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I was wondering if anyone knows of good plans for these? I see them all over the place and don't mind buying them but I'm afraid I will waste my money on a useless set of plans. Obviously if someone knows where there are free plans that would be the best.
Also im interested in input regarding building your own or buying them.
Regards.
Tom
"Drums" wrote in message
I was wondering if anyone knows of good plans for these? I see them all over the place and don't mind buying them but I'm afraid I will waste my money on a useless set of plans. Obviously if someone knows where there are free plans that would be the best.
Also im interested in input regarding building your own or buying them.
Regards.
Tom
What type of solar panels do you want?
I have built hot water collectors and I have paid for them. The store bought have always out done my home made ones.
As for building PV, I can not speak on that subject.
Drums wrote:
I was wondering if anyone knows of good plans for these? I see them all over the place and don't mind buying them but I'm afraid I will waste my money on a useless set of plans. Obviously if someone knows where there are free plans that would be the best.
Also im interested in input regarding building your own or buying them. ....
Solar air heaters are fairly simple to build out of common materials so building them vs. buying seems quite reasonable. Plans are available for free and there are a lot of examples on the net showing people who have built their own.
Solar water heaters are a bit harder, though still possible. If you're not handy with tools and plumbing then you might do better just buying them.
Solar PV (electric) cells are nearly impossible for a homeowner to make themselves. You can buy a bunch of cells and assemble them into a panel yourself but it'll cost almost as much as buying a panel and it's unlikely you'll match their quality.
Anthony
Sorry I meant solar hot water system. Will be used for hot water and heat. I plan on having 4 or 5 panels and 1000 gallon storage.
"SQLit" wrote in message
"Drums" wrote in message I was wondering if anyone knows of good plans for these? I see them all over the place and don't mind buying them but I'm afraid I will waste my money on a useless set of plans. Obviously if someone knows where there are free plans that would be the best.
Also im interested in input regarding building your own or buying them.
Regards.
Tom
What type of solar panels do you want?
I have built hot water collectors and I have paid for them. The store bought have always out done my home made ones.
As for building PV, I can not speak on that subject.
"Drums" wrote in message
Sorry I meant solar hot water system. Will be used for hot water and heat. I plan on having 4 or 5 panels and 1000 gallon storage.
washing and heat in the same tank, not a good plan my friend. Most systems I have seen installed keep heating and washing seperate. Washing water is potable/drinking and heating water is generally mixed with chemicals to prevent the water from eating away at the piping system.
I had one 4x10 collector facing southwestish. Mine was mounted so it had the roof pitch. Close but not optimal. I had a Lockinvar 80 gallon water heater. Summer time, the water was "toasty" almost dangerous. Winter time I really needed another panel. The electric back up ran more than I liked. My Grunfos pump was good for about 10 gallons an minute and 20 feet of head. I live in Phoenix, and there was only 2 adults in the home.
You can heat a little water a lot, or a lot of water a little. Not much in between.
You do not mention what latitude your at so just guessing the 5 panels and 1000 gallons aint gonna happen. Unless you want to raise the water a degree or two.
"SQLit" wrote in message
---------snipped==================
The system I plan on building will be a closed one. The heat exchanger will help boost incoming water temp and the stored water will be used for baseboard heat and to boost incoming water witch is 55F, not terribly cold. You're correct In that I would need allot more panels. I have 4 200 gallon tanks, so I will likely start with 4 panels with a 200 gallon and see how that works. FYI this system will be PC controlled only because I have the software and hardware. I will be using Labview to do this. I know there will be some loss with the heat exchanger but I have decided I want a closed system. I live in the northeast. The object is invest a minimal amount so that's why I was trying to see if it's cheaper to build the panels of just buy them. I have almost all the valves, pumps, thermocouples and other parts. Point taken on raising a little water lot, and lot of water a little. I'm assuming with enough panels however I could raise a lot of water to a pretty high temp if insulated well enough. That is the main reason I am after a cheap way to build them. I have room for 8 of them easy if not more. To buy 5 new panels would cost over 2k.
