
about
3813 Btu, and 50K/3813 = 13.1', so a 16' greenhouse might provide most
of
the heat in January. With about 3813x16'/6h = 10.2K Btu/h during solar
collection, 5 gpm (2400 Btu/h-F) would rise 4 F, and 400'x1/2" PE pipe
with 75 ft^2 of U30 surface would rise 10.2K/(75x30) = 5 F.

A row house with a flat roof might have a $98 12' diameter x 3' tall
EZ-Set pool in the basement with a $60 300'x1" fresh water pressurized
PE pipe heat exchanger near the top of the pool under floating Styrofoam
and a low-head pump with a $40 400'x1/2" PE pipe heat exchanger in the
pool bottom. With lots of insulation and 0.8xPi(11/2)^2x3x62.33 = 14216
pounds of water at 110 F after 5 cloudy days, after supplying 5x50K Btu,
it needs to be 110+250K/14216 = 128 F on an average day. Then again, it
might melt :-) It might need reinforcing, eg a tarp tied up around it.
Or maybe we need a different kind of pool.

This might also be a standalone structure in a yard, with the filter
pump
that comes with the pool.

Nick

I read the first paragraph and there was nothing to tell me what all this
was about, so I stopped reading. What is the function of the A frame?
Then
I may read the rest of it.



SAT: 780 math / 410 verbal

wrote:
George Ghio wrote:


. ----
. .
. . 30 F
. .
. .
. pond .
.-----------. ----
12' . s 4' . 12' 10.4'
. s .
--S . s T .
. s . 6.92'
. s .
. s .
. s .
.duct duct.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
12'

We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame...


You used the word "Might" 8 times, "Could" 3 times, "If" 3 times, with a
"Maybe" and "Somehow" once each.


Thank you for counting.


"Could" it be that you "Might" be proposing that "If" "Somehow" you
"Maybe" actually built one you could prove your point without using
those words that only confirm that you are in fact just guessing.


The only big risk is the plastic pool losing strength at 130 F, and there
are solutions for that. I go overboard on the "mights" to avoid ignorant
people like you raising angry challenges to 300-year-old settled physics.

Nick


Nick,


You want someone else to do the work. I suggest that you do the work.

The words you use indicate that you are just guessing.

I have the greatest faith in your maths and the physics. The questions
are; "Can you prove your theory? Can you in fact build this? Test it?
Prove it? Present the results in plain English?

Ignorance generates words like "Might" "Could" "If" "Maybe" "Somehow".

You have presented a theory riddled with doubts.

It is now time to remove the doubts.

Go for it.

wrote:
Ed Earl Ross wrote:


Perhaps a scale model would help settle the mights, coulds and maybes.


EEs abandoned models 20 years ago in favor of simulations, and they don't do
simulations for simple systems. Any sufficiently advanced technology appears
to be magic, and the less you know, the more it seems to be magic. George Ghio
measures risistors in amps, so a large part of the world is magic to him.

Nick


There is no magic involved when a Rheostat is clearly rated by the
manufacturer in amps. I did not make the said Rheostat. I did not rate
the Rheostat. I commented on the fact that it was rated in amps as a
point of interest.

Now, can you prove your theory with a working unit or not.

(Nick Pine) wrote:


We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame with a 4'x12' shallow pond
at the top (view above, in a fixed font) and 2 poly film water ducts
along the north and south edges to avoid wind sliding and overturning...
20 psf makes 208 lb and 1082 ft-lb on each 1' EW slice of the greenhouse,
so we need 12W = 1082 ie W = 90 pounds of water in each foot of duct, eg
1.44 ft^3 of water in a 16" duct.
snip

This might also be a standalone structure in a yard, with the filter pump
that comes with the pool.

Nick


Gotta laugh. Note the concept of putting water near the peak of a
triangular prism to absorb and store heat. This wonderous idea is
presented by the same Nickie that pooh-poohed the idea of
inexpensively preheating water for a domestic water heater via the
simple expedient of placing a 4" pipe underneath and along the
ridgeline of a roof. IIRC, his comments were along the lines of what
if it leaks, what if it freezes? Yet, he has no comment or solution
for the same questions about his own Nickie special design.

Nick would have people construct a special A-frame greenhouse instead,
to attempt to capture enough heat to warm an entire house, making the
cost/benefit ratio of heating water to the same temperature totally
impractical, especially on those cold winter days when 90% cloud cover
can be common for weeks at a time. Maybe if Nick hurries, he can
still get a job for NASA designing a solar powered outhouse to be
towed behind the shuttle.

