Affordable offers a wealth of knowledge and a deep product offering including solar electric panels, solar kits, inverters, charge controllers, wind turbines, battery systems, and hundreds of other renewable energy products.
They have been in business over 10 years and we have designed over 10,000 systems.
Their sales technicians have 90 years of combined solar experience.
They have been providing brand name products and expert service to South, Central, and East Texas since 1986.
Whether you are a contractor, facility manager, or owner, Amcon Controls can fulfill your temperature, humidity, pressure, and flow control needs.
I met Tom McDonald in Nashville at the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association trade show and started talking about fluids needed for my experiment because it has (3) three different loops, running at (3) three different temperatures. Tom went into detail why specific fluids were needed in certain systems and explained it in terms I could understand. I appreciated that fact and decided to use Covalent Labs Fluids when it was time to fill the systems. Well, I am pleased to report I have filled Circuit #1 which is the solar hot water system for home heating and domestic hot water uses.
Covalent Laboratories is a specialty chemical manufacturer located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
They are a collaboration of chemists, engineers, technicians and professional support staff dedicated to developing and supplying heat transfer fluids used in geothermal, process and HVAC applications.
Their ColdFlow™ brand of glycol based fluids provide superior heat transfer, corrosion inhibition and freeze protection for any system.
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Through continuous innovation, a relentless dedication to the industry, and a commitment to high quality products and dependable delivery Dart Controls has retained the leadership position it established over 40 years ago.
Darts mission is to be the company you want to do business with. We pursue this goal by continuously seeking ways to improve our quality, efficiency, and services while maintaining our commitment to our customers, employees, shareholders, and suppliers.
Flatplate is the leading U.S. manufacturer of high tech Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers.
Utilized in heating, cooling, refrigeration, hydronic, steam and industrial processes,
brazed plate heat exchangers offer significant advantages over traditional heat
exchanger technologies.
GEA FlatPlate Sytems serves original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s), wholesale
distributors, contractors and end users in a wide range of applications. We ship product
worldwide and provide excellence in customer service and application support.
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After some lengthy conversations with Phil Schoen-CEO, he convinced me to abandon my design of a verticle slinky loop field and since I am not going to use verticle 300 ft. bore holes, Phil helped me design a new horizontal loop field. Phil convinced me to do it right, not cheap.
Harbor Freight Tools
(www.harborfreight.com)
Back in 1968 Harbor Freight Tools set out to make it easier for the working man and woman to get the best value on top-quality tools.
Now, over 35 years later, they are the largest tool and equipment catalog retailer with over five million satisfied customers taking advantage of our hassle-free ordering–all backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
At Harbor Freight Tools we offer one of the widest selections of brand-name tools, plus many items you just can’t find elsewhere.
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Hays Fluid Controls
(www.haysfluidcontrols.com)
Hays Fluid Controls is a supplier of the automatic flow control valves. Hays is the leader in automatic flow control technology due to their unique spring less design. Hays uses a very durable EPDM diaphragm disk design which is virtually clog free, quite and has an operating differential pressure range higher than any other manufacturer.
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Interstate Batteries
March started manufacturing magnetic drive pumps in 1963. Magnetic drive pumps are seal-less pumps, meaning they are emission free.
For this reason, they are great for liquids which can be highly corrosive and dangerous to handle or liquids which are too expensive to have any leakage occur.
urrently, March has over 20 completely different series of pumps with over 200 variations available, all under 210 gallons per minute with a maximum head of 160 feet.
Whether you are an original equipment manufacturer or an end user, March looks forward to doing business with you.
Mueller & Wilson Incorporated
Mueller & Wilson in San Antonio, TX DONATED this piece and is a well respected, well established company with a superb sheet metal division and is why I asked them to be a part of Dans Home Energy Project. I provided Randy Hunter a simple sketch of my Transition Piece (Supply Duct) with solar hot water coil coming off the TRANE Geothermal Heat Pump and was assured it would be made to my exact specifications in a quick manner. Randy only had a few questions regarding my drawing, making sure it would be built right.
