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Hi,<br>
I've tried to collect all the solar water heating designs that work
on this page:<br>
<a
href="http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterHeating/water_heating.htm">http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterHeating/water_heating.htm</a><br>
<br>
It covers batch, thermosyphon, drain backs, and closed loop
systems. <br>
<br>
One reason for having so many types of systems is that some of the
simpler (cheaper) systems work quite well in non-freezing climates.<br>
<br>
While I rejected a number of projects because I thought they were
unsafe or very poorly designed, I leaned in the direction of
including all the projects that appeared to have reasonable chance
of working -- so, I'd not call it a best DIY practices list.<br>
<br>
My own latest solar hot water project (completed about a year ago)
is this one:<br>
<a
href="http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/DHWplusSpace/Main.htm">http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/DHWplusSpace/Main.htm</a><br>
I did try to use what I personally felt was a design that is durable
and low maintenance, but still quite cost effective. Its
documented very in almost painful detail. It includes a number of
lessons learned from earlier projects of mine and others.<br>
<br>
For freezing climates, I do like single tank drain backs. They are
simpler with fewer parts than closed loop antifreeze systems, and
require less ongoing maintenance because they don't have antifreeze
which degrades over time. <br>
<br>
A couple commercial systems that (to me) have done some useful
innovating:<br>
The first system listed on this page: <a
href="http://www.builditsolar.com/References/SHWKits/SHWKits.htm">http://www.builditsolar.com/References/SHWKits/SHWKits.htm</a>
is an interesting commercial drain back system. I like the design,
and the also like the price of the complete system.<br>
<br>
I think the Fafco unglazed collector system is also interesting --
while its solar fraction in cold climates is not great, the system
is much simpler and cheaper than conventional collector systems. I
think that if you consider return on investment in solar water
heating systems, its got to be near the top of the list.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
I'm in the process of putting together a system similar to the Fafco
system (same collectors), but that will use the American Solar
Technics "Softtank". The objective is a good solar water heating
system for a DIYer that uses only off the shelf parts -- ie no need
to build collectors or tanks. It becomes a fairly simple plumb the
parts together job.<br>
Target price is less than $1000 before the federal 30% rebate and
any state rebates -- in Montana the net out of pocket after rebates
would be $350 -- pretty close to a one year payback :)<br>
<br>
<br>
Gary<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On 3/15/2012 12:33 PM, Reuben Deumling wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:%3CCAE5fceDc_rSpY2NaEim0yc3nWNfv30ZCA5R0b5k9aiAEuwcZKA@mail.gmail.com%3E"
type="cite">Gary, <br>
thanks for linking to your site and the work you've done on
simpler solar DHW systems. <br>
Are you aware of any place (on the web or anywhere else) that
attempts to collect best practices for DIY/inexpensive/simple
solar DHW systems? Once upon a time we talked about breadbox
heaters, coils of black plastic hose on the roof, etc. I don't
hear so much about that anymore but can't imagine that sentiment
just disappeared.<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Mar 14, 2012 at 1:52 PM, Gary BIs
<span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:gary@builditsolar.com">gary@builditsolar.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"><br>
I like my $1000 system better, and it also does not have a
separate drain back tank :)<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/PEXColDHW/Overview.htm"
target="_blank">http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/PEXColDHW/Overview.htm</a><br>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote>
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