Now - half tongue-in-cheek, and half-serious, I present an
alternative. Cost-wise, a more simple alternative to A frame plan "A"
might be the less pretentious plan "b," where a b shape holds a tank
or pool at the base (on the ground), contained within strawbales, and
a more or less vertical wall of inexpensive construction grade 2" x4"
lumber forms the staff of the b, partly braced by the tank and
strawbales. This structure would be on the south side of a house,
with a vegetable garden just south of the structure.


1 clear plastic
2 clear plastic
3 black shadecloth
4 black plastic
5 insulation and frame
6 winterime tempered herbs cloche
Sun
12345
///// I
///// I
///// I
///// IHouse
///// I
///// I
///// plastic pla I
///// straw straw stic p I
// 6/ pool or tank straw l I
// /straw straw straw astic I
garden south // /ground ground ground north house

The southern side of that b wall would be double glazed with plastic,
while the north side of the wall would have black plastic and black
shadecloth over insulation and a simple frame. The wall might even
tilt, like an italic letter b for a better solar angle. Cold water
from the bottom of the tank would be pumped by a low volume pump
(bilge pump?) to the top manifold and allowed to trickle down through
the shadecloth (which would spread and even the flow) and over the
black plastic, underneath the first closely-spaced layer of plastic
glazing. Since the pump would be controlled by a thermostat or solar
sensor at the top of the b, it would only run when it could accumulate
heat energy, and no water would be exposed to the cooling effects of
night air or have to be drained or pumped without benefit. The heated
water drips into and is allowed to accumulate on the top of the tank,
thus preserving a greater delta T between the pumped water and the
solar collector, increasing efficiency.

Hot water for the house is taken from the top of the tank, and the
return pipe enters below mid-level in multiple low-flow horizontal
outlets to help preserve the stratification.

The staw bale insulation for the pool or tank could be seeded with
fertilizer or dried manure during the fall in preparation for the
coldest part of the winter. During that period a small amount of
water would be allowed to saturate the inner layer of straw, setting
up an exothermic composting process underneath the pool that would be
buffered by, and add to the heat of, the pool of water during those
cloudy and short days that Nick's design fails to address.

With this design, the weight of the large amount of water safely rests
on straw which is on the ground, without requiring an expensive and
possibly dangerous permanent structure. The covered pool or tank is
simply enshrouded in hay and leaves for the winter, and an outer
covering of plastic prevents that material from being blown away or
saturated with water from late fall rains or melting snow. The issue
of freezing is avoided with the simple expedient of a small drainback
hole in the pipe or hose from the pump to the top of the frame.

When spring arrives, the plastic, shadecloth, and insulaton are
removed from the frame, the hay from the south side of the tank is
spread as compost and mulch, and a layer of clear plastic replaced to
form a low tent along the south side of the tank, for use as a
cloche/greenhouse in starting seedlings for the garden. (A smaller
cloche is shown in the diagram, where a shelf allows midwinter growth
of herbs in the area beneath where the water has to drain back into
the tank.) Once the spring seedings are safely started, the plastic
is again removed. The plastic might be used during the summer for
water catchment or to solar sterilize parts of the garden. In early
summer, the frame is used to support pole beans, the bulk of the straw
is spread, and the tank or pool allowed to cool and supply water to
the garden during parched periods. The outflow of the gutters of the
house are redirected to keep this pool as filled as possible and
reduce watering costs. After the August/September dry spell, the pool
will be empty, and the final remaining straw and manure can be removed
and set out as winter mulch for the garden. The pool is then
remounted on fresh straw, and any rainwater from the roof again
channeled into it to help fill it.

Come fall, the vines are removed, the plastic is remounted and the
process is repeated.

This design is superior to Nicks in that it has
1. far lower cost
2. far greater safety
3. far simpler and easier construction
4. year around use compared to seasonal use
5. no problems with freezing
6. secondary heat source for cold cloudy days
7. lower pumping costs per unit of useful heat
8. no structural permits and inspection required
9. less impact from vandalism
10. less environmental impact
11. portability
12. lack of acompanying psuedomath justification

Harry Chickpea wrote:

(Nick Pine) wrote:


We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame with a 4'x12' shallow pond
at the top (view above, in a fixed font) and 2 poly film water ducts
along the north and south edges to avoid wind sliding and overturning...
20 psf makes 208 lb and 1082 ft-lb on each 1' EW slice of the greenhouse,
so we need 12W = 1082 ie W = 90 pounds of water in each foot of duct, eg
1.44 ft^3 of water in a 16" duct.
snip

This might also be a standalone structure in a yard, with the filter pump
that comes with the pool.


