03-03-10, 10:17 PM | #11 |
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that's awesome Joe! I'm glad someones trying my idea, I haven't had the time just yet...
For the bulkhead fittings, what about some plain old copper tubing? you could solder on fittings on the inside and outside. |
03-03-10, 10:55 PM | #12 |
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not a bad idea but I kinda wanted something I could put silicone on and tighten down to seal it. I think I might go to home depot tomorrow and look around to see what I can rig up.
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03-04-10, 11:20 PM | #13 |
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there are brass fittings with threads on both ends, used to attach bath tub spouts. They come in different lengths.
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03-07-10, 08:15 PM | #14 |
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cool I will check those out, I am going to put the tank on hold right now, I just started working on the collector, I will resume this when I get it done.
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07-15-10, 04:24 PM | #15 |
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I like your idea. Have you gotten it hot yet? Question number two, how big of a chest freezer are you using? I need 20 square feet or about 150 gal. I am wondering if yours is that large. I sure don't like the prices on solar thermal storage tanks.
Another question, How well does the PEX tubing work as a heat exchanger? Copper is probably better but pretty expensive. Anyhow I love your idea. Hope you don't mind if I steal it for my home. |
07-16-10, 06:08 AM | #16 |
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PEX doesn't work all that great, so you need a long length of it. Gary on builditsolar.cm has some info on PEX and other cheaper plastic tubing as heat exchangers. Basically, you just need a lot and it takes up a lot of room. If you have the room, it'll work.
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12-02-10, 10:21 AM | #17 |
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I picked up some in-floor heating tubing awhile back that I'm going to try on a project. Not the cheapest stuff out there either but it's better than copper and can take the heat. Good heat exchange properties too, since it's designed to do just that.
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12-05-10, 01:40 PM | #18 | |
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Quote:
-AC_Hacker |
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05-12-11, 09:34 AM | #19 |
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Years back in my early solar heating experiments I used an old chest freezer for my heated water storage. I put a water bed bag inside to hold the water. My water temp was an average of 160, the bag never leaked.
mike
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05-17-11, 10:51 AM | #20 | |
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Quote:
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