Shawn Brown
3rd August 2008, 21:27
I would like to install a solar hot water system in the near future. I've done a fair bit of research about the merits of both evacuated tubes and flate plate collectors (not sure which I'll end up going with though), and different types of open and closed loop systems.
Does anyone have any recommendations where to purchase collectors, pumps, controller etc.?
Flat plate collector performance on cloudy winter days? I've read the lab reports, but would like to hear from someone who is using them to see if going the ETC route is preferable. I know the price difference is quite substantial, but I am not sure if the extra coin is worth it.
Heat exchangers: Is a homemade version possible? Internal or external? As I'd like to keep costs down, I certainly would prefer to build what I can.
1 tank vs 2? : Is there any advantage with a second tank or does it make better sense to keep the existing tank and add an internal or external heat exchanger? There are only two people in the house so I don't need a lot of capacity.
Any assistance is greatly appreciated.
Does anyone have any recommendations where to purchase collectors, pumps, controller etc.?
Flat plate collector performance on cloudy winter days? I've read the lab reports, but would like to hear from someone who is using them to see if going the ETC route is preferable. I know the price difference is quite substantial, but I am not sure if the extra coin is worth it.
Heat exchangers: Is a homemade version possible? Internal or external? As I'd like to keep costs down, I certainly would prefer to build what I can.
1 tank vs 2? : Is there any advantage with a second tank or does it make better sense to keep the existing tank and add an internal or external heat exchanger? There are only two people in the house so I don't need a lot of capacity.
Any assistance is greatly appreciated.