"SQLit" wrote in message
"Drums" wrote in message Sorry I meant solar hot water system. Will be used for hot water and heat. I plan on having 4 or 5 panels and 1000 gallon storage.
washing and heat in the same tank, not a good plan my friend. Most systems I have seen installed keep heating and washing seperate. Washing water is potable/drinking and heating water is generally mixed with chemicals to prevent the water from eating away at the piping system.
I had one 4x10 collector facing southwestish. Mine was mounted so it had the roof pitch. Close but not optimal. I had a Lockinvar 80 gallon water heater. Summer time, the water was "toasty" almost dangerous. Winter time I really needed another panel. The electric back up ran more than I liked. My Grunfos pump was good for about 10 gallons an minute and 20 feet of head. I live in Phoenix, and there was only 2 adults in the home.
You can heat a little water a lot, or a lot of water a little. Not much in between.
You do not mention what latitude your at so just guessing the 5 panels and 1000 gallons aint gonna happen. Unless you want to raise the water a degree or two.
"SQLit" wrote in message
---------snipped==================
Mike Pelletier has an interesting idea:
What about a single polycarbonate panel over black painted aluminum roofing that is tilted so the high end is 6" further to the south away from the house wall than the bottom. Trickle water down the backside (out of the sun) of the roofing. Protect the house wall with roofing paper and/or polyethylene and seal the panel so the polycarbonate doesn't get moisture.
IIRC, ABC sells thin dark green galvalume barn roofing for 30 cents/ft^2.
If it's collecting hot water and the house also needs heat, it could be more efficient with some house air flowing between absorber and glazing: if 225 Btu/h-ft^2 of sun enters that space and it's 20 F outdoors with 120 F water, R1 glazing would lose 100 Btu/h, so we might collect 125 Btu/h. If 2 cfm of house air flows into the bottom at 70 F and out at 120 F and the average temp near the glazing is 95, we might only lose (95-20)/1ft^2/R1 = 75, collecting 150 Btu/h, or more, if the 70 F air stays near the glazing and the 120 F air stays near the absorber.
Nick
wrote in message
Mike Pelletier has an interesting idea:
What about a single polycarbonate panel over black painted aluminum roofing that is tilted so the high end is 6" further to the south away from the house wall than the bottom. Trickle water down the backside (out of the sun) of the roofing. Protect the house wall with roofing paper and/or polyethylene and seal the panel so the polycarbonate doesn't get moisture.
IIRC, ABC sells thin dark green galvalume barn roofing for 30 cents/ft^2.
If it's collecting hot water and the house also needs heat, it could be more efficient with some house air flowing between absorber and glazing: if 225 Btu/h-ft^2 of sun enters that space and it's 20 F outdoors with 120 F water, R1 glazing would lose 100 Btu/h, so we might collect 125 Btu/h. If 2 cfm of house air flows into the bottom at 70 F and out at 120 F and the average temp near the glazing is 95, we might only lose (95-20)/1ft^2/R1 = 75, collecting 150 Btu/h, or more, if the 70 F air stays near the glazing and the 120 F air stays near the absorber.
Nick
I like the idea of air collectors. I have a patio cover that could take air
from the house under the corrugated material and return it on the top facing the sun. Top the material with some multiwall polycarbonate and you have a pretty cheap solar collector for maybe $100 per 4' x 8' section.
"Drums" wrote in message
The system I plan on building will be a closed one. The heat exchanger will help boost incoming water temp and the stored water will be used for baseboard heat and to boost incoming water witch is 55F, not terribly cold. You're correct In that I would need allot more panels. I have 4 200 gallon tanks, so I will likely start with 4 panels with a 200 gallon and see how that works. FYI this system will be PC controlled only because I have the software and hardware. I will be using Labview to do this. I know there will be some loss with the heat exchanger but I have decided I want a closed system. I live in the northeast. The object is invest a minimal amount so that's why I was trying to see if it's cheaper to build the panels of just buy them. I have almost all the valves, pumps, thermocouples and other parts. Point taken on raising a little water lot, and lot of water a little. I'm assuming with enough panels however I could raise a lot of water to a pretty high temp if insulated well enough. That is the main reason I am after a cheap way to build them. I have room for 8 of them easy if not more. To buy 5 new panels would cost over 2k.
