Source of heat for hotwater

[Skippy1]

Originally Posted by gmiller261

go solar. Works like a charm.

Freddy MultiService set up mine.

Hi Thats the way I would recommend eviromentally friendly too

once you have recovered the intitial costs its free from then on.

Skippy1

[suarezn]

Just use one of those instant / tankless water heaters as suggested above by Bob Saunders. You can get one at Ochoa (Not Bosch though) for about 12,000 pesos...Electric is no good in The DR because of the electricity problem (and you don't want to put it on your inverter), so no electricity = no hot water. Solar is good for the environment, but expensive and doesn't work as well.

[Chip]

Originally Posted by bob saunders

I'm pretty conversant with the different methods for heating water, and even though I've had plenty of showers with the electric shower head, electricity and water don't mix and I'm a little leery of them. We are planing our move to Jarabacoa sometime in 2009. We already have property but not the house built yet. We have several reliable contractors that are well know to my wife, having built for her in the past. I currently have natural gas heat, which in Ontario is cheaper than electrical-faster re-supply also. Just trying to find out which is more common and most economical. My creaky body with multiple sports injuries and operations, osteoarthritis in both shoulders demands hot showers to get me moving in the morning.

This is understandible, however, a good electric shower head is no more dangerous than having an electric water heater with copper pipes(which we had growing up). Furthermore, in the two years we have had it we have no had any problems. Also, this type can be used with the inverter for short showers. However, as you have noticed, propane is much cheaper and more efficient. I will install one in my house one day but they aren't cheap so that is why I am waiting.

[Skippy1]

Originally Posted by Chip

This is understandible, however, a good electric shower head is no more dangerous than having an electric water heater with copper pipes(which we had growing up). Furthermore, in the two years we have had it we have no had any problems. Also, this type can be used with the inverter for short showers. However, as you have noticed, propane is much cheaper and more efficient. I will install one in my house one day but they aren't cheap so that is why I am waiting.

No more dangerous = still dangerous

The electrical systems here are not the same beware the grounding in most installations is almost non-existent Do check it out first before you use this type of heater ......remember dead is forever and no medicare plan will fix it for you!

Skippy1

[adrianb]

Skippy1, have you lived in the DR? These units are common here and I've never heard of a problem in 6 years. HB has lived here 40 years and recommends them.

[Chip]

Originally Posted by Skippy1

No more dangerous = still dangerous

The electrical systems here are not the same beware the grounding in most installations is almost non-existent Do check it out first before you use this type of heater ......remember dead is forever and no medicare plan will fix it for you!

Skippy1

Apparently, you didn't read my post, we have been using it for the last two years here in Santiago. Also, I am well aware of the electrical systems here.

[Skippy1]

Originally Posted by adrianb

Skippy1, have you lived in the DR? These units are common here and I've never heard of a problem in 6 years. HB has lived here 40 years and recommends them.

No I have not lived here long 7 months to be exact...however I have lived in the Caribbean for almost 15 years on and off. I also do have some experience and a good reference for local issues as my wife is Dominican and has lived here all her life except for a few years with me in the Uk and two years in the US.

I am also workng here as a Consultant Engineer trying to develop some initiatives via the Spanish Government on improving the standards of Construction and Installation as part of a work study report commisioned last year.

Advise is all I give you and the 40 year bit carries no cred with me.....
If you seach the internet you will find as many reports as you can read on deaths from electricution from all over the world.
You do not have a monopoly on common sense just because you live in one place for a long time....get out more and see for youself the risks people here take with their lives and those of others.....then tell me that there is no need for good advice.
Maybe you are one of those who thinks overtaking on a blind bend is ok as long as you have the indicator on....?

[adrianb]

Hillbilly, unfortunately you have no credibility with Skippy1. :-)

Skippy1: if there there are many deaths from electrocution from these electric showers, could you please point us to some links with evidence.

[Skippy1]

Originally Posted by adrianb

Hillbilly, unfortunately you have no credibility with Skippy1. :-)

Skippy1: if there there are many deaths from electrocution from these electric showers, could you please point us to some links with evidence.

The point is not if I can or even if I would..... you are not trolling by any chance?, the point is the risk is greater here due to the substandard installations in a lot of the homes. Sure you can have a personal experience of something that would give you a right to an opinion. However its a bit like someone who has smoked 30 a day for 40 years saying "well smokng never did me any harm" and then recommending it to his friends son.

The risks are real even in the face of your experience.

In The US and all of Europe it is required to submit to standards of installation for very good reason..look at any modern installation and you will find devices like residual current trips and Earth leakage breakers......all because they protect from this risk to life and limb. Maybe you think the whole of the Western world is lagging behind in quality reasoning and ignoring the eveidence...such as your friends experience.

I do not know why I should set aside my 12 years of University education and 36 years of in the field experience just because your friend says "I have had one for 40 years"......

I always wear a seat belt when I drive but as I have never had an accident where it has been the reason for my continued existence I may want to tell others its not needed but common sense would suggest my precautions are sensible.

I would be more inclined to debate this with if you want, If you could give me a reason why you feel the way you do not accept my advice... other than "my pal says its ok".

Do you have any qualifications in this field or are you just an enthusiastic amateur?

Skippy1

[Lambada]

We've had the electric shower head system and..........we're still here . Also had an electric calentadora but we switched to solar for the hot water only and are very happy with it. It halved the electricity bill & we always have hot water (minus a few days when it rained five days non-stop).

Adrianb, I think it best to ignore Skippy's remark about HB. He's very new & despite his 36 years experience in electrical engineering he managed to get himself in this position
Edesur supply or not supply
so............he's still at the stage of needing to adjust his undoubted theoretical & practical experience to the realities of life in the DR. And that adjustment is quite subtle and only comes with time. I guess that's where the 40 years experience comes in handy, eh?
And Skippy, go easy on criticising one of the most respected members of DR1. These things usually lead to a pointless fight.