Tell me about your solar water heater.

[Robb]

I've got a bee in my bonnet to install a closed loop system to heat up a second tank, plumbed in series with my existing heater... Sort of a pre-heater that works when the sun's shining.

Lots on the web; any DUers doing it?

[cbayer]

1. Here's mine - love it

[Suich]

2. I think DemoTex has one like that

when he's at the lookout!

[Robb]

5. Heh. I've taken more than a few with one of those!

[jeff47]

3. We had something like that in the 90's

Worked well - a 200 gallon tank was heated by solar panels, and the water from that tank went into the "real" hot water heater. The real hot water heater only had to run during winter. However, this was Southern CA, so pretty damn ideal for solar.

[mopinko]

4. i'll let you know.

we are planning right not. gonna do a single system for on demand hot water which will lloop through the boiler. spendy, but there is a 30% tax credit on the whole system due to the solar component.

[roody]

6. I have an evacuated tube collector that

has been sitting in my garage for over a year. It is going to be installed this summer. I got a deal on it at the end of a solar show.

[Robb]

7. Hot stuff!

...Sorry, had to be said.

I just drove across town today to take some old flat plat collectors off a fellow's hands. $50, I figured worst case they probably had that much scrap copper in 'em.

Lo and behold, I now have two 10' by 4' collectors, in fantastic shape. They weigh almost 200 pounds each, and dominate my front yard. I'm lucky I caught my neighbor and talked him into helping me wrangle those thing out of the minivan before Mrs. Robb got home.

I am committed now, I suppose. Or should be committed. Next step is to find a cheap high-volume water tank. I figure the less I spend, the less the system has to save me to "pay off."