What Kinds Of Hot Water Solar Collectors Can You Construct Yourself?

From the operators of www.GreenLivingRocks.com — providing education regarding how to make a homemade solar panel, residential solar power, and solar roof tiles.

There are 3 main kinds of hot water solar collectors commonly used in homes: flat plate and evacuated tube systems.  There are a number of various “recipes” for building each kind.  But here is a brief description of their similarities and differences.

First, there are pool solar collectors.  These are typically a type of flat plate design, but there are enough differences between solar pool heating systems and solar hot water heating systems that some clarification is necessary.

Pool solar collectors, are usually designed as rows of UV resistant black polypropylene pipe that is heat welded together.  Because pool heaters require lower water temperatures than hot water for showers or for heating a house, the collectors do not need to be encased in a box.  In fact, the polypropylene plastic is not proposed to withstand the high temperatures needed for other domestic hot water use, and should not be enclosed by glass.

Even though solar pool heating systems are about the simplest solar energy system that you can construct or install, the solar collectors themselves are not so easy to make.  The polypropylene pipe does not respond to adhesives, and the procedure and equipment needed for heat welding is cost prohibitive for a do-it-yourself project.  And using a substitute material may not be sensible because of its tendency to break down with ongoing exposure to the sun and chlorine from the pool.  For this reason, it is probably easier to purchase the solar collectors even if you prefer to install the system yourself.

Evacuated tube solar collectors are also complex to build.  Although they are used for domestic hot water and for heating a home with hot water, the materials require special handling.  They use unique glass tubing with double walls.  The air trapped between the walls act as insulation, comparable to the way dual pane windows trap air for insulation.  The innermost tube can be filled either with water or with a heat transfer fluid to avoid freezing in freezing climates. Obviously, this kind of system is more complicated to build and install than a simple hot water heating system.  Again, it might be easier to purchase the solar collectors unless you have a lot of ability and confidence.

Flat plate solar collectors, also used for residential hot water and heating, are usually easier for a do-it-yourselfer to build.  The design is fairly simple and basic.  Flexible tubing for the water is attached to an absorber plate and positioned inside of an insulated metal box.  A glass cover is used, which allows the sun to heat the water.  As the water is heated, it is pumped into an insulated storage container and held for use as required for bathing or washing dishes.  With the aid of a decent set of instructions, constructing and installing a hot water system using flat plate solar collectors is a good project for people who are handy and motivated.