--------snipped again========================
Closed? Please re-think that idea. Your water comes from an open system. When ever you use water your injecting fresh oxygenated water. OK for potable.
55 F is cold. I work on a chilled water system that has warmer water coming back than that.
You need to bring that water temp up to ~100F for bathing, and 140F for heating.
Your planning on tracking the solar collectors. Wow what a project. I guess your planning on parabolic collectors. I have never seen water filled flat plates tracked. Gonna need some gearing on that mechanism.
Are you in Arizona? If you are contact TEP in Tucson or APS in Tempe and ask for a tour of their solar facilities. I have never seen the one in Tucson, but the one in Tempe is staggering. These guys will try almost anything to see if it will work.
Good luck an post your progress.
I am planning on tracking the collectors? Don't know where you got that idea although I could do it if I wanted to spend the time. I don't think you understand the nature of this project. This is strictly for supplemental. I want a closed system. I have researched it and thought about it. I already have the heat exchangers. I don't need 140F. 110f would help reduce the heating load on the gas furnace. I plan to run 4 collectors to start with.
"SQLit" wrote in message
"Drums" wrote in message The system I plan on building will be a closed one. The heat exchanger will help boost incoming water temp and the stored water will be used for baseboard heat and to boost incoming water witch is 55F, not terribly cold. You're correct In that I would need allot more panels. I have 4 200 gallon tanks, so I will likely start with 4 panels with a 200 gallon and see how that works. FYI this system will be PC controlled only because I have the software and hardware. I will be using Labview to do this. I know there will be some loss with the heat exchanger but I have decided I want a closed system. I live in the northeast. The object is invest a minimal amount so that's why I was trying to see if it's cheaper to build the panels of just buy them. I have almost all the valves, pumps, thermocouples and other parts. Point taken on raising a little water lot, and lot of water a little. I'm assuming with enough panels however I could raise a lot of water to a pretty high temp if insulated well enough. That is the main reason I am after a cheap way to build them. I have room for 8 of them easy if not more. To buy 5 new panels would cost over 2k.
--------snipped again========================
Closed? Please re-think that idea. Your water comes from an open system. When ever you use water your injecting fresh oxygenated water. OK for potable.
55 F is cold. I work on a chilled water system that has warmer water coming back than that.
You need to bring that water temp up to ~100F for bathing, and 140F for heating.
Your planning on tracking the solar collectors. Wow what a project. I guess your planning on parabolic collectors. I have never seen water filled flat plates tracked. Gonna need some gearing on that mechanism.
Are you in Arizona? If you are contact TEP in Tucson or APS in Tempe and ask for a tour of their solar facilities. I have never seen the one in Tucson, but the one in Tempe is staggering. These guys will try almost anything to see if it will work.
Good luck an post your progress.
This gives me a though. I could use 2 collectors for hot water and 2 for air for heating and keep the systems seperate.
"SJC" wrote in message
nicksanspam@ece.villanova.edu> wrote in message Mike Pelletier has an interesting idea:
What about a single polycarbonate panel over black painted aluminum roofing that is tilted so the high end is 6" further to the south away from the house wall than the bottom. Trickle water down the backside (out of the sun) of the roofing. Protect the house wall with roofing paper and/or polyethylene and seal the panel so the polycarbonate doesn't get moisture.
IIRC, ABC sells thin dark green galvalume barn roofing for 30 cents/ft^2.
If it's collecting hot water and the house also needs heat, it could be more efficient with some house air flowing between absorber and glazing: if 225 Btu/h-ft^2 of sun enters that space and it's 20 F outdoors with 120 F water, R1 glazing would lose 100 Btu/h, so we might collect 125 Btu/h. If 2 cfm of house air flows into the bottom at 70 F and out at 120 F and the average temp near the glazing is 95, we might only lose (95-20)/1ft^2/R1 = 75, collecting 150 Btu/h, or more, if the 70 F air stays near the glazing and the 120 F air stays near the absorber.