Randy Hunter and Richard Schmidt were resposible for having the piece built and had Aaron Farris assemble it and Brandon Keller do some welding on it. It has a 1 inch liner inside for insulation.
Since 1949, Mueller & Wilson, Inc. has been growing to meet the needs of our customers.
Diversifying from our beginnings as a light commercial contractor, Mueller & Wilson today is organized into four distinct divisions serving our target markets:
*Mechanical Contracting
*Mechanical Systems Maintenance
*Custom Sheetmetal Fabrication
*High Precision Metal Manufacturing
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OutBack Power Systems
I chose OutBack Power Systems because of their reputation and diverse product selection. I decided on the inverter (Model GVFX3648) which is capable of providing back up power through a battery storage system. This system also has an automatic transfer switch which will resort to battery back up anytime a power loss happens and it’s instantanious.
OutBack Power Systems is a leading designer and manufacturer of power electronics for renewable energy applications including solar, wind, and micro-hydro as well as backup power and mobile power applications.
With an emphasis on product performance, OutBack has established itself as the product of choice in harsh environmental conditions for applications where product reliability and durability are paramount. Whether the application is a village micro-grid in the South Pacific, remote off-grid cabins in Alaska, or a suburban home in California, OutBack Power Systems has a solution that will reliably provide power when you need it.
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PEX-Flex
(www.PEXFlex.net)/(www.urecon.com) I saw an ad for PEX Flex in a Solar Today magazine and immediatly knew it was the PERFECT product for Dans Home Energy Project.
My solar array is 150 feet away from my home and I needed a way to transfer the solar hot water to and from my home without any heat loss and I needed a way to transfer the geothermal heat exchanger water to and from the Loop Field with out any losses or gains. PEX Flex was my answer!
The PEX Flex I ordered is a dual PEX Flex meaning it has twin tubes within it’s insulated protective cover. This is for supply water and return water.
PEX-Flex is flexible pre-insulated pipe designed for the efficient transfer of hot or cold medium. Supplied in single or dual (supply and return bundled together) format coils, this seamless pipe system is economical, simple to install and highly effective even in harsh soil conditions.
PEX-Flex is “self-compensating” with respect to expansion and contraction… just uncoil and snake into trench, then backfill. The pipe installs quickly and easily without solvent welding, special tools or heavy equipment resulting in a lower installed cost when compared to other insulating methods. No drainage tile, gravel fill or deep/wide trench required. PEX-Flex can be shallow buried even in high water table areas. The flexible nature of coiled PEX-Flex all but eliminates the need for joints, elbows and fittings making it a true seamless pipe system.
The PEX-Flex carrier pipe is made of plastic cross linked polyethylene (PEX) with EVAL coating which keeps oxygen from penetrating the pipe wall. The PEX is surrounded by a factory applied layer of closed cell, eco-friendly polyurethane foam – the best insulation material on the market. The whole package is encased in a tough but flexible extruded polyethylene jacket with UV stabilizer.
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One thing very important to my project is the fact I needed both tanks to fit underneath my solar array structure. Another important feature is the fact I would like my tanks to have flat sides NOT round, so I can easily insulate them.
When I arrived at Plastic-Mart and looked at the tanks I was purchasing, I found it strange that it didn’t have any pipe fitting connections. I asked what was going on and they informed me I got to choose the amount of fittings and their locations. I was blown away! This was fantastic because I needed (4) four fittings. They installed them while I waited and it took less than 10-minutes.
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Precision Coils
(www.precision-coils.com)
Precision Coils DONATED the heating coil for my solar hot water heating portion of this project. The Sales Manager, Jim Leads was very gracious after talking with me on the phone regarding my needs.
Precision Coils specializes in manufacturing competitively-priced, precision-engineered replacement and OEM coils that always fit and are always on-time. And that means you can get your customers up and running quicker - with minimal installation time.
Their experienced application specialists are just a phone call away and because they are strictly a coil company and know how to quickly walk you through any questions you might have.
