Tankless system using 100# propane bottle?
- Thread starter konasean
- Start date
Abel Zyl Zimmerman
Owner of Zyl Vardos
I run a small Bosch on 20lb LP tanks. It is rated at 75,000 btu. I am using 3/8" black steel for the gas supply. Everything works fine and has been flawless for 2 years.
If you sized appropriately (regulator and gas supply piping) for your btu, you should be fine.
If you sized appropriately (regulator and gas supply piping) for your btu, you should be fine.
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Larcal
New Member
Konasean--it depends on how cold it is around your tank, and how many btu's you are drawing. The smaller the tank(i.e the less gas you have) the warmer it has to be to emit the high btu's of a tankless heater. Even a 5 gallon tank may emit enough btu's to work in cold temps but you'll only be able to use part of the tank before it freezes up. http://www.wardburner.com/tankfreeze.html
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Larcal
New Member
Hi Abel,--Could you tell me at how low a temperature you have been able to totally empty those 5 gallon tanks at your max of 75k btu's? I assume you mean just one tank at a time is being consumed, that you are not linking them together. Thinking about a similiar rugged setup. Thanks
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DonL
Jack of all trades Master of one
199,000btu would not last very long on a small bottle like that.
You should get a real tank, or use NG.
Larcal
New Member
25 gallons (i.e, 100 lb tank) is 2,300,000 btu's. A good ballpark is 100k/hour to heat water for a shower. If take 10 minute showers thats 16,600 btu per shower or 138 showers per tank. Many people have transport issues. Go without a hot shower for a few years and you might think that tank is real enough.
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DonL
Jack of all trades Master of one
25 gallons is 2,300,000 btu's. A good ballpark is 100k/hour to heat water for a shower. If take 10 minute showers thats 16,600 btu per shower or 138 showers per tank. Many people have transport issues. Go without a shower for a few years and you might think that tank is real enough.
True that.
You could only shop at Wal-Mart if you go without a shower for a few years.
Then you would be happy to exchange a 5 Gallon tank at WM for $20.00 or so.
I would take a cold shower than none at all.
Years ago people washed in the rivers and creeks and had the sun to warm them.
I have the 3.8 gallon Rinnai >>outdoor<< unit running from a 215 gallon LP tank using a high-pressure system. I have 10psi to the house through 3/4 inch underground plastic gas pipe, and then 1/2 inch black iron inside the cabin and through the wall to the unit. Pressure regulator is at the unit. Absolutely no problems with condensation on the pipe, or of getting enough BTUs to the unit even in the coldest weather. There's no reason you can't use a portable tank.
Zl700
DIY Senior Member
I see you live in Hawaii. Evaporation of the liquid is the concern in the tank to deliver BTU's. Given its warm there Heres some figures,
Good at 35 degrees, 10% fill
Good at 25 degrees 20% fill
Good at 20 degrees 30% fill
I'm sure it will work fine
Good at 35 degrees, 10% fill
Good at 25 degrees 20% fill
Good at 20 degrees 30% fill
I'm sure it will work fine
Larcal
New Member
Surely "215 gallon" is a typo. Of course such a large size wouldn't freeze up. Could you clarify please?
