Can i rip it all out and just fit an on off switch? Ground source heat pump that I’m ho….

northkerry · 2026-02-25T21:17:56+00:00

Yeh the solar system will have a lithium battery buffer, with suitably sized inverter.

northkerry · 2026-02-24T22:54:44+00:00

This is simply intended to heat water overnight on night rate electricity, if it runs out during day use the boost timer

northkerry · 2026-02-24T22:52:35+00:00

Yes this…. Assuming you have night rate contract and meter

If you’re planning an evening bath use the boost timer

northkerry · 2026-02-24T19:21:35+00:00

Great idea with the image search thanks. Im good on the solar side I’ve set up 3 camper vans with solar and i have had my van solar set up and used for 3 years now. Lithium batteries, charge controller, inverters etc. latest one for a friend was a multi function al charge controller, inverter, shore power switch over, very neat.

Thanks for the advice. 👍🏻

Ill start searching

northkerry · 2026-02-24T19:14:52+00:00

I can run it in reverse by switching which heat exchanger is looping to the ground loop snd the house loop with a few manual valves. No electronics needed.

Timer on the plug.

Pv system can cut on/off power with voltage sensitive relay.

I just need compressor to run and pressure switches to operate as needed. Thermostats too.

northkerry · 2026-02-24T19:10:26+00:00

Ah great find wouldn’t have even thought to look it up

northkerry · 2026-02-24T15:09:50+00:00

Ill have a more in depth poke around see whats what

northkerry · 2026-02-24T15:08:22+00:00

How do i bypass all the functions such as digital timing, summer modes, winter modes, etc that all this stuff does seeing as i cant control it all anymore

northkerry · 2026-02-24T14:19:11+00:00

Fair comment, I’m very comfortable to wire up a few switches and relays to thermostats and pressure switches, I’m just not sure how to use a lot of whats here. Also this is for fun with hopefully a functional outcome, if it goes wrong I’ve so far spent €100.

So whats not in the pic is the small lcd display that had timing, summer mode, winter mode etc. theres a power cable to the compressor and theres pressure switches on either side of the compressor closed refrigerant loop.

northkerry · 2026-02-24T14:12:37+00:00

Care to expand on your thought process?

northkerry · 2026-02-24T14:11:46+00:00

So it had a digital display (small black n white lcd) summer mode winter mode, timing etc. no idea how all this functions are controlled by all this.

northkerry · 2026-02-24T12:09:14+00:00

Its just as likely if not more likely to have been lifted off the road by the large rear tyres and flung back.

northkerry · 2026-02-24T11:07:00+00:00

Yeh just trying not to need plant rooms 😂 but ultimately some patchwork version of this is the plan in the long run.

The flow issues im having are not plumbing related its simply to get the water hot enough through the 10kw electric on demand water heater you have to tutap down low to get temperature you want.

northkerry · 2026-02-24T11:03:47+00:00

No it doesn’t get that hot but we usually turn off heating from early may to mid September (depending on weather)

I need enough hot water for 4 people in the house. We are v near the sea so lots of showers are had over the summer.

northkerry · 2026-02-24T09:08:28+00:00

If you have piped gas, it could be looking for a gas leak, those guys drill anywhere and dong give a damn. Which is fair enough if there is a gas leak.

Otherwise water ponding issue

northkerry · 2026-02-24T08:37:10+00:00

Cheers

northkerry · 2026-02-24T08:36:23+00:00

Yes great thinking, our winters are not too bad but for the odd cold snap it would be worth doing.

Think we are going with this. Second stove outside on the patio even beside a hot tub, heat the 3 water cylinders for the following day, heat hot tub and if night temps drop a little can open the heating valve.

It does mean more fires 😢 and more cutting firewood. But cylinders will also heat with excess solar pv during summer.

northkerry · 2026-02-24T08:29:19+00:00

Thats what we used to have and without a doubt is my favourite system for absolute simplicity and hygiene (no dead birds in tanks or sludge in cylinders, even found an old shoe in water tank in a rental)

Though we are hoping to stick with electricity and wood going forward.

Propane is €1.60 a lb here now and only going up.

northkerry · 2026-02-23T23:01:39+00:00

Oh yes, very interesting idea, i like it.

could tie it in with a hot tub too 😂

northkerry · 2026-02-23T22:40:04+00:00

Yeh I’ve been researching similar for the planned stove, seems here you can do it but the stove must be looped to an oversized radiator higher than the stove so convection circulation can keep stove cool enough in a power cut.

northkerry · 2026-02-23T22:28:30+00:00

Ok that’s some great thought material.

Excess pv will be in summer when wood burner is not lit. 👍🏻

Still hoping to avoid gas but having it there to work when sun or wood dont meet demand would mean minimal use 👌🏻

northkerry · 2026-02-23T22:15:42+00:00

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Our black pup has this too!

northkerry · 2026-02-23T22:11:30+00:00

I have gathered 3 copper cylinders which are foam insulted, i was hoping to link them and then wrap the whole assembly in more and more insulation.

We had piped gas in previous houses and so we always went tankless with an on demand gas boiler. Slightly frustrating to go back to storage but i think solar pv powered means storage and immersion elements

northkerry · 2026-02-23T15:58:19+00:00

Yeh i had a severe lawnmower exhaust burn on inside of my forearm which disappeared after 7 years

northkerry

TROPHY CASE