Renewable Energy - Solar Thermal (Hot Water)

[ligmania]

How does the system work if there is snow covering the panels ? Do you have backup for the winter ?

[SolarCoordinates]

@ligmania Flat-plate collectors like these shed snow pretty well, although it does take a while for the snow to leave the bottom 1/4 of the panels. Even in snowy conditions, my panels have been @ 130F despite being about 40% covered with an inch of snow.

[MrBluesrules]

Tiered utility billing ought to get people thinking about Renewable Energy systems for their homes. Renewable Energy systems are the best way to lock in your utility rates. There's no doubt about it, The Sun gives us more energy faster than we can use it. It is renewable, and sustainable. It Cannot be outsourced. Remember, There's no NO in Renewable. Install one NOW before another Fossil Fuels disaster.

Call Skylight Specialists in Englewood, Co. 303 761-2200

[X9Intelectual]

I would first get me a much better, and good looking house with a large area, and then buy the solar system because i got to enjoy the view.

[STARFIRESOLAR]

I'd put some aluminum tape on that exterior pipe insulation, it won't last too long in the weather.

[lights21002003]

ah yes very nice system *****5stars*****

[varmitr]

just curious, how much energy is required to build a single solar panel or vac tube?

therefore, how long does that device have to work to provide a feasible returns equal to its construction?

days weeks months years? if it takes 5 years worth of energy to construct it, and twenty serviceable years, it really only has a 15 year cost recovery. Am i making sense or not?

thanks

[08octavarium8]

Yeah, but it's cancelled out because a boiler system will have a similar carbon cost from production, but the boiler system will last around 2 times longer so it won't need to be replaced as much so it kinda halfs that approximately. So it's not just extra. Although boiler systems will have a smaller carbon cost, this should reduce as this technology takes off and is built in bulk and more economically viable and blah blah blah..

[varmitr]

well put and good analogy thank you!

[TheDudeRulez09]

this is were constructing your own solar heating system from easily purchased or recycled materials beats out manufactured system hands down everytime!!! I build my own systems here in Houston Texas and I love it, the savings are instant! due to the fact that I try to cut as much conventional power usage out all together.

[SolarCoordinates]

@TheDudeRulez09 DIY solar hot water doesn't come anywhere close to competing with a well-designed solar hot water system.

[TheDudeRulez09]

@SolarCoordinates I am sorry you feel that way, I understand you speak from a standpoint of making money, I do not, the DIY systems I have made heat up to 150 degrees and thermosyphon without issue, the glycol systems I have made heat up to over 200 degrees, I am 100% positive that the human body cannot withstand water heat over those temps, so say what you will about to protect your obvious money making venture, but I offer my proven designs for $15 bucks and materials cost a about $200.

[SolarCoordinates]

@TheDudeRulez09 I took a look at your system. It's unglazed (no glass), which means it won't produce in winter. You said it thermosiphons, but I'm not sure you know what thermosiphon actually means since I can see no storage attached to your collector. Is that just because you're testing it out in the yard or what? I sincerely hope you have storage hooked up to it because storage is the #1 most important factor that determines how much a solar hot water system will save a customer.

[SolarCoordinates]

@TheDudeRulez09 I caved in and watched a few of your videos... it's slightly better than most DIY solar hot water, but still nowhere near good. In the video titled "Solar Water Heater build 4," you said that you're attaching a PVC fitting to your collector, but the maximum operating temperature of PVC is 130-140F. I hope that was for some silly testing purposes and that you're not hooking this thing up to PVC or a garden hose long-term.

[TheDudeRulez09]

@SolarCoordinates what you see in the video was an uncompleted unit, if you read some of the comments I have posted on some of the videos you will see i have since completed and closed in the units, the pvc piece was only for heat testing in that video alone, it failed at 140 degrees, I have since converted it to a glycol heat transfer system which gets freaking hot!!! I know looking through posts are not the most desirable thing to do, but they are there..

[STARFIRESOLAR]

@varmitr Why figure in the energy it took to make every single part of the system? Isn't that paid for in the price of the materials you buy to build it? Does that make sence to you?

I guess one can always find something to complain about with alternate energy systems.

I find it easier just to say, if you don't want to have a solar or other alternate energy system, then don't get one. You won't save any money, and you won't have to worry about what the systems save or don't save.

[nabasdak]

what happens when it snows or rains, do those solar panels capture sun to work the heating system?

[wwwkyosunes]

Hello

The answer of your question is in the last part of our video. "El mejor video de instalación ENERGIA SOLAR TERMICA"

[RixDobbs]

This is a wonderful idea: Well presented. Now if they could generate electricity and run the electric meter backward - with a 'grid-tie' invertor.

[varmitr]

hi rix, id said screw the grid tie, just get stand alone and get away from the rest of people/utilities. personal pride in ownership. the grid tie for me is about $40,000 more

[ljpacey]

dont they have gas

[soylentgreenb]

Gas is just indirect solar. And it won't be cheap for much longer unless you're willing to go dig up methane clathrates from the sea floor.

[razorx71]

the US has the most natural gas on the planet, enough to last 500 years - natural gas is just methane (97%) and can be found in coal deposits, or gathered from landfills.

[torotoz]

yeah , but solar system doesn't have any co2 emission, Last forever, Sun belongs to all of us, you dont pay bill to any big corporation etc etc

[SolarCoordinates]

@torotoz Solar hot water systems don't last forever. Copper flat-plate drainback systems will last 100+ years, but you'll still have to replace the tank and pumps and clean the heat exchanger. Inferior components and systems, such as evacuated tube collectors or this glycol system will last anywhere from 5-40 years. ETCs lose their vacuum and break in golfball-sized hail, and glycol turns into acid, eating away at system components. This isn't a "bad" system, but it could be better.