Gotta laugh. Note the concept of putting water near the peak of a
triangular prism to absorb and store heat. This wonderous idea is
presented by the same Nickie that pooh-poohed the idea of
inexpensively preheating water for a domestic water heater via the
simple expedient of placing a 4" pipe underneath and along the
ridgeline of a roof. IIRC, his comments were along the lines of what
if it leaks, what if it freezes? Yet, he has no comment or solution
for the same questions about his own Nickie special design.

And your problem is??? In a stand-alone greenhouse, you don't have a
serious problem if it springs a leak. If it's in your house, you sure do.
--
derek

Derek Broughton wrote:

Harry Chickpea wrote:

(Nick Pine) wrote:


We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame with a 4'x12' shallow pond
at the top (view above, in a fixed font) and 2 poly film water ducts
along the north and south edges to avoid wind sliding and overturning...
20 psf makes 208 lb and 1082 ft-lb on each 1' EW slice of the greenhouse,
so we need 12W = 1082 ie W = 90 pounds of water in each foot of duct, eg
1.44 ft^3 of water in a 16" duct.
snip

This might also be a standalone structure in a yard, with the filter pump
that comes with the pool.


Gotta laugh. Note the concept of putting water near the peak of a
triangular prism to absorb and store heat. This wonderous idea is
presented by the same Nickie that pooh-poohed the idea of
inexpensively preheating water for a domestic water heater via the
simple expedient of placing a 4" pipe underneath and along the
ridgeline of a roof. IIRC, his comments were along the lines of what
if it leaks, what if it freezes? Yet, he has no comment or solution
for the same questions about his own Nickie special design.

And your problem is??? In a stand-alone greenhouse, you don't have a
serious problem if it springs a leak. If it's in your house, you sure do.

It isn't my problem. As I pointed out to Nick at the time, a 4" pipe
contains enough thermal mass, and the location is inherently warmer
than the rest of the attic, to preclude freezing in all but the most
extreme climates, and allowing a small cushion of air at the top for
expansion would resolve the issue even if it did freeze. The pipe
would be no more or less likely to spring a leak than any other pipe.
I suggest that you and Nick might want to remember that people have
plumbing and even gasp! bathtubs on the second floors of their
homes, and condos and apartments and office buildings have plumbing
that reaches to the sky. Somehow, they survive.

Compare the likelihood of standard pipe leaking in a properly designed
and protected tempering tank system to the potential for catastrophic
leaks in "a 4'x12' shallow pond at the top and 2 poly film water ducts
along the north and south edges to avoid wind sliding and
overturning.." contained in a minimally protected A frame covered in
plastic. Can you say "BB gun?" Can you say "mouse nibble?" Mice
would find such a structure a nice winter home. Poly film - pipe.
Poly film - pipe. Hmmm.

Nope. I don't have a problem.

Harry Chickpea becomes unpleasant:

We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame with a 4'x12' shallow pond
at the top (view above, in a fixed font) and 2 poly film water ducts
along the north and south edges to avoid wind sliding and overturning...

Gotta laugh. Note the concept of putting water near the peak of a
triangular prism to absorb and store heat. This wonderous idea is
presented by the same Nickie that pooh-poohed the idea of
inexpensively preheating water for a domestic water heater via the
simple expedient of placing a 4" pipe underneath and along the
ridgeline of a roof. IIRC, his comments were along the lines of what
if it leaks, what if it freezes? Yet, he has no comment or solution
for the same questions about his own Nickie special design.

Since you ask, I'll comment. The pond above is much more efficient than
a pipe in the attic, and it's a draindown system with no exposed water
to freeze at night.

Nick would have people construct a special A-frame greenhouse instead,
to attempt to capture enough heat to warm an entire house...

Just hot water for showers. The "special greenhouse" might cost $200.

making the cost/benefit ratio of heating water to the same temperature
totally impractical...

What does that mean?

especially on those cold winter days when 90% cloud cover can be common
for weeks at a time.

