Solar Water Heater
This is a solar water heater I built from scratch. It produces around 30 to 40 gallons of hot water on a sunny day. This system still has warm, never cold, w…
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This is a solar water heater I built from scratch. It produces around 30 to 40 gallons of hot water on a sunny day. This system still has warm, never cold, w…
why would you want to heat hot water? i lol when i hear someone say hot water heater.
texasdjjoker .
April 20, 2013 at 10:25 am
The thermo-syphoning does work through the pipes just like they are, yes. If they went down? I don’t think it would work as well, if at all. Because the heat (from the solar water heater) would have to travel up and the cold water (in the inside tank) go down. Thermo-syphoning will begin, on this system, when the temp inside the solar water heater gets around 120 to 130 deg. F. Thanks for the good question and sorry it took so long to respond. 🙂
SSparks555
April 20, 2013 at 10:41 am
Thanks for the interest. The glass is just plexiglass for now. In the corner was a small solar panel that I forgot to remove before I made the video, it was used for another project. It does use thermo-syphoning, but I discovered it purely by accident. Before I built this project, I didnt knoe what thermo-syphoning was, lol.
SSparks555
April 20, 2013 at 11:08 am
Thanks for sharing.
some questionS: the pane glass, is it heat resistant glass?
0.17, what is it that I see on top of the glass at the corners?
Does your system make use of the heat syphoning process?
Thank you for your time.
Regards from Mexico
321ozzy
April 20, 2013 at 11:18 am
Thank You !!! You show me what you did that is better. Don’t just tell me, SHOW ME !!!
SSparks555
April 20, 2013 at 11:45 am
Does thermo-syphoning work even though the pipes from the external tank to the internal tank are not a straight path upwards? What if they come out from the solar heater, then go down, then parallel to the ground, then up again?
Mike Cabibbo
April 20, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Somebody needs to be, lol.
SSparks555
April 20, 2013 at 1:08 pm
Innovative you ARE! Sahara/Sarah
skseagull
April 20, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Awesome idea, man. I remember on the trail there were afew people using solar showers and we had a solar hot water heater at my old house. Thanks so much for attaching these, still figuring out logistics of first episode. =)
ozjthomas
April 20, 2013 at 2:06 pm
Sounds like a sweet system. I have to deal with the cold climate with mine. Im still trying to figure out the best way to do that. The exchange and plumbing is easy, but the solar heater itself, and having to use a Glycol fluid or antifreeze is my next research problem! I will finish it soon! Thanks for the reply. Joe
toobroke2fight
April 20, 2013 at 2:28 pm
Actually I am in a warm climate, but it is cooler now so I do have the CPVC pipes insulated. And yes, durring the summer I do get more solar hot water than I can use, the tank on the inside will store what I don’t use, in the evening, to be used the next morning, almost 24 hours later. And with the positioning of the tanks I discovered thermo-syphoning, which eliminates the need for any additional pumps. Glad you liked the video.
SSparks555
April 20, 2013 at 2:33 pm
You must be in a warm climate since you have a large hole that is not insulated where the pipes come into your house. I might look into putting some Black foam insulation on the CPVC pipes going from the solar heater to the electric heater. It looks like you get more heat from the solar heater than you even use. That is the way I would want it! Im working on a mobile solar heater for my camper. Its been slow going, but ill have more time soon!
Good Video….thnx
toobroke2fight
April 20, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Sorry; I knew that, should have differentiated
also considered (higher temp rated) pex. House is plumbed in copper. Planning a phase 2… Super insulating existing water heater to reduce standby loss.
Carlstens
April 20, 2013 at 3:18 pm
Inside the box, all of the pipe is that threaded metal pipe. Outside the box, is all CPVC pipe. CPVC is tan colored and designed to handle the heat. PVC pipe is white and you don’t want to use it, it really is not for hot water. The highest temp I have ever gotten is 170 deg. But it has averaged 140 deg. on a good day.
SSparks555
April 20, 2013 at 4:06 pm
I’ve had my scrap water heater stripped clean, and sitting in the garage for about a month now! Hope to get the “bread box” built this fall. Two questions. Do You think You will have problems with the pvc pipe degrading in the excessive heat over time? Been considering, copper is so expensive now. Other question, What kinds of water temps are You getting?
Carlstens
April 20, 2013 at 5:03 pm