Pics of 2 DIY systems being built / Hot Air Collectors and Drainback System

solarhotairpanels · 11-05-13, 06:48 PM

Hi everyone,

Here's a couple pdf files documenting how I constructed my latest solar hot air collectors and my solar hot water drainback system.

Hot Air Collector PDF
http://ecorenovator.org/Downloads/Ho...nstruction.pdf

Solar DrainBack Hot Water System
http://ecorenovator.org/Downloads/My...ack-System.pdf

The solar hot water system was constructed for 2 purposes.
1 - To provide my home domestic hot water by connecting my solar storage water tank directly to my tankless domestic hot water system.
2 - To provide hot water for heat distribution via a very large 14 ft Long x 1 ft High - used Runtal radiator.

If anyone has any questions pertaining to any of my construction stuff, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Pat from Rhode Island

jeff5may · 11-05-13, 07:48 PM

Both links lead to 404 errors.

EDIT: Now it works. The hot air collector looks like it would work really well on a trailer or home with a package unit heater. It would tie right in.

solarhotairpanels · 12-24-20, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff5may

Both links lead to 404 errors.

EDIT: Now it works. The hot air collector looks like it would work really well on a trailer or home with a package unit heater. It would tie right in.

Jeff, I have to tell ya... I think a couple of these would heat an entire 50 to 60 ft mobile home on a sunny day of course.

I love this last build design..
I'm forcing the inbound air to move horizontally before exiting into the house using the baffles. It seems to heat the air much hotter then with the vertical baffle designs I first built.

Thanks for chiming in!

solarhotairpanels · 11-06-13, 07:06 AM

Jeff5may,

both links have been fixed now.

My error.. typo I guess.

Thanks for letting me know.

Daox · 11-06-13, 09:11 AM

I only just read through the hot air panel one. REALLY nice work. Great document to help people build their own. Thanks! I really wish more people would make these kind of panels. They're so easy and cheap to make its almost a no brainer. In addition to my solar hot water I do plan on building a few of these for my house as well.

I can't wait to read through the hot water one.

AC_Hacker · 11-06-13, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solarhotairpanels

...documenting how I constructed my latest solar hot air collectors and my solar hot water drainback system...

Thanks for the PDFs. I think it's more useful to readers of your work if the discussion happened in the open, so that everyone learned from the questions & responses, rather that just individuals.

Having said that, have you had your metal-stud hot air collectors in operation long enough to know how they stand up to the wind and weather?

-AC

solarhotairpanels · 01-27-20, 02:50 PM

My hot air collectors and solar hot water drainback system have been up and running for 7 years now... no problems. No repairs had to be made.

All aheady FULL!

solarhotairpanels · 12-22-20, 11:37 AM

Both hot air collectors are operating perfectly for many years now..
I will be changing the poly to new poly soon. It gets faded over time.

solarhotairpanels · 12-28-20, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC_Hacker

Thanks for the PDFs. I think it's more useful to readers of your work if the discussion happened in the open, so that everyone learned from the questions & responses, rather that just individuals.

Having said that, have you had your metal-stud hot air collectors in operation long enough to know how they stand up to the wind and weather?

-AC

Yes I've had them up for years now.. no issues what so ever other then it's TIME to change the polycarbonate sheathing. They still allow sun to heat the collectors but they've deteriated over time, kind of cloudy looking now. I'll install new poly soon but they still kick butt every day the sun is out.

The galvanized 2 x 4 commercial stud frame looks exactly the way it did when I first put them together.. no signs of rust anywhere at all.
I haven't even had to open them up and repaint the black absorber plate. Still looks good.

The ripple insulation made for rippled wavy polycarbonate sold at Lowe's and Home depot is starting to break up a bit so I'll replace that when I install new sheathing. but again.. that's about it.

thanks for checking in with your question.

solarhotairpanels · 11-06-13, 09:47 AM

Hi AC Hacker and Daox

First, Daox... thanks for your nice comments Sir,

AC Hacker
So far all 4 of my hot air collectors have with stood very harsh winters here in Rhode Island.

They not only shed the snow by themselves but kick out terrific heat in outside temps as low as 13 degrees.

1 has been in place for 3 years now.
That's the first one I built out of 2/ x 4 PT frame.. and 3/8 plywood back.

the other ones are 2 years old and have all been built with metal stud framing.

I love using the metal stud framing.
They look more professional built once done and never have to worry about treating any wood framing.

