How to Build a Solar Hot Water System
Save money by building your own solar hot water system. Harness free energy from the sun to meet the majority of your hot water needs. A residential solar system will not replace your electric company, but can furnish much of your hot water for daily activities such as laundry, showers and cleaning.
Materials you will need:
- Black Spray Paint
- Silicone Caulk
- Cooper or PVC Pipe
- 32 pieces 3 Foot fluorescent Light Bulbs
- Duct Tape Aluminium
- 32 3 1/4 Foot Long with 1/2 inch thickness pieces of PVC Pipe
- 2 pieces 1/2 inch PVC Caps
- 64 PVC T-Fittings 1/2 inch
- 3/4 by 3/4 inch wood molding
- 3 1/2 by 7 1/2 foot of Plexiglas
- 3 1/2 by 7 1/2 foot of Sheet Metal
- 3 1/2 by 7 1/2 foot of Plywood
- Cover plywood with sheet metal and cut off overlapping edges.
- Build a frame with the 3/4-by-3/4 inch wood molding.
- Nail these two together for the box.
- Cut two notches in the frame, one for capture of water and second for release of hot water.
- Spray black paint over entire frame.
- Cover bottom right and upper left opening with PVC caps.
- Arrange PVC T fittings to connect in rows of 32 with the downward connections pointing toward the opposite row.
- Remove ends from fluorescent bulbs and spray paint each bulb black.
- Place each 3 1/4 foot piece of PVC pipe thru a bulb.
- Secure ends of pipe to either side of T-fittings by placing the bulb/PVC assembly between both T-fittings. Doing this completes your radiator with openings at top left and lower right ends.
- Wrap this complete assembly in aluminium duct tape.
- Paint the configuration with the black spray paint.
- Secure this radiator inside the box.
- Making sure the top is level with top of your water tank mount solar collector on top, angled to get maximum sunlight.
- Connect lower connection of water tank with a pipe to lower right end of heater.
- Connect top connection of water tank to top left end of water heater with a pipe.
- Cover this assembly with Plexiglas.
- Seal edges with silicone caulk.