That might happen north of the Arctic circle :-)

...a more simple alternative to A frame plan "A" might be the less
pretentious plan "b,"

Unpretentious is nice :-)

where a b shape holds a tank or pool at the base (on the ground),
contained within strawbales, and a more or less vertical wall of
inexpensive construction grade 2" x4" lumber forms the staff of the b,

The staff of the b?

partly braced by the tank and strawbales. This structure would be on the
south side of a house, with a vegetable garden just south of the structure.

Vegetable gardens don't reflect much sun...

1 clear plastic
2 clear plastic
3 black shadecloth
4 black plastic
5 insulation and frame
6 winterime tempered herbs cloche
Sun
12345
///// I
///// I
///// I
///// IHouse
///// I
///// I
///// plastic pla I
///// straw straw stic p I
// 6/ pool or tank straw l I
// /straw straw straw astic I
garden south // /ground ground ground north house

....6 is the garden? Looks like your ascii art got corrupted.

The southern side of that b wall would be double glazed with plastic,
while the north side of the wall would have black plastic and black
shadecloth over insulation and a simple frame. The wall might even
tilt, like an italic letter b for a better solar angle. Cold water
from the bottom of the tank would be pumped by a low volume pump
(bilge pump?)...

Attwood's $30 pumps have a 3 year guarantee and a 600 hour lifetime.

to the top manifold and allowed to trickle down through the shadecloth
(which would spread and even the flow) and over the black plastic,
underneath the first closely-spaced layer of plastic glazing.

Nice, altho this requires more pump power than a horizontal pond above
a tank with a spiral pipe heat exchanger in the bottom which leaves
the water level of the supply and return pipes just below the pond when
the pump isn't running. What would you use for a pump and a tank, vs
a $98 EZ-set setup?

Since the pump would be controlled by a thermostat or solar sensor
at the top of the b, it would only run when it could accumulate
heat energy, and no water would be exposed to the cooling effects of
night air or have to be drained or pumped without benefit. The heated
water drips into and is allowed to accumulate on the top of the tank,
thus preserving a greater delta T between the pumped water and the
solar collector, increasing efficiency.

Nice. You might turn the pump on with Grainger's $8 2E247 snap-disc
thermostat in a 1 liter soda bottle (closed above 130 F and open below
115) and turn it off with Grainger's $10 2E365 thermostat (closed below
120 and open above 140) sensing the water temp, if you plan to use a
pressurized flat PE pipe spiral as the cold water heat exchanger.

Hot water for the house is taken from the top of the tank, and the
return pipe enters below mid-level in multiple low-flow horizontal
outlets to help preserve the stratification.

You might pressurize the hot water, unless you live in the basement.

The staw bale insulation for the pool or tank could be seeded with
fertilizer or dried manure during the fall in preparation for the
coldest part of the winter. During that period a small amount of
water would be allowed to saturate the inner layer of straw, setting
up an exothermic composting process underneath the pool that would be
buffered by, and add to the heat of, the pool of water during those
cloudy and short days that Nick's design fails to address.

Sounds like work. You mightr say more about this compost process.
I did address the cloudy and short days, using actual numbers :-)

With this design, the weight of the large amount of water safely rests
on straw which is on the ground, without requiring an expensive and
possibly dangerous permanent structure.

Same for the A-frame, with most of the water on the ground.

...The issue of freezing is avoided with the simple expedient of a small
drainback hole in the pipe or hose from the pump to the top of the frame.

Sounds familiar.

When spring arrives, the plastic, shadecloth, and insulaton are
removed from the frame, the hay from the south side of the tank is
spread as compost and mulch, and a layer of clear plastic replaced to
form a low tent along the south side of the tank, for use as a
cloche/greenhouse in starting seedlings for the garden.

"Work!" -- Maynard G. Krebs

This design is superior to Nicks in that it has
1. far lower cost
2. far greater safety
3. far simpler and easier construction
4. year around use compared to seasonal use
5. no problems with freezing
6. secondary heat source for cold cloudy days
7. lower pumping costs per unit of useful heat
8. no structural permits and inspection required
9. less impact from vandalism
10. less environmental impact
11. portability
12. lack of acompanying psuedomath justification

I disagree.

Nick

wrote:
Harry Chickpea becomes unpleasant:


We might build a 12'x16' equilateral A-frame with a 4'x12' shallow pond
at the top (view above, in a fixed font) and 2 poly film water ducts
along the north and south edges to avoid wind sliding and overturning...


