Solar Hot Water Update (winter problem)
Just an winter update with an idea for the solar water heater.
25 Responses to Solar Hot Water Update (winter problem)
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Just an winter update with an idea for the solar water heater.
I guess I thought the water would only circulate at a certain temp? Guess I
thought wrong, lol.
yllekr123
November 18, 2013 at 9:47 am
yep i been looking into one of those controllers on ebay.. might just go
that route… ..i still want to build a setup with the thermal switch for
curiosity sake..lol, but i really think im going to invest in a controller.
we shall see.
nx2overide
November 18, 2013 at 10:35 am
no actually you are correct.. but… the flow of the water would be slow..
the pump movies and heats a lot more water.
nx2overide
November 18, 2013 at 11:29 am
I left out the most important part! Solar hot water covers our needs 100%
from about April to the end of October. We shut off the electric breaker to
the hot water heater. When the sun is out, it’s like a owning a printing
press that prints legal money. Solar hot water should be required for all
new single family homes, and when wrapped into a mortgage, they are cheaper
than a standard electric hot water heater, the savings in electricity will
more than cover the increase in a mortgage.
davidkllr1629
November 18, 2013 at 11:58 am
Thanks Rich..ill have to get another one.. i can always use the 80 degree
one in a solar heater box… thanks for the tip
nx2overide
November 18, 2013 at 12:43 pm
yes, the system does have its bugs..when i redesign the system i’m going to
use the heliatos plumbing on the tank but I’m going to get 1 panel the size
of these 3 to reduce all the plumbing involved between the panels.
nx2overide
November 18, 2013 at 1:21 pm
yep.. im going to look around.. see if i can find one before i buy another
one haha
nx2overide
November 18, 2013 at 1:45 pm
on this set up.. you don’t need batteries for your pump.. it can actually
run fine off one 10 watt panel.. but im running it right off my 12 volt
grid.
nx2overide
November 18, 2013 at 1:58 pm
Thermal switch like in the drier for the laundry machine I never open one
but they should have some thermal sensors ,maybe you can find from a broken
one for free.good show.
liviuonly
November 18, 2013 at 2:53 pm
The systems we install here use 2 thermo sensor and a pump controller. One
thermo sensor on the panels and the other one on the hot water tank hot
line. The controller measures the difference between the 2 sensors and if
the panels are hotter than the tank, it starts the pump. Otherwise the pump
won’t run and cool down the tank water. Its a simple, easy addition to the
systems and the manufacture should be able to supply at an reasonable cost.
NormsGreenHome
November 18, 2013 at 3:46 pm
What temps do you see at night ? Are you close to freezing ?
Solar4Rich
November 18, 2013 at 3:58 pm
yep.. I started with PV.. replaced a lot of my big appliances. the fridge
was the 1st to go and insulated the home. now I’m on the hot-water… cant
beat solar projects to drop those bills a little.
nx2overide
November 18, 2013 at 4:11 pm
80 degrees seems a little low. Maybe a 110 / 90 snapswitch. I just
recommended the same thing to a friend on the simply solar forum that lives
in southeast NC. Good luck and keep us posted. Rich
Solar4Rich
November 18, 2013 at 4:38 pm
they could use a bit more of an angle but the sun actually is directly
over head all day comes up on the left goes down on the right lol.. ..I
want to move them eventually but the project is on hold at the moment.
kinda ran into that money thing..and the lady of the house needs other
things done first… but we know how that goes lol
nx2overide
November 18, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Hey, Build up a flat surface on your hot water delivery pipe and install a
snap disc switch like you showed directly on that. No separate box
required. Choose a switch that opens below, say, 110 degrees or so, so it
won’t allow the pump to run unless the water’s warm. Another idea if you
can make it happen: wire the electric panels to drive a low-voltage element
in the water tank, and that gets a switch that won’t turn on unless water
in the panels is BELOW 105. Good luck with it.
elhigh
November 18, 2013 at 5:18 pm
yep its not that complicated really.. just take a little research..
nx2overide
November 18, 2013 at 5:26 pm
Is solar energy something that’s relatively easy to pick up? I want to try
something like this one day.
BloodyPaperclip
November 18, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Good job, we need to talk business. PM me 😉
Uraffyouruse
November 18, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Good job my friend.
liviuonly
November 18, 2013 at 5:56 pm
Solar hot water and cheap GTI. You are awesome! I find myself taking
shorter showers in the winter, and we placed a timer on our solar –
electric hot water heater to shut it down most of the day. We have a time
of use meter, so peak shifting – peak shaving are of interest to us. Solar
domestic hot water was one of our first green projects, and it has quicker
payback compaired to PV.
davidkllr1629
November 18, 2013 at 6:39 pm
well yes you do have a point rate hikes suck and yes actually after
thinking about that.. um id rather fly under the radar.. 10 cops for 1200
people.. that’s ridiculous? you have allot of crime?
nx2overide
November 18, 2013 at 6:52 pm
Nice set-up, how many batteries do you have to run your pump?
NWIPrepper19113
November 18, 2013 at 7:51 pm
No, no, no, we don’t need anything REQUIRED, we got enough of that, let the
dummies that want to pay oil and gas companies keep on paying them. When
PEOPLE USE LESS ELECTRICITY, THE RATES WILL GO UP! Supply and demand you
know! So Mum’s the word!!!! My little town pays 10 cops salaries off of
electric bills, if usage drops 50%, the rates will go up 100% to pay these
clowns! We only need 2 cops in our 1200 peeple town. Sorry if your a cop!
KEEP ON SOLARING!!!!
ELLEON1959
November 18, 2013 at 8:35 pm
Thanks for the tips!!
nx2overide
November 18, 2013 at 8:43 pm
right on.. and yes that’s a waste of man hours and tax money.. seems like
that’s everywhere though. Yep I play drums for a metal band.. I also play
guitar and bass.. a little vocals.. been playing music since I was 11. 😉
nx2overide
November 18, 2013 at 8:58 pm