First time on new board, test PIC

[bretco]

Hi all, just trying to post a pic of my solar hot H2O panel as a test to learn how to post PICs.

[WetinOR]

Very nice homebrew panel.  Is that copper pipe or PVC?

George

[bretco]

It's PVC, painted flat black, with a celotex backing. Wish it was copper!

[wooferhound]

Looks like 1 1/4inch PVC Pipe, the 90degree fittings for that pipe are a lot like squares and present a lot of resistance to liquids. If you used 1 1/2inch fittings the 90degree fittings are a lot more like circles and will give you a lot less head pressure to the pump. How are you getting any flow through that many tight 90degree corners?

Plus if this was a picture test, you should size your pictures to an internet friendly size of less than 640pixels in any direction.

-

[bretco]

Sorry about the pic size. Hope to climb the learning curve on pic posting enough before the next one.

I actually used a small 110vac "utility" pump and a 5 gallon pail and got about 3 gallons/minute of flow. Basically didn't think a high flow rate would be necessary, but I imagine the elbows do give a lot of flow drag. I just wanted to fabricate a quick and cheap test unit using a sliding glass door (free in the newspaper) as the glazing, 2x6 sides, and a plywood back with insulation. I got approx a 2-3 temp rise across this thing (high noon in Vermont,June), which I think is around 3000 btu's/hr. Just curious what a "baseline" output has been seen on other units. Just starting to really research homebrew collectors, so any advice would be welcome.

 

[Seth]

U know.. sliding galss doors are meant to block heat transfers?

    Better to use that plastic celifane insulation for windows i bet.... the stuff with double sidded tape and u use a hair dryr to make it shrink to a flat/non-rippled surface....

[wooferhound]

I built a smaller pool heater with 80 feet of 1 1/2inch black pipe, The pump I have is 20 gallons a minute and I get a 2 degree rise through the pipe on the hottest days.

you can see it here...

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2003/7/8/19177/93125

Also some of the best information on Pool and water heating that I have ever found is on this page...

http://www.jc-solarhomes.com/how_to.htm

that page has some very good graphics and figures on water dynamics.

[bretco]

Hi,

The insulation I used was Celotex, which is that foil backed styrofoam type of stuff, not the heat shrink plastic film you're thinking of. Hopefully sliding glass door glass does block heat, but not light, which is what I want to hit the pipes. Do you think a single pane of plain glass would work better? I just tried this glass 'cause it was free.

Take care