Forum: Tools
02-05-15, 11:16 AM
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Replies: 16
Views: 15,140
The benefit? No wires! Tiny! (it’s the diameter...
The benefit? No wires! Tiny! (it’s the diameter of a dime by 6mm high)
I’ve only used the wired DS18B20 sensors for my solar hot water system, so sorry, only second hand experience. Some people at...
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Forum: Tools
04-22-14, 08:44 PM
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Replies: 16
Views: 15,140
A little more expensive, but for...
A little more expensive, but for ultra-flexibility and portability, there are the 'iButton' sensors from Maxim: Temperature and Humidity Data Logging - Maxim...
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Forum: Solar Heating
12-23-13, 07:23 PM
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Replies: 12
Views: 11,192
Properly constructed panels of copper and...
Properly constructed panels of copper and aluminum should be fine with any tilt.
Selecting a tilt is more a matter of optimization of annual vs winter collection of energy. See graph 2 here:...
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Forum: Solar Heating
12-23-13, 05:34 PM
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Replies: 12
Views: 11,192
You don't really have to worry about stagnation...
You don't really have to worry about stagnation with a drainback system. Fluid will not be in the collectors when the system is not on. Slope in a drainback is to ensure water can easily flow back to...
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Forum: Solar Heating
12-21-13, 01:41 PM
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Replies: 11
Views: 10,753
Yep,...
Yep, http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-heating/3276-large-drainback-solar-hot-water-project.html is the one.
I ended up using PEX on the return side (due to an ~90' pipe run). It does have...
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-27-13, 10:32 AM
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Replies: 11
Views: 10,753
Drainback system design
Here’s a website I found pretty useful when designing and building my solar hot water system (Solar Water Heater Design (http://www.solarhotwater-systems.com/solar-water-heating-101/)). Dr. Ben is a...
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-27-13, 09:44 AM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
One issue I’m working through at the moment is...
One issue I’m working through at the moment is getting reliable readings from the temperature sensors. As soon as I plug in a fourth sensor, I stop getting readings from all of them. I’ve done a bit...
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-27-13, 09:14 AM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-22-13, 07:53 PM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-22-13, 07:30 PM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-22-13, 07:11 PM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
Thanks Mike,
Yeah I will definitely have an...
Thanks Mike,
Yeah I will definitely have an abundance of extra energy in the summer. A pool or hot tub is a possibility. It is a drainback system, so if the tank is maxed I just need to turn the...
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-22-13, 06:47 PM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
Controls
I decided to use an Arduino for the controls. Since I wanted to integrate the solar with my heating system, I figured it would give me plenty of flexibility. I’m using one wire DS18B20 digital temp...
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-22-13, 06:27 PM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-22-13, 10:39 AM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
Thanks Daox, I'll be posting in bits as I have...
Thanks Daox, I'll be posting in bits as I have time. It has been certainly the same for me, slow progress, step by step. These systems are more work then they first appear. I'm still not quite...
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Forum: Introductions
10-22-13, 10:05 AM
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Replies: 2
Views: 3,675
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-21-13, 07:52 PM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
Tank
I really liked the simplicity of Gary’s drainback system and the large low cost storage tank. I went with a 6’ long x 3.5’ wide x 4’ tall tank as that was the biggest I could reasonably fit in my...
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-21-13, 07:36 PM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
After a bit of layout work I decided I only...
After a bit of layout work I decided I only really had space for 12 panels, even on the ground. The structure is 40’ long, with 10 post holes (4 sections, each 10’ long). The design is similar to...
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-21-13, 07:20 PM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
I had to start thinking where I could fit 16...
I had to start thinking where I could fit 16 panels. 16 was too many for the roof and with that many panels, contributing to winter heating was my goal. The roof is at ~25deg pitch, whereas 65-70deg...
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-21-13, 07:15 PM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
It all started when I was browsing Kijiji (like...
It all started when I was browsing Kijiji (like Craigslist) last September and noticed some used panels for sale. There was a picture of five of them and I thought great, five should be able to do...
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Forum: Solar Heating
10-21-13, 07:12 PM
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Replies: 27
Views: 46,638
Large drainback solar hot water project
Over the past year I’ve been picking away at a large ground mounted solar hot water system for my house. I got a lot of inspiration to do it from a few members of this forum and Gary’s...
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Forum: Introductions
10-21-13, 07:04 PM
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Replies: 2
Views: 3,675
Hello from Nova Scotia
Hi Everyone,
I’m a long time lurker, first time poster. I live in Nova Scotia, Canada and over the past year I've been working on a large solar hot water system which I got a lot of inspiration...
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