Homemade Solar Coil to Heat Water Stage 1

A homemade coil of plastic pipe laid in the sun and heated up by insolation.
First stage of a process of supplementing the on-demand gas boiler that normally heats the domestic water used in this wooden shack in the mountains of southern Spain.
Future stages will look at location, connection to storage vessel and connection to house.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• solar
• power
• heating
• water
• insolation
• domestic
• plastic
• pipe
• coil
• from
• the
• sun

[lutestring]

I'm looking forward to seeing part II of this experiment. From what I have seen of southern Spain, there seems to be a continuing and quite unhealthy reliance on the national grid, given the huge natural resources.

[foggyside]

Nice to hear from you again lutestring. Things are changing. Spain now has the 3rd largest wind-power manufacturer/installer in the world (Gamesa) and I believe about 10% of all Spanish power requirements are supplied by wind power (energía eólica). Solar power if catching up. They are likely to triple the the 400 MW target they have for 2010 - not sure what percentage of total usage this will be. Hydroelectric power supplies about 8% of total Spanish power used.

[hj179]

Great! I'm going to try this on the roof of my house.I've had cold showers for the last 6 months since the water heater went bad. Excellent.

[magna59]

Ignore the steel back plate...the shadow the tubing cast will cool the steel plate down, if there was a gap between the coil rings, to allow the sun through that would work, but only if the tube was hard up against the plate...but cover the front with glass, and a temperature controlled check valve at the end so if the temperature of output drops to much flow is reduced or stopped.

[wmbgcoupon]

Thank You ....I am looking to heat an above the ground pool in Virginia that has 20;000 gallons of water in it. I think I am going to try the black hose method. Suzie

[sac78008]

I was surprised to hear the temps in Fahrenheit

[joe18370]

put the water in a cup then take temp.lowes has digital tempiture for 8.00

[leebrian]

Use HDPE (polyethylene) because PVC is harmful to the body.

[TheGrim666]

YOU MADE ME THIRSTY

[datzfast]

hello from oklahoma, i have about 400 meter of that same pipe for a water heating project next year, my state Oklahoma has cancelled all gas fired electric plants in favor of wind energy, we have regions of the state with constant 27 MPH wind day, night, and 96 percent of the year. they company will start exporting power soon.

[kchedville]

Your voice brought back memories of a dear friend of mine who was from South Africa, Conrad Rawson, who passed away some years ago. He came to the US via South America, hitch hiking his way up and he joined the Navy where we became good friends....I think his Father still lives in South Africa. Thanks.