Gotta laugh. Note the concept of putting water near the peak of a
triangular prism to absorb and store heat. This wonderous idea is
presented by the same Nickie that pooh-poohed the idea of
inexpensively preheating water for a domestic water heater via the
simple expedient of placing a 4" pipe underneath and along the
ridgeline of a roof. IIRC, his comments were along the lines of what
if it leaks, what if it freezes? Yet, he has no comment or solution
for the same questions about his own Nickie special design.


Since you ask, I'll comment. The pond above is much more efficient than
a pipe in the attic, and it's a draindown system with no exposed water
to freeze at night.


Nick would have people construct a special A-frame greenhouse instead,
to attempt to capture enough heat to warm an entire house...


Just hot water for showers. The "special greenhouse" might cost $200.


making the cost/benefit ratio of heating water to the same temperature
totally impractical...


What does that mean?


especially on those cold winter days when 90% cloud cover can be common
for weeks at a time.


That might happen north of the Arctic circle :-)


...a more simple alternative to A frame plan "A" might be the less
pretentious plan "b,"


Unpretentious is nice :-)


where a b shape holds a tank or pool at the base (on the ground),
contained within strawbales, and a more or less vertical wall of
inexpensive construction grade 2" x4" lumber forms the staff of the b,


The staff of the b?


partly braced by the tank and strawbales. This structure would be on the
south side of a house, with a vegetable garden just south of the structure.


Vegetable gardens don't reflect much sun...


1 clear plastic
2 clear plastic
3 black shadecloth
4 black plastic
5 insulation and frame
6 winterime tempered herbs cloche
Sun
12345
///// I
///// I
///// I
///// IHouse
///// I
///// I
///// plastic pla I
///// straw straw stic p I
// 6/ pool or tank straw l I
// /straw straw straw astic I
garden south // /ground ground ground north house


...6 is the garden? Looks like your ascii art got corrupted.


The southern side of that b wall would be double glazed with plastic,
while the north side of the wall would have black plastic and black
shadecloth over insulation and a simple frame. The wall might even
tilt, like an italic letter b for a better solar angle. Cold water

from the bottom of the tank would be pumped by a low volume pump

(bilge pump?)...


Attwood's $30 pumps have a 3 year guarantee and a 600 hour lifetime.


to the top manifold and allowed to trickle down through the shadecloth
(which would spread and even the flow) and over the black plastic,
underneath the first closely-spaced layer of plastic glazing.


Nice, altho this requires more pump power than a horizontal pond above
a tank with a spiral pipe heat exchanger in the bottom which leaves
the water level of the supply and return pipes just below the pond when
the pump isn't running. What would you use for a pump and a tank, vs
a $98 EZ-set setup?


Since the pump would be controlled by a thermostat or solar sensor
at the top of the b, it would only run when it could accumulate
heat energy, and no water would be exposed to the cooling effects of
night air or have to be drained or pumped without benefit. The heated
water drips into and is allowed to accumulate on the top of the tank,
thus preserving a greater delta T between the pumped water and the
solar collector, increasing efficiency.


Nice. You might turn the pump on with Grainger's $8 2E247 snap-disc
thermostat in a 1 liter soda bottle (closed above 130 F and open below
115) and turn it off with Grainger's $10 2E365 thermostat (closed below
120 and open above 140) sensing the water temp, if you plan to use a
pressurized flat PE pipe spiral as the cold water heat exchanger.


Hot water for the house is taken from the top of the tank, and the
return pipe enters below mid-level in multiple low-flow horizontal
outlets to help preserve the stratification.


You might pressurize the hot water, unless you live in the basement.


The staw bale insulation for the pool or tank could be seeded with
fertilizer or dried manure during the fall in preparation for the
coldest part of the winter. During that period a small amount of
water would be allowed to saturate the inner layer of straw, setting
up an exothermic composting process underneath the pool that would be
buffered by, and add to the heat of, the pool of water during those
cloudy and short days that Nick's design fails to address.


Sounds like work. You mightr say more about this compost process.
I did address the cloudy and short days, using actual numbers :-)


With this design, the weight of the large amount of water safely rests
on straw which is on the ground, without requiring an expensive and
possibly dangerous permanent structure.


Same for the A-frame, with most of the water on the ground.


...The issue of freezing is avoided with the simple expedient of a small
drainback hole in the pipe or hose from the pump to the top of the frame.


Sounds familiar.


When spring arrives, the plastic, shadecloth, and insulaton are
removed from the frame, the hay from the south side of the tank is
spread as compost and mulch, and a layer of clear plastic replaced to
form a low tent along the south side of the tank, for use as a
cloche/greenhouse in starting seedlings for the garden.


