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[concordprof]

I am wondering what everyone prefers and what the pros/cons for each are.

Sidearm vs Plate for DHW

[CountryBoyJohn]

My basic stance is this.  Normal to high usage, use a plate exchanger plumbed before your water heater.  For low use and intermittent usage, use a sidearm.  If you have a mixture of high usage, low usage, and intermittent usage, then use both.

[racnruss]

I agree with John. 

[concordprof]

I spoke with the local cb dealer this eve. He quoted me $400 for the 20 plate exchanger and fittings. It seems a little high to me. Is there anywhere online where I can purchase it a little cheaper?

[mlappin]

I spoke with the local cb dealer this eve. He quoted me $400 for the 20 plate exchanger and fittings. It seems a little high to me. Is there anywhere online where I can purchase it a little cheaper?

Ebay or Amazon.

[concordprof]

Does anyone know what fittings(size/type) that I would need to tie into 1" pex?

[slimjim]

Sheet, for that kind of money buy the 50 plates that Coolidge has on here for sale!

[mlappin]

Anybody have any experience with this type of sidearm?

http://www.outdoorfurnacesupply.com/she-33ss.html?CAWELAID=520011210000000070&CAGPSPN=pla&catargetid=520011210000000001&cadevice=c&gclid=Cj0KEQjwvLGfBRDfkrr19KDS-7YBEiQA8CoFJyqZ2RUx4I8U1rDDg_aYiEvmZrrgQRpBitIzRVT53XEaAg0U8P8HAQ

Also seen on another site they claimed their small pool heat exchanger could be used in place of a plate HX for domestic hot water. A little more spendy than some of the 20 plates I've seen, but shouldn't require cleaning.

[slimjim]

Looks like it will certainly transfer some serious heat, what fitting sizes does it have?

[LittleJohn]

One advantage I see is that with a sidearm you could only have to put a pump on the one side; where as with a FPHX you have to have 2 pumps for either side of the exchanger

[CountryBoyJohn]

I spoke with the local cb dealer this eve. He quoted me $400 for the 20 plate exchanger and fittings. It seems a little high to me. Is there anywhere online where I can purchase it a little cheaper?

That's a bit steep!!  Man those CB guys like their $$$!!

[mlappin]

Looks like it will certainly transfer some serious heat, what fitting sizes does it have?

One inch in for the boiler and 3/4" for the DHW.

Also available in a 38" long model. I'm thinking about giving it a try. On my original install seems our local dealer didn't know anymore about it than I did. Never mentioned anything about cross flow or keeping the top of the sidearm as close as possible to the top of the water heater. Of course water heater was new at the time and the way the forced vent was set up there was very little I could do then to keep from voiding the warranty. Warranty is long gone and I can lower the whole thing six inches now.

[Sloppy_Snood]

That's a bit steep!!  Man those CB guys like their $$$!!

If you saw that super nice CB catalog I picked up at Classic Comfort couple months ago,,, it is easy to see where a nice chunk of their margin goes:  advertising and sales materials.  Not bashing CB at all mind you... it seems to work for them. 

To CB's defense, it sure does make it easy to simply pick parts for whatever one is trying to achieve.  People will, do, and continue to pay for "easier."

[concordprof]

Are thermostatic mixing valves a must?

[CountryBoyJohn]

I don't have one on my plate.  I tested my temps and they topped out at 139.   I've determined that's as hot as my 20 plate will get the water.  A side arm, if left along long enough, will approach the same temperature as your stove.  I do have plans to add a mixing valve in the future when my kids start taking showers on their own.