Nick
I like the idea of air collectors. I have a patio cover that could take air from the house under the corrugated material and return it on the top facing the sun. Top the material with some multiwall polycarbonate and you have a pretty cheap solar collector for maybe $100 per 4' x 8' section.
"Drums" wrote in message
This gives me a though. I could use 2 collectors for hot water and 2 for air for heating and keep the systems seperate.
Or, just combine them. Run some tubes with clamps along the corrugated. It depends on thermal resistance and insulation, but it might work.
"SJC" wrote in message
nicksanspam@ece.villanova.edu> wrote in message Mike Pelletier has an interesting idea:
What about a single polycarbonate panel over black painted aluminum roofing that is tilted so the high end is 6" further to the south away from the house wall than the bottom. Trickle water down the backside (out of the sun) of the roofing. Protect the house wall with roofing paper and/or polyethylene and seal the panel so the polycarbonate doesn't get moisture.
IIRC, ABC sells thin dark green galvalume barn roofing for 30 cents/ft^2.
If it's collecting hot water and the house also needs heat, it could be more efficient with some house air flowing between absorber and glazing: if 225 Btu/h-ft^2 of sun enters that space and it's 20 F outdoors with 120 F water, R1 glazing would lose 100 Btu/h, so we might collect 125 Btu/h. If 2 cfm of house air flows into the bottom at 70 F and out at 120 F and the average temp near the glazing is 95, we might only lose (95-20)/1ft^2/R1 = 75, collecting 150 Btu/h, or more, if the 70 F air stays near the glazing and the 120 F air stays near the absorber.
Nick
I like the idea of air collectors. I have a patio cover that could take air from the house under the corrugated material and return it on the top facing the sun. Top the material with some multiwall polycarbonate and you have a pretty cheap solar collector for maybe $100 per 4' x 8' section.
Drums wrote:
I was wondering if anyone knows of good plans for these? I see them all over the place and don't mind buying them but I'm afraid I will waste my money on a useless set of plans. Obviously if someone knows where there are free plans that would be the best.
Also im interested in input regarding building your own or buying them.
Regards.
Tom
Hi, Lots of plans here: http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/Space_Heating.htm and here: http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterHeating/water_heating.htm
Another alternative is to build most of the collector, but buy the absorber plates. I am doing this for my solar heating project -- described here:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/InWorkshop/SolarShed/solarshed.htm
Sunray makes some $4.50 per sqft absorber plates.
If you can use air collectors instead of water collectors, then building collectors gets even simplier. If well integrated with the structure, they can cost as little as $2 per sqft (vs $20 and up for commercial panels).
--
Gary
www.BuildItSolar.com gary@BuildItSolar.com "Build It Yourself" Solar Projects
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Thanks Gary. Very usefull info.
"Gary" wrote in message
Drums wrote: I was wondering if anyone knows of good plans for these? I see them all over the place and don't mind buying them but I'm afraid I will waste my money on a useless set of plans. Obviously if someone knows where there are free plans that would be the best.
Also im interested in input regarding building your own or buying them.
Regards.
Tom
Hi, Lots of plans here: http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/Space_Heating.htm and here: http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterHeating/water_heating.htm
Another alternative is to build most of the collector, but buy the absorber plates. I am doing this for my solar heating project -- described here:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/InWorkshop/SolarShed/solarshed.htm
Sunray makes some $4.50 per sqft absorber plates.
If you can use air collectors instead of water collectors, then building collectors gets even simplier. If well integrated with the structure, they can cost as little as $2 per sqft (vs $20 and up for commercial panels).
--
Gary
www.BuildItSolar.com gary@BuildItSolar.com "Build It Yourself" Solar Projects
----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----
Is your intention to heat water or heat air? In the case of solar water heaters, you might want to consider a few things. If you live in cooler climates, during the winter months the standard flat plate collector loses its efficiency very quickly. Whereby, the more modern thermos style solar water collectors will operate in very cold climates. Do a google search on the internet with the keywords, evacuated tube solar
http://www.enviro-friendly.com/evacuated-tube-solar-hot-water.shtml
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