Evacuated Tube, Pressurized, Stand-Alone Solar Water Heater

I'm not trying to "save the earth". Rather, I'm simply attempting to save money, and minimize the impact that rising oil and energy prices have on my yearly cash outlays, and by inference, standard of living.

This clever hot water heater offers relatively low cost of entry, sufficient output, and a short payback period. At current LP gas prices, it will take about four years to pay for the unit (less time if I qualify for tax rebates)(even less time if LP prices rise). Cost to produce hot water in the months with "long days" should be zero Dollars. With my limited experience to date, the use of LP gas to supplement hot water production in the winter months (during periods of extended cloud cover) should be minimal, based on my consumption requirements.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Solar
• Water
• Heater
• Free
• Energy
• Sustainable
• Off
• Grid
• Evacuated
• Tube

[jjlpinct]

I ran out of room to say "Awesome!" btw

I saw mention of a reflector behind the tubes... have you considered, a complete enclosure, a glass front/top would be easier to keep clean, and offer some protection from lawn mower projectiles... hail.. and what not

Thanks for sharing!!

[watcherjohnny]

@jjlpinct

I've thought about it, but the tubes are supposed to be pretty durable. I've seen golf balls dropped on them from the height of a garage roof with no damage. Replacement tubes are relatively inexpensive as well.  I bought 5 extra glass tubes with the heater for $15 each. And the rain seems to keep the tubes clean. To date, the system has been zero maintenance.

[jjlpinct]

as a plumber one of the things i need to look out for is water temperature in storage type water heaters, too hot has its obvious hazards, too cool and an unseen danger lurks (maniacal laugh)..

Legionella bacteria can grow in the lower temps in water heaters, which can cause a form of pneumonia. it is generally transmitted when you inhale the mist. You should be fine if you periodically peak above 135f. otherwise try adding a small amount of bleach to the system..

the web can tell you more :)

[watcherjohnny]

@jjlpinct

Great info - thanks for clarifying! I had never heard of Legionnaires being a problem with hot water heaters. Now that the weather has warmed and the days are longer, it is actually maintaining at 160F to 180F, so it should not be a problem.

[jjlpinct]

watch out for legionnaires disease

[watcherjohnny]

@jjlpinct

Could you explain in more detail?

[Optisoft]

Thinking of the space between the tubes - perhaps those could be utilized by putting some parabolic shaped (along the y-axis) alum-reflector to reflect the light back onto the tube from the backside.

[soilfit]

@jjlpinct bleach? I heard that was a pretty bad chemical not even good for skin.

[Miramivideo]

@cheeselouise50 It's incredible technology and should start popping up on rooftops everywhere. We have a Sunbank and love it. We haven't needed an electricity backup yet and it's December! They have a website where you can get in touch: thesunbank dotcom.

[cheeselouise50]

Is it possible to post the brand & price of this solar water heater and where you bought it? Great videos! I don't understand why these evacuated tube heaters are not much more common in the U.S. No moving parts, no motors, simple and elegant. But almost nobody I talk to has ever heard of them. I ended up importing one from China, but would like to find a reasonably priced and accessible U.S. or Canadian dealer for others who have seen mine and want to buy one.