Solar Water Heater

I decided to build this to fight back at the electric company. I live in Florida, and if there's one thing we have plenty of, it's sunshine. This unit was fun and inexpensive to build, it will run for years maintenance free and provide my hot water heater with pre-heated water, so that it will not have to work very hard (maybe not even at all) to get the water up to desired temperature. I used Google sketchup as a CAD program to design the frame and I'm willing to share with anyone that is interested, just send me your email address.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Solar
• batch
• hot
• water
• heater
• free
• energy

[Solar4Rich]

Great project !

I want to try building one of these and a solar furnace.

Where did you buy the tank ?

Thanks

[meatloaf1234]

@Solar4Rich Found a used hot water heater on Craigslist and stripped it down.

[kanuuker]

Great system!

How much of a difference did this make on your utility bill? Has this system managed to completely replace your tradition water heating system? How does it work in winter vs summer?

[meatloaf1234]

@kanuuker It cannot completely replace the traditional system, it works both winter and summer as long as it's sunny.

[brandon11182]

Great video! Awesome Design!!!!! I would love to have a set of the plans, please send to wildfire_23_ at hotmail. C o m Thanks so much!

[meatloaf1234]

@brandon11182 please email me directly, i can't decipher what your address should be.

[oilspeculatorhater]

This is in my opinion the best videoclip on DIY solar heater on Youtube. You sure know your stuff and thank you for sharing!

[meatloaf1234]

@NOBOX7 One million dollars

[jhonnholiday]

great.. one question.. are this working in winter, in belov 0 'C but on sunny day ?

and why you not put some izolation material on pipes ?

[swanyut]

well done...i would suggest filling the bottom of the container with black silicia sand ( i used to sell it at an automotive supply store..was used for sandblasting )...we all know how hot beach sand is on a sunny day so just imagine this black glass sand would be incredible and help hold a lot of heat in that container over night....or maybe even some black asphalt roofing shingles layed on the bottom...they also have fine stone on them to hold heat!!

[HappyJackProduction1]

electric bill? You had electric hot water not gas? That must have been crazy expensive and good set up btw.

[Solar4Rich]

Thanks,

Are they all the same for propane, electric and oil ???

Thanks again I appreciate the help.

[meatloaf1234]

@Rramundson The reflective material is not aluminum foil. It is a stryofoam board that has a reflective surface on one side, you can get it at Lowes.