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[dukethebeagle]

has anyone one ever built or purchased say over 48 inches.
how much quicker is heating dhw with long siderms.
just fishin for info

[mlappin]

You might have to raise your water heater then wit cement blocks or patio blocks to keep the top of the sidearm below the top of the water heater.

Zsupply offers a “twisted” inner tube side arm that with the added surface area should have the same effect as a longer sidearm.

On page ten of their web catalog:

http://z-supply.com/catalog.html

[Uponthehill]

Last year I got enough 2" & 1 1/2" copper to make a sidearm but have been told that a 20 plate would heat all the water I need. Mount directly on top of DWH and the temp would reach 130 in my water heater. Does anyone have a similar setup and how do you like it ? 

[thompsbren]

I preheat the water entering my electric water tank using a 20 plate. It will provide endless hot water, as long as you use it. I leave the electric element on to maintain temperature when we aren't using very much. I was told that a sidearm wouldn't give the same capacity, but it would maintain temperature when not drawing hot water.

[mlappin]

I preheat the water entering my electric water tank using a 20 plate. It will provide endless hot water, as long as you use it. I leave the electric element on to maintain temperature when we aren't using very much. I was told that a sidearm wouldn't give the same capacity, but it would maintain temperature when not drawing hot water.

Very true, it will percolate like an old coffee pot until the water in the tank is the same temp as the water coming  in from the boiler. A little advantage to the sidearm is it doesn’t place near the load on your boiler when it is heating water since it takes longer.

I already have a sidearm, but was thinking of hybrid someday. Keep the sidearm but add a 20 plate after the water heater if the sidearm can’t keep up, even if it can’t keep up, might take some of the chill off the well water before it hits the flat plate.

[dukethebeagle]

the reason is that i raised my hot water tank and the top is seven foot from the floor.
i had to buy a minimum 6 foot of 2 inch and 1 1/2 to make the exchanger.
so i thought instead of chopping it off at 4 foot i would just make it as long as the piping i have
figured 66 inch outer 72 inner.
   is it worth it
         also thanks wiilie for the message

[Marktk]

I home built my side arm. Using 1 1/2 and 3/4  I have never ran out of hot water, I do use a recirculation pump also

[96coal449]

From what I understand a FPHE will heat the water coming in from the street to the DW tank. A sidearm will maintain temp in the HW tank while not in use by thermo siphoning. Like described above, it "perculates"

[dukethebeagle]

just an update.been running the sidearm for about 2 weeks.
the thing heats like heck.66 inches long.wrapped 10 gauge copper on the inside tube
to give the same swirling effect as the rolled sidearms.
heats a tank to 180 in maybe 2-3 hours.thats from cold water from the well
how do yours compare just for info sakes

[juddspaintballs]

I have my heating elements still turned on with my water heater, so I really don't know.  I'm sure yours heats faster than the normal since it's so large and has the copper wire to turbulate the boiler water.  Did you stick the wire to the inner pipe with solder every so often or just made sure you had it wrapped on tight?

[dukethebeagle]

just wrapped it tight

[Jared43758]

I have a 36 inch long side arm 1 1/2 x 3/4 inside. I don't use a circulator pump! And I've never come close to running out of hot water. Two baths and two loads of laundry and dish washer and I can take a shower right after and still have hot hot water. I see no reason in the world to spend 4x the money and get a plate myself.

[mlappin]

I have a 36 inch long side arm 1 1/2 x 3/4 inside. I don't use a circulator pump! And I've never come close to running out of hot water. Two baths and two loads of laundry and dish washer and I can take a shower right after and still have hot hot water. I see no reason in the world to spend 4x the money and get a plate myself.

Oh you can use it all up, start out by taking those crappy low flow shower heads and drill the orifice out, then both our washing machines are just border line of being commercial models, very large loads, then hook your hot water up to an outdoor hydrant so you can power wash a semi and hopper bottom with hot water and you’ll run out.

[dukethebeagle]

woooo!that sounds overboard

[Jared43758]

Well I don't have a low- flow shower there bud. I have 91 psi water pressure my shower works pretty good. And I wash all my semis and rocket ships with cold water