"Work!" -- Maynard G. Krebs


This design is superior to Nicks in that it has
1. far lower cost
2. far greater safety
3. far simpler and easier construction
4. year around use compared to seasonal use
5. no problems with freezing
6. secondary heat source for cold cloudy days
7. lower pumping costs per unit of useful heat
8. no structural permits and inspection required
9. less impact from vandalism
10. less environmental impact
11. portability
12. lack of acompanying psuedomath justification


I disagree.

Nick

The simple solution Nick. Build it. Collect the real data from use.
Compare data to your theory.

Harry Chickpea wrote:

....
the same Nickie that pooh-poohed the idea of
inexpensively preheating water for a domestic water heater via the
simple expedient of placing a 4" pipe underneath and along the
ridgeline of a roof. IIRC, his comments were along the lines of what
if it leaks, what if it freezes? Yet, he has no comment or solution
for the same questions about his own Nickie special design.

And your problem is??? In a stand-alone greenhouse, you don't have a
serious problem if it springs a leak. If it's in your house, you sure do.

It isn't my problem. As I pointed out to Nick at the time, a 4" pipe
contains enough thermal mass, and the location is inherently warmer
than the rest of the attic, to preclude freezing in all but the most
extreme climates, and allowing a small cushion of air at the top for
expansion would resolve the issue even if it did freeze. The pipe
would be no more or less likely to spring a leak than any other pipe.
I suggest that you and Nick might want to remember that people have
plumbing and even gasp! bathtubs on the second floors of their
homes, and condos and apartments and office buildings have plumbing
that reaches to the sky. Somehow, they survive.

What do you consider "the most extreme climates"? Most of the US, and
practically all of Canada, are subject to regular conditions _well_ under
freezing, and we do NOT have plumbing along the ridgelines of our roofs.
To prevent ice-damming, attics are kept as cold as possible, and all
plumbing is kept below the insulation. If your attic is warm enough in
winter to prevent a pipe freezing, you're wasting too much energy.

I haven't a clue (and don't really care) if Nick's idea is sound, but his
objection to a 4" pipe under the ridgeline of a roof certainly is.
--
derek

George Ghio wrote:


snipped for brevity

The simple solution Nick. Build it. Collect the real data from use.
Compare data to your theory.


I agree with this sentiment.

It would be better for everyone if these theoretical projects were
actually built and tested, with all data posted, before someone
invests their time and money for construction and then finds out that
the return on investment is insufficient.

There are times when practice does not fulfill, what theory promises.

Greetings Nick,

The real question is if more women will sleep with you because you use
"solar energy" than will run screaming because you have a huge A-Frame
in your yard.

Let us know how it turns out,
William

Cosmopolite wrote:
George Ghio wrote:
The simple solution Nick. Build it. Collect the real data from use.
Compare data to your theory.

I agree with this sentiment.

It would be better for everyone if these theoretical projects were
actually built and tested, with all data posted, before someone
invests their time and money for construction and then finds out that
the return on investment is insufficient.

There are times when practice does not fulfill, what theory promises.

Well, the design is made public through this forum and it doesn't
look like a demonstration/test version would be either difficult
or expensive to build. Anyone could build it and tell us how it
does or does not perform. It need not be Nick. Certainly, there
must be someone with enough time on their hands to do such a thing.

Anthony

"Cosmopolite" wrote in message
news:OTgEe.166813$on1.153311@clgrps13...
George Ghio wrote:


snipped for brevity

The simple solution Nick. Build it. Collect the real data from use.
Compare data to your theory.


I agree with this sentiment.

It would be better for everyone if these theoretical projects were
actually built and tested, with all data posted, before someone
invests their time and money for construction and then finds out that
the return on investment is insufficient.

There are times when practice does not fulfill, what theory promises.

Nick posted a theory. What is wrong with that? A theory that others may
take up in full or partially, or spark somthing in their mind. Nick is a
thinker and thinks out loud. Nothing wrong with that at all. I like
thinkers.

The problem is he writes like a "who done it". You have to read it all to
find out what it does at the end, just like Agatha Christie.

News wrote:
"Cosmopolite" wrote in message
news:OTgEe.166813$on1.153311@clgrps13...

George Ghio wrote:


snipped for brevity

The simple solution Nick. Build it. Collect the real data from use.
Compare data to your theory.


I agree with this sentiment.