If I took pictures of these for you today they'd look the exact same way as they do in the PDF file.

The polycarbonate is holding up super.. nice and crystal clear.
All 4 of my 6 inch booster fans are working fine.. no problems with the snap disk controllers .... just no problems at all EXCEPT for backdraft issues I'm not satisfied with.

I am currently building my own new backdraft damper which will be installed on all 4 collectors. Supply and Return piping.

Heading to the store for supplies now and will post back here or start a new thread for the backdraft damper build with a bunch of pictures.

11-05-13, 06:48 PM	#1
solarhotairpanels Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 92 Thanks: 22 Thanked 29 Times in 18 Posts	Pics of 2 DIY systems being built / Hot Air Collectors and Drainback System Hi everyone, Here's a couple pdf files documenting how I constructed my latest solar hot air collectors and my solar hot water drainback system. Hot Air Collector PDF http://ecorenovator.org/Downloads/Ho...nstruction.pdf Solar DrainBack Hot Water System http://ecorenovator.org/Downloads/My...ack-System.pdf The solar hot water system was constructed for 2 purposes. 1 - To provide my home domestic hot water by connecting my solar storage water tank directly to my tankless domestic hot water system. 2 - To provide hot water for heat distribution via a very large 14 ft Long x 1 ft High - used Runtal radiator. If anyone has any questions pertaining to any of my construction stuff, please feel free to contact me anytime. Pat from Rhode Island Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Daox; 11-06-13 at 09:10 AM..

11-05-13, 07:48 PM	#2
jeff5may Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: elizabethtown, ky, USA Posts: 2,431 Thanks: 431 Thanked 619 Times in 517 Posts	Both links lead to 404 errors. EDIT: Now it works. The hot air collector looks like it would work really well on a trailer or home with a package unit heater. It would tie right in. Last edited by jeff5may; 11-07-13 at 09:02 PM.. Reason: update

11-06-13, 09:11 AM	#5
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I only just read through the hot air panel one. REALLY nice work. Great document to help people build their own. Thanks! I really wish more people would make these kind of panels. They're so easy and cheap to make its almost a no brainer. In addition to my solar hot water I do plan on building a few of these for my house as well. I can't wait to read through the hot water one. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-27-20, 02:50 PM	#7
solarhotairpanels Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 92 Thanks: 22 Thanked 29 Times in 18 Posts	My hot air collectors and solar hot water drainback system have been up and running for 7 years now... no problems. No repairs had to be made. All aheady FULL! __________________ Pat from Warwick, RI Please Note: Comments and/or suggestions I make here at the forums on 'your' projects as well as my own have all been carefully and scientifically calculated by 'the seat of my pants' To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-22-20, 11:37 AM	#8
solarhotairpanels Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 92 Thanks: 22 Thanked 29 Times in 18 Posts	Both hot air collectors are operating perfectly for many years now.. I will be changing the poly to new poly soon. It gets faded over time. __________________ Pat from Warwick, RI Please Note: Comments and/or suggestions I make here at the forums on 'your' projects as well as my own have all been carefully and scientifically calculated by 'the seat of my pants' To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

11-06-13, 07:06 AM	#4
solarhotairpanels Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 92 Thanks: 22 Thanked 29 Times in 18 Posts	Jeff5may, both links have been fixed now. My error.. typo I guess. Thanks for letting me know.

11-06-13, 09:47 AM	#10
solarhotairpanels Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 92 Thanks: 22 Thanked 29 Times in 18 Posts	Hi AC Hacker and Daox First, Daox... thanks for your nice comments Sir, AC Hacker So far all 4 of my hot air collectors have with stood very harsh winters here in Rhode Island. They not only shed the snow by themselves but kick out terrific heat in outside temps as low as 13 degrees. 1 has been in place for 3 years now. That's the first one I built out of 2/ x 4 PT frame.. and 3/8 plywood back. the other ones are 2 years old and have all been built with metal stud framing. I love using the metal stud framing. They look more professional built once done and never have to worry about treating any wood framing. If I took pictures of these for you today they'd look the exact same way as they do in the PDF file. The polycarbonate is holding up super.. nice and crystal clear. All 4 of my 6 inch booster fans are working fine.. no problems with the snap disk controllers .... just no problems at all EXCEPT for backdraft issues I'm not satisfied with. I am currently building my own new backdraft damper which will be installed on all 4 collectors. Supply and Return piping. Heading to the store for supplies now and will post back here or start a new thread for the backdraft damper build with a bunch of pictures.