The current fireplace is just a small Masport Minos2, tiny you could call it.
The wetback you can get for it is 1.5kW apparently, but looks to be the most simple of loops.
We were going to custom make the wetpack ourselves by braising some copper tubing parts and fitting them to the default position on the fireplace.
I might contact that company, but most likely we will end up just making it ourselves. Dad has done a lot of plumbing in his time, so we should be able to sort something out.
Yes the fire is tiny and totally undersized for what we want to do, however we plan to just start with 1 radiator and see how it fairs up, and then next year most likely supplement it with a boiler, or replace it entirely that way, and just use the fire for the lounge itself.
Still a lot to decide, but taking it step by step, and planning it out so we dont waste anything or much at all, so if we upgrade it can be ported over without much effort. Might get a bigger fire place, or get one of that companies hot water burners (if they suit the area we live) and dedicate a bunch to hot water, and a small amount to local heat.
Doing more and more research today, we decided the wetback is going to syphon heat a 25L hot water cylinder in the roof space above it, and have that vent out to the roof like normal as the safety. Going to cut open the copper cylinder and install a coil of copper tubing as a heat exchanger, and this is what will feed the radiator system. No risk of bursts of hot water coming through the system and it will be an even temperature output. We will then close it all back up again, and the hot water cylinder will then be an insulated tank, purely to transfer the heat from one closed system to the other, with heat minimal loss. Have a small ball cock on that to make up any lost water in the system if that ever happens. The radiator system will then feed off the heat from the heat transfer system, and be pumped around the radiators with the inline hot water pump. Still have the in line expansion tank to take up the expansion of water when you heat it etc, but it shouldnt need a safety valve since the water will never be able to boil due to not being directly connected to the fire place.
Still got more planning to do, such as the diameter of tubing used for the wetback, and up to feed the hot water cylinder, and then the diameter of the tube for the heat exchanger. Since there is only going to be 1 radiator to start with, maybe 2, it should hopefully cope ok. I dont think the output will be huge, but it will deffinitely be better than nothing. We shall see anyway. then when we upgrade to a boiler, it will just be retrofitted to either be both, or just the boiler.
The little hot water cylinder has a 2Kw element in it, so if we need to boost the system to help it get started, we can - but I wouldn't imagine it would be too efficient, but again we shall see.
All in the name of experimenting.
Got most parts I need, minus the plastic tubing and insulation to run to the radiators (if anyone knows a good supplier that sells this for a good price, please do tell. Most likely looking for 10mm tubing), and then the copper tubing to make the heat exchanger, wetback etc.
Got the hot water cylinder, which has a thermostat and element obviously.
Got the pump
Got the radiators
So far, the spend is <$600 delivered.
More replies welcome, always happy to get more input to sway the course of events.
Regards
WanaGo