Solar hot water

[halfcrazy]

here are some pics of our latest experiment

We used exterior rated plywood and made a 2 by 4 frame for it

then we used 2 inch insulation the kind with foil on both sides and we will put 1 inch of it on the sides also

this is the copper manifold that will go in it it is 3/4 copper for the headers and 1/2 copper for the lines we went 4 inches on center as that was the width of the plates we found

This is the box with the manifold in it notice we covered the foam with a layer of shiny foil. not shure if there is any help from that or not but looks good.

this shot shows the collector with the fins added and ready for paint we found the radiant track for 1/2 pex it snaps on the copper real tite seems like the best way to go.

here it is coated with 2 coats of gas grill paint flat black

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we used the metal break to make aluminum coil trim to cover the exposed wood

here it is with a sheet of tempered glass and the hold downs we took pine and rabitted it out to fit over the glass we also cover the pine with coil stock just didnt get a pic

These show the first four on the roof notice on the first four we didnt use the aluminum plates we just fastened the manifolds down onto the foil and painted everything i hope to see a good boost from the new method? any thoughts or ideas you would change ideas are welcome. the four we have going make enough hot water for to good long showers and dishes for us as long as it is a sunny day here in maine but my goal is to get some heat for the radiant floor to

[zap]

Very nice work halfcrazy! Looks like you're harvesting quite a bit of the sun.

Do you have any kind of performance and cost figures?

[Shadow]

Very nice! That just what I had planned in my head.I just wonder why you need 4 inch spacings?I had planned on about 2 inch spacings and someone suggested the glass should come very close to touching the copper pipes, to avoid heating as much air as possible. Is this how yours are?. But I really like how professional yours all look.What do you figure for a cost of each Panel?.. Great Post!

[halfcrazy]

well i scrounged the glass for free out of sliding glass doors each door has 4 peices. so with the coil stock and everything we have around $160 dollars with the aluminum fins. we added the fins as every one ive seen has a absorber plate and this is such a easy one just find a plumbing house. as for performence the 4 you see in pics havent got the plates and on a clear sunny day the 45 gallon hot water tank will go from 85 to 130 i am in hopes that with the plates on the new ones that i almost double my output who knows?

[harrie]

very neat job, the only thing I could suggest is reflection panels on the sides and top to catch the morning and afternoon rays a little better, that is if your panels are faceing due south. In maine, like Minn., we need to take advantage of sun when we get it! Harrie

[Fiddlehead44]

Very nice! I am interestes in a simular project. Questions;

    Is that a tool leaning up against your roof for snow removal.

    What about freezing? Or do you use only after winter.

    Do you use a pump with a slow flow rate?

well done........Fiddlehead44

[halfcrazy]

yes that is a roof rake for snow removal from electric panels. i used a standard grundfos circulator pump has 3 speeds but it is on high. they are full of glycol as well as floor and wood boiler so freezing isnt a issue

UPDATE: got the two new panels with the aluminuim fins up sunday am the plates make a big difference it has doubled the output so the 2 new panels are equal to the 4 older ones it is 12:20 and my dhw tank is at 140 started the day at around 80

[Frank06]

Good job - can you post a pic of the new equipment?  How are you controlling the Grundfoss pump?

Frank

[bsafe]

What are the outer dimensions of the 2x4 enclosure? Or how long are your manifold pipes and 1/2 runners? Thank you. I will be attempting something similar using "3oz." copper flashing as the heat gathering fin. The flashing is sold at Lowes and has a black adhesive on the back. I am debating whether I should put the adhesive on the copper runner or towards the sun. I am going to Menards tomorrow to compare the thickness of the pex fin to my flashing.