EcoRenovator  

Go Back   EcoRenovator > Improvements > Solar Heating
Advanced Search
 


Blog 60+ Home Energy Saving Tips Recent Posts Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-03-10, 10:17 PM   #11
cdig
Helper EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 61
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

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.

cdig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-03-10, 10:55 PM   #12
Joe
Lurking Renovator
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 21
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

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.
Joe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-10, 11:20 PM   #13
cdig
Helper EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 61
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

there are brass fittings with threads on both ends, used to attach bath tub spouts. They come in different lengths.
cdig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-10, 08:15 PM   #14
Joe
Lurking Renovator
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 21
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

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.
Joe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-10, 04:24 PM   #15
thesarge7
Lurking Renovator
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

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.
thesarge7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-10, 06:08 AM   #16
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

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.
__________________
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.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-10, 10:21 AM   #17
cdig
Helper EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 61
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

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.
cdig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-10, 01:40 PM   #18
AC_Hacker
Supreme EcoRenovator
 
AC_Hacker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,004
Thanks: 303
Thanked 723 Times in 534 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cdig View Post
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.
Is your in-floor heating tubing PEX? I'm pretty sure that PEX is the most used un-floor heating tubing,

-AC_Hacker
AC_Hacker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-11, 09:34 AM   #19
vmike
Lurking Renovator
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 26
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Default

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
__________________
I tried to contain myself, but I escaped.
vmike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-11, 10:51 AM   #20
AC_Hacker
Supreme EcoRenovator
 
AC_Hacker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,004
Thanks: 303
Thanked 723 Times in 534 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by vmike View Post
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
No structural problems?

-AC_Hacker

__________________
I'm not an HVAC technician. In fact, I'm barely even a hacker...
AC_Hacker is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Ad Management by RedTyger
Inactive Reminders By Icora Web Design