It would be better for everyone if these theoretical projects were
actually built and tested, with all data posted, before someone
invests their time and money for construction and then finds out that
the return on investment is insufficient.

There are times when practice does not fulfill, what theory promises.


Nick posted a theory. What is wrong with that? A theory that others may
take up in full or partially, or spark somthing in their mind. Nick is a
thinker and thinks out loud. Nothing wrong with that at all. I like
thinkers.

The problem is he writes like a "who done it". You have to read it all to
find out what it does at the end, just like Agatha Christie.



Nick is a talker. That's all. He talks and talks and talks. Then expects
someone to build one of his pipe dreams.

If someone does build something Nick proposed and it does not work as
per Nick's projections he can always say "Well I only said "Might"
"Could" "If" "Maybe" "Somehow" so its not my fault it doesn't work. It
was just an idea.

Talk Talk Talk Talk Talk Talk Talk Talk Talk Talk

Just don't let him near any tools or some one could get hurt.

"Harry Chickpea" wrote in message
news:42e53afa.13651974@localhost...

It isn't my problem. As I pointed out to Nick at the time, a 4" pipe
contains enough thermal mass, and the location is inherently warmer
than the rest of the attic, to preclude freezing in all but the most
extreme climates,

Say a 20 foot length of this 4" plastic pipe running under the roof apex in
the attic. Say, 20C in the attic and water inside, coming in from the water
mains at 5C, who long to raise the mass of water to 20C?

How much are you going to gain from solar heat? It may take a while to
payback the cost of the pipe and fitting.

Just out of interest.

Yeah, he is full of ideas and also a troll. This means when you object to
one of his fanatical theories he tries to get everybody against you because
he cannot support his theories and doesn't value discussion on it, just the
lime light.

"News" wrote in message
eenews.net...

"Cosmopolite" wrote in message
news:OTgEe.166813$on1.153311@clgrps13...
George Ghio wrote:


snipped for brevity

The simple solution Nick. Build it. Collect the real data from use.
Compare data to your theory.


I agree with this sentiment.

It would be better for everyone if these theoretical projects were
actually built and tested, with all data posted, before someone
invests their time and money for construction and then finds out that
the return on investment is insufficient.

There are times when practice does not fulfill, what theory promises.

Nick posted a theory. What is wrong with that? A theory that others may
take up in full or partially, or spark somthing in their mind. Nick is a
thinker and thinks out loud. Nothing wrong with that at all. I like
thinkers.

The problem is he writes like a "who done it". You have to read it all to
find out what it does at the end, just like Agatha Christie.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On 22 Jul 2005 19:59:03 -0700, "
wrote:

The real question is if more women will sleep with you because you
use "solar energy" than will run screaming because you have a huge
A-Frame in your yard.

It is quite an erection, you know...


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Version: PGP 7.1

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=2o/v
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

~~~~~~~~
The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining
- JFK
~~~~~~~~

"Derek Broughton" wrote in message
...
Harry Chickpea wrote:

...
the same Nickie that pooh-poohed the idea of
inexpensively preheating water for a domestic water heater via the
simple expedient of placing a 4" pipe underneath and along the
ridgeline of a roof. IIRC, his comments were along the lines of what
if it leaks, what if it freezes? Yet, he has no comment or solution
for the same questions about his own Nickie special design.

And your problem is??? In a stand-alone greenhouse, you don't have a
serious problem if it springs a leak. If it's in your house, you sure
do.

It isn't my problem. As I pointed out to Nick at the time, a 4" pipe
contains enough thermal mass, and the location is inherently warmer
than the rest of the attic, to preclude freezing in all but the most
extreme climates, and allowing a small cushion of air at the top for
expansion would resolve the issue even if it did freeze. The pipe
would be no more or less likely to spring a leak than any other pipe.
I suggest that you and Nick might want to remember that people have
plumbing and even gasp! bathtubs on the second floors of their
homes, and condos and apartments and office buildings have plumbing
that reaches to the sky. Somehow, they survive.

What do you consider "the most extreme climates"? Most of the US, and
practically all of Canada, are subject to regular conditions _well_ under
freezing, and we do NOT have plumbing along the ridgelines of our roofs.
To prevent ice-damming, attics are kept as cold as possible, and all
plumbing is kept below the insulation. If your attic is warm enough in
winter to prevent a pipe freezing, you're wasting too much energy.

A vented attic, in which the only function of the rood is to keep off the
house, nothing else.

