DIY Solar Thermal Project for under $100

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NOTE: This was built in 2006 with minimum components and searching around the for the best deals at the time. The copper was the most expensive component wit…

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21 Responses to DIY Solar Thermal Project for under $100

  1. We did this as a kids project with PVC. I don’t recommend pvc for serious residential hot water use but hub loves the kids heater for washing his greasy hands in a barn far from any heating sources.

    JABBERWACKIN
    May 22, 2013 at 10:10 pm
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  2. good

    32700609
    May 22, 2013 at 10:15 pm
    Reply

  3. Scroll all the way down in these messages and read up from the bottom. The question has been asked and answered a couple of times. I also did a video that discusses all the costs… it’s at: ABOUTSOLARCELLS.COMXA.COM

    stafhon jeseon
    May 22, 2013 at 11:06 pm
    Reply

  4. which system is most effective to use on an active water solar system – serpentine pipe layout or a vertical psv layout, can you explain why.

    HILTON LEE
    May 22, 2013 at 11:20 pm
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  5. Looks great. We want to see a non glazed version of this done on the entire are of a south facing dark colored metal roof and incorporated into a Thermal Battery System. The low temp but high volume of BTU’s would be a perfectly applied to a system that includes a very large thermal storage “battery” and heat pumps. Thanks for sharing.

    James Schenck
    May 23, 2013 at 12:15 am
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  6. Great job! How did you make the thermosiphon?

    ccampana73
    May 23, 2013 at 12:43 am
    Reply

  7. PVC will actually melt around 120 degrees F to 150 degrees F. So PVC is NOT a good substitute for copper. NEVER use PVC for solar thermal applications as temperatures will reach 200 degrees F and melt any PVC out there.

    Eric Layton
    May 23, 2013 at 1:35 am
    Reply

  8. Can you just use black PVC pipes instead?
    /

    Jed118
    May 23, 2013 at 2:15 am
    Reply

  9. good job
    thank u

    ibraheeem1187
    May 23, 2013 at 2:40 am
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  10. Thanks!

    Eric Layton
    May 23, 2013 at 3:14 am
    Reply

  11. great job!

    wayne shipman
    May 23, 2013 at 3:37 am
    Reply

  12. that’s about $300 to $400 in stuff now

    MrCinimod93 .
    May 23, 2013 at 4:03 am
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  13. nope. under $100

    Eric Layton
    May 23, 2013 at 4:18 am
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  14. lol it was under $100

    Eric Layton
    May 23, 2013 at 4:42 am
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  15. Lowes, and this was over 2 years ago.

    Eric Layton
    May 23, 2013 at 5:26 am
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  16. actually it was under $100. No one believes us but this was my final senior project at University of Florida. I had to show all of the receipts in my presentation. If you don’t count labor (none of us was paid) the materials were all less than $100.

    Eric Layton
    May 23, 2013 at 6:17 am
    Reply

  17. No way you did that for $100!!! But a nice job…..

    The1982z28
    May 23, 2013 at 6:43 am
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  18. Where are you buying your copper??? $100 lol… 

    Gyva02
    May 23, 2013 at 7:09 am
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  19. No way did you do that for under 100 unless you stole everything from a job you were on

    kajjohnson
    May 23, 2013 at 8:00 am
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  20. $100 =- no!
    More like $200

    automaticoutlaw
    May 23, 2013 at 8:11 am
    Reply

  21. excellent video

    SpaceBobDerby
    May 23, 2013 at 8:40 am
    Reply

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