Chest freezer as water storage tank? - Page 2

cdig · 03-03-10, 10:17 PM

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.

Joe · 03-03-10, 10:55 PM

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.

cdig · 03-04-10, 11:20 PM

there are brass fittings with threads on both ends, used to attach bath tub spouts. They come in different lengths.

Joe · 03-07-10, 08:15 PM

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.

thesarge7 · 07-15-10, 04:24 PM

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.

Daox · 07-16-10, 06:08 AM

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.

cdig · 12-02-10, 10:21 AM

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.

AC_Hacker · 12-05-10, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdig

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

vmike · 05-12-11, 09:34 AM

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

AC_Hacker · 05-17-11, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vmike

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

07-16-10, 06:08 AM	#16
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,475 Thanks: 1,112 Thanked 369 Times in 300 Posts	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.

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	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.

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03-03-10, 10:17 PM	#11
cdig Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 61 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	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
Joe Lurking Renovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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.

03-04-10, 11:20 PM	#13
cdig Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 61 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	there are brass fittings with threads on both ends, used to attach bath tub spouts. They come in different lengths.

03-07-10, 08:15 PM	#14
Joe Lurking Renovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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.

07-15-10, 04:24 PM	#15
thesarge7 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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.

12-02-10, 10:21 AM	#17
cdig Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 61 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 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.