I haven't a clue (and don't really care) if Nick's idea is sound, but his
objection to a 4" pipe under the ridgeline of a roof certainly is.

Only in Canada type of climates.

What do you consider "the most extreme climates"? Most of the US, and
practically all of Canada, are subject to regular conditions _well_ under
freezing, and we do NOT have plumbing along the ridgelines of our roofs.
To prevent ice-damming, attics are kept as cold as possible, and all
plumbing is kept below the insulation. If your attic is warm enough in
winter to prevent a pipe freezing, you're wasting too much energy.

Well... since I live in south Florida, where we haven't had a freeze
in years, and a really low air temp during the winter is 50 degrees F,
I have to respectfully disagree. :-)

You'd have to refer to the original thread for the complete proposal.
I lived in Vermont for many many years, and I'm aware of the issues
there. I would consider that an extreme climate, since as a kid I
delivered papers in -30 degree F windy weather, and moved out of state
after one winter where the sun never broke through clouds for two
months. Nick's stomping grounds of PA don't qualify as an extreme
climate in my book.

The full idea included a reflective barrier above the 4" pipe to
reduce heat loss, and the capability of drain down for those times
when the system wouldn't act as a preheater. IIRC, Nick was proposing
a solar pond or other involved project to preheat water with limited
results, and I tossed back a simple preheater idea that used minimal
materials, took minimal time to build, and had a faster payback.

A vented attic, in which the only function of the rood is to keep off the
house, nothing else.

I haven't a clue (and don't really care) if Nick's idea is sound, but his
objection to a 4" pipe under the ridgeline of a roof certainly is.

Only in Canada type of climates.

Nick objects to a lot of things. You would have to ask him why.

News wrote:

I haven't a clue (and don't really care) if Nick's idea is sound, but his
objection to a 4" pipe under the ridgeline of a roof certainly is.

Only in Canada type of climates.

You're wrong there. The majority of people reading usenet are in North
America. The majority of North America is subject to extreme freezing -
ie, all of Canada except the lower BC area, all of the American northeast &
midwest, the plains states down to north Texas and all the mountain states.

I know, a 4" pipe under _your_ roof ridge should be fine, but you're
practically in the tropics :-)
--
derek

Harry Chickpea wrote:

What do you consider "the most extreme climates"? Most of the US, and
practically all of Canada, are subject to regular conditions _well_
under freezing, and we do NOT have plumbing along the ridgelines of our
roofs. To prevent ice-damming, attics are kept as cold as possible, and
all
plumbing is kept below the insulation. If your attic is warm enough in
winter to prevent a pipe freezing, you're wasting too much energy.

Well... since I live in south Florida, where we haven't had a freeze
in years, and a really low air temp during the winter is 50 degrees F,
I have to respectfully disagree. :-)

What's to disagree with???? You live in the warmest part of the US! Even
most of your compatriots suffer real cold. My statement was still correct.

Nick's stomping grounds of PA don't qualify as an extreme
climate in my book.

I don't know which part of PA Nick's in, but the northern part can easily
hit -10F for lengthy periods (more than two weeks). That's _not_ what I
would call extreme, either, but it's too cold for piping above the
insulation in the attic.

--
derek

"Derek Broughton" wrote in message
...
News wrote:

I haven't a clue (and don't really care) if Nick's idea is sound, but
his
objection to a 4" pipe under the ridgeline of a roof certainly is.

Only in Canada type of climates.

You're wrong there. The majority of people reading usenet are in North
America. The majority of North America is subject to extreme freezing -
ie, all of Canada except the lower BC area, all of the American northeast
&
midwest, the plains states down to north Texas and all the mountain
states.

I know, a 4" pipe under _your_ roof ridge should be fine, but you're
practically in the tropics :-)

England in the tropics? Well if it stays below freezing all day, it is a
very cold day. In Winter, dropping below freezing during the night is
common.

Well the UKs most northerly part, is further north than the most southerly
point of Greenland. The most southerly, the Scillies, never gets frost. We
will be quite mild, yet on that same latitude where polar bears roam in
other parts.

News wrote:

I know, a 4" pipe under _your_ roof ridge should be fine, but you're
practically in the tropics :-)

England in the tropics? Well if it stays below freezing all day, it is a
very cold day. In Winter, dropping below freezing during the night is
common.

Well the UKs most northerly part, is further north than the most southerly
point of Greenland.

Note the smiley... You are, in fact, almost 7 degrees north of me. I was
born in London, I know the temperature difference.
--
derek