DIY Solar Thermal Project for Worm Farm

This is a DIY (do it yourself) solar thermal panel that made hot water for a farm. I built all components with my friend using all parts from Lowes/Home Depot/local hardware stores. Each challenge was to make the solar thermal panels under 0, which we successfully did for each panel. All components can be bought from stores, nothing was special order or special parts. After hooking up the system for the summer of 2011, the system performed very well and actually produced 170 degree F water. The hot water was kept in a Rubbermaid bucket, but the plastic was so cheap that the hot water from the panel melted the Rubbermaid bucket you see in the one of the pictures. I created a thermosiphon, which means that I did not use any electric pumps to move the hot water. The flow rate is about 1 gallon per minute to 1.5 gallons per minute (GPM) when measured inside of the hot water tubing. There are no tubes inside the barrel. I used hose connectors through the side of the barrel with silicone glue. They are like garden hose valves/connectors that you can find in Lowes/Home Depot. I am using CPVC because garden hose and regular PVC melt at the high temperatures. I was getting 190 degree F temperatures in February with this configuration. Below 55 F, the unit is still producing hot water at 150 F or higher. Also, I would recommend that you have a drainback system for during the day so that if you are using straight water it does not freeze or burst your piping. If you are trying …