For a while now ive been wanting to build a solar hot water heater like gary's $1k drainback SHW system. extra funds have really been whats holding me back. i turned to craigslist to try to some used panels, pumps or anything that might help save some cost on the build. after a long search i finally came across something good. well what i think is good.
its a Starpak Solar Systems solar hot water heating system. this company was out of Novi MI from 1975 to the mid 1980's some time. Novi is 20 minutes from my house so i thought that was kinda neat that these were made local. I tried to google them but came back with nothing useful. Anyways the stuff i bought off craigslist came with 2 4x8 panels, 2 pumps(one has the controls on it), 80 gal storage tank, furnace chimney heater, a coil that goes in the cold air return of your furnace, and most important the original instructions. the date on the panels say 1983 that a year older them me
the guy i bought them from said everything works and the only reason they were taken down was that the roof was getting replaced and he didnt want to put them back up. i will post up some pictures shortly along with some more info.