They work together with you as a team to obtain the precise measurements and performance requirements you need, it’s easy to schedule your order immediately. Their efficient, proven “Build and Ship” production system can design and manufacture a custom coil in 3-day, 5-day, or 10-day turnarounds.
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Premier CIRE Systems, Inc.
(www.premiercires.com)
Precision
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Rheem
(www.rheem.com)
Rheem has a brand new solar water heater/tank to be officially introduced in the Spring of 2009. With that said, Dans Home Energy Project is the first one to use this new water heater/tank, Model RSID80. This new design has an internal heat exchanger for use with solar hot water collectors and has (2) two locations for temperature sensors. One is up high and one is down low. I monitor both through my digital control system (computer) and actually control my on/off valve with the sensor located in the lower part of the tank. I officially turned my Domestic Solar Hot Water system to automatic on the evening of Wednesday December 6th, 2009. Along with turning it to automatic, I turned off the electrical breaker to my new Rheem Solar Hot Water Heater/Tank as a test to see how long I could leave it off before my wife complained about low temperatures. As of this posting which is the evening of December 11th, 2009, the unit has PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY and I have not even come close to turning on the breaker. I will eventually turn it back on as a “Back Up” and set the Rheem thermostat a little lower than the solar settings.
Today, Rheem is a leading North American producer of water heaters, central warm air furnaces and air conditioners, and swimming pool heaters and commercial boilers. The company’s products are used for residential and commercial applications and operate on a variety of fuels.
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Sealtite (Coming Soon)
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Solar Hot
(www.solarhotusa.com)
Solar Hot is the supplier for my Solar Hot Water Collectors.
After researching dozens and dozens of hot water solar collectors, I found Solar Hot to have the most efficient flat-plate collector system as explained on their web site.
Established in 2005, they are a renewable energy manufacturer and solutions provider.
Drawing on over 30 years of manufacturing, sourcing, distribution and engineering experience, they are uniquely placed to serve the growing needs of the renewable energy market.
Their staff includes a registered Professional Engineer which means that no job is beyond their ability to support.
Their international sourcing team has committed to scour the globe to make sure the products we offer you are the best quality available without exception.
Jeanette and Dan are a true pleasure to deal with too!
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Spirotherm
Spirotherm, Inc., is the world leader in air elimination and dirt separation technology. Our North American Headquarters, located outside of Chicago, manufactures the popular Spirovent® air elimination products and its extended line of Spirotrap® dirt separation products.
As one of the Spiro Enterprises Companies, we have been developing and manufacturing products to improve water quality in the HVAC industry for more than 30 years.
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Syntergy
(www.syntergyems.com) is assisting me with the control aspects of the entire system and was the provider of a Dymax Digital Control Panel and its operating software.
Syntergy is a leading building systems integrator and energy solutions provider.
They are dedicated to being a valuable business partner to organizations that embrace innovative technologies.
Syntergy partners with its clients to develop solutions that will improve operational efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.
Syntergy’s solutions allow owners and asset managers to improve the services they provide to their clients (and/or tenants) and improve their bottom line.
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TRANE
(www.trane.com) is the supplier of my Water Source Heat Pump. I chose to reduce my tonnage from a 4-ton conventional split system to a 3 1/2 ton water source heat pump. I am installing a vertical commercial unit, model #GEVB03611PO100TR
Trane offers reliable, state-of-the-art energy-efficient systems that deliver comfort for commercial buildings and homes. These include:
Centrifugal chillers, which are up to 13.6 percent more efficient than comparable products
Energy recovery systems that use less energy and create free hot water
Controls engineered to be user friendly and help building owners achieve their desired temperature, humidity and ventilation better than any other building system, no matter what the building’s purpose
Two-stage, split-system air conditioners and heat pumps that can save consumers more than 60 percent in operating costs.
Residential furnace that’s the world’s most energy efficient.
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Vylon Pipe
(www.vylonpipe.com) is the supplier for my Lamson & Sessions underground Geothermal Piping.
Vylon Pipe is a nationwide supplier of geothermal piping with a great reputation. I am using the Lamson & Sessions Geothermal PE3608/3408.
Participating Vendors (a-z)
