How to Build Your Own Solar Hot Water Heater
Do you want a solar hot water heater for your home? It's entirely possible to heat your water with solar power and save money on your energy bill. An added benefit is that you will help clean up the environment by using solar energy instead of polluting fossil fuels. You can even build your own solar hot water heater - if you want.
Build Your Own Solar Water Heater
Interested in building your own solar hot water heater? It is actually not that hard. Although there are many designs and systems for solar water heaters, a few of them are relatively simple. It's the ideal do-it-yourself project, if you are so inclined.
Here is one of the simplest versions of do-it-yourself (DIY) projects for solar water heating. But don't let the term "simple" fool you into thinking that this is not an effective way to reduce your energy bill.
Here is one of the simplest versions of do-it-yourself (DIY) projects for solar water heating. But don't let the term "simple" fool you into thinking that this is not an effective way to reduce your energy bill.
A Solar Hot Water Heater with its Insulation
The basic design of a Batch Solar Water Heater consists simply of a water tank within an insulated box with a glass top.
It is used to preheat water before it enters your conventional water heater, thus cutting down on the amount of conventional energy needed in order to get the water to the required temperature.
But keep in mind, on sunny days a batch solar water heater can eliminate the need for conventional heating entirely.
Even on overcast days a batch solar water heater can reduce the load on your conventional water heater.
It is used to preheat water before it enters your conventional water heater, thus cutting down on the amount of conventional energy needed in order to get the water to the required temperature.
But keep in mind, on sunny days a batch solar water heater can eliminate the need for conventional heating entirely.
Even on overcast days a batch solar water heater can reduce the load on your conventional water heater.
Basic Parts of a Batch Solar Water Heater
The basic design of a Batch Solar Water Heater consists simply of a water tank within an insulated box with a glass top.
It is used to preheat water before it enters your conventional water heater, thus cutting down on the amount of conventional energy needed in order to get the water to the required temperature.
But keep in mind, on sunny days a batch solar water heater can eliminate the need for conventional heating entirely.
Even on overcast days a batch solar water heater can reduce the load on your conventional water heater.
Basic Parts of a Batch Solar Water Heater
Lets define the basic parts you need for your batch solar water heater:
It is used to preheat water before it enters your conventional water heater, thus cutting down on the amount of conventional energy needed in order to get the water to the required temperature.
But keep in mind, on sunny days a batch solar water heater can eliminate the need for conventional heating entirely.
Even on overcast days a batch solar water heater can reduce the load on your conventional water heater.
Basic Parts of a Batch Solar Water Heater
Lets define the basic parts you need for your batch solar water heater:
- A place in the sun - this can be in the yard, garden, up against the wall, etc. It doesn't matter where, as long as it is able to receive sunlight throughout the day.
- You need a solar collector - This is simply an insulated box with a glazed top or front to let in sunlight.
- Water tank - this is placed inside the solar collector to serve as your water heater.
- Some water pipes and fittings - You will need these in order to make the connection between your cold water supply to your conventional heating system.
How to Calculate the Size of Your Batch Solar Water Heater
If you want your solar water heater to work, you will have to calculate your sizes correctly. First of all, we are aiming to get the solar water heater to heat water to about 110°-120°F on a sunny day.
To ensure that you actually get this temperature within a reasonable amount of time you want to take to following into account:
For about every square foot of glazing on the enclosure of your batch solar water heater, you will be able to heat about 1-2 gallons of water.
Long narrow tanks are therefore most effective, as they tend to have a larger surface area, allowing for more glazing and thus more solar heating.
To ensure that you actually get this temperature within a reasonable amount of time you want to take to following into account:
For about every square foot of glazing on the enclosure of your batch solar water heater, you will be able to heat about 1-2 gallons of water.
Long narrow tanks are therefore most effective, as they tend to have a larger surface area, allowing for more glazing and thus more solar heating.
Positioning of a Batch Solar Water Heater
Mounting tanks upright or vertically gives you the best result. This is because of stratification (layering of water with higher temperatures at the top) of the water. Making your water out connection at the top of the tank will always give you the hottest possible water if you have positioned your tank vertically.
A Passive Batch Solar Hot Water Heater
Insulating Your Solar Water Heater
Mounting tanks upright or vertically gives you the best result. This is because of stratification (layering of water with higher temperatures at the top) of the water. Making your water out connection at the top of the tank will always give you the hottest possible water if you have positioned your tank vertically.
Insulating Your Solar Water Heater
One of the major factors that makes your solar heater work is proper insulation. If you do not properly insulate the enclosure of your water tank, you will lose a lot of the efficiency of your solar hot water heater.
But a well-constructed, well-insulated box with double glazing will serve adequately as your solar collector.
Painting the water tank a dull black color will also assist in heating the water.
The most usual position for a batch water heater is on the ground next to the south wall of the house (unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere, in which case you would position it next to the north wall of the house).
Care should be taken to ensure that any pipes leading to and from the batch solar water heater are insulated, in order to avoid frost damage.
Insulating Your Solar Water Heater
One of the major factors that makes your solar heater work is proper insulation. If you do not properly insulate the enclosure of your water tank, you will lose a lot of the efficiency of your solar hot water heater.
But a well-constructed, well-insulated box with double glazing will serve adequately as your solar collector.
Painting the water tank a dull black color will also assist in heating the water.
The most usual position for a batch water heater is on the ground next to the south wall of the house (unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere, in which case you would position it next to the north wall of the house).
Care should be taken to ensure that any pipes leading to and from the batch solar water heater are insulated, in order to avoid frost damage.
Building Your Own Solar Hot Water Heater
There are many ways to build your own solar hot water heater. This video shows one of the methods that can be used.
curated content from YouTube
Do You Have to Build Your Own Solar Hot Water Heater?
Don't Feel Like Building Your Own Solar Water Heater?
An alternative to building your own, is buying your own. There are many established companies that specialize in solar water heating. Solar water heaters are not that expensive, and they will definitely pay for themselves over time, no matter where you live in the United States.
One excellent supplier of solar hot water heaters and other solar panels is Silicon Solar.
An alternative to building your own, is buying your own. There are many established companies that specialize in solar water heating. Solar water heaters are not that expensive, and they will definitely pay for themselves over time, no matter where you live in the United States.
One excellent supplier of solar hot water heaters and other solar panels is Silicon Solar.
Related Sites and Pages
- Silicon Solar
- Silicon Solar is one of the more reliable and established providers of solar power systems, solar panels, solar chargers, and solar hot water heaters. They are specialists in the field of solar power.
- Create Your Own Electricity
- Learn how to create your own electricity at home. Make your own windmill and solar power system.
- Build Your Own Wind and Solar Power System
- Another DIY Handbook which will teach you how to build your own wind and solar power systems for your home.
- Complete DIY Home Electrical Systems
- There are a variety of complete home solar electrical systems which can be installed on a DIY (Do-it-Yourself) Basis.
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- termit_bronx termit_bronx Oct 18, 2009 @ 11:43 am
- Really nice lens with a powerful information! I give you 5 star rating. I agree that people should use solar power at their homes. I also created one lens on solar power, but it's in slovene language -> Ploscati Soncni Kolektorji. We should use natural factors eg. sun more often, because it's for free and there will always be enought power for everyone.
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- starsam starsam Feb 16, 2009 @ 9:11 am
- Your lens would be a great addition to the 'Solar Technology and Solar Energy' Group
( http://www.squidoo.com/groups/solar )
Feel free to add it anytime!
by solarstories
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