02-26-13, 08:00 AM | #1 |
Lex Parsimoniae
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Woburn, MA
Posts: 4,918
Thanks: 114
Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts
|
Compact, portable and affordable! Solar DHW?
portable solar water heater | Solaris Energy
I'm thinking the capture area is a bit smallish.. Comments?
__________________
My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less.. |
02-26-13, 08:12 AM | #2 |
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
|
Agreed, collector looks very small. Perhaps not bad for 35 gallons... I think I recall the general rule of thumb is about 2 gallons of storage per square foot of collector. So you're only talking 17.5 square feet. Hot water general guidelines is roughly 40 square feet per person in your house for the first two peple, then 20 sqft for each after that. At least thats what I've heard.
Wonder what the price is?
__________________
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. |
02-26-13, 08:49 AM | #3 |
Lex Parsimoniae
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Woburn, MA
Posts: 4,918
Thanks: 114
Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts
|
Their spec says 14.5 sqft.. Is that about the same size as a 46"x46" box collector?
__________________
My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less.. |
02-26-13, 11:12 PM | #4 |
Supreme EcoRenovator
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Vancouver Island,Canada.
Posts: 1,037
Thanks: 116
Thanked 100 Times in 87 Posts
|
I like the premise but feel a Thinner longer/wider rectangle shape would work faster/hotter better.
Thinking out loud here.. A homemade one made from Stainless steel or Aluminum. Possible a ready made fuel tank designed for a power boat ,cut open then weld heat dissipating fins inside, welded back up and painted Flat Black. A used tank (quite cheap)can be filled with water and cut open. |
02-27-13, 05:08 AM | #5 |
Master EcoRenovator
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Toronto
Posts: 958
Thanks: 40
Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts
|
Those things are interesting but definitely made for southern climates or for 6 months of the year. The European rule of thumb is 1m2 for each person in the house gives 50% of the DHW annually...in europe. Since there is an aperture area of just over 1.3m2 (14ft2), I would suggest that this would be good for 1 average American for at most 1/2 the year.
None the less, if it is inexpensive, it may be worth it. The idea of cutting a standard water heater in half won't fly because the it has a glass lining which will crack and corrode very quickly. Aluminum or stainless containers can be found in many scrap yards and would make a better tank, no need to cut them open, just paint them with black stove paint and insulate the bottom part. Lots of ways to do this.... |
02-27-13, 06:19 AM | #6 |
Lex Parsimoniae
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Woburn, MA
Posts: 4,918
Thanks: 114
Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts
|
Maybe just get an old RV TV Radome?
Remove the Dish and roll up some water hose inside it?
__________________
My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less.. |
02-27-13, 09:31 AM | #7 |
Journeyman EcoRenovator
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Cincinnati ohio
Posts: 338
Thanks: 40
Thanked 35 Times in 31 Posts
|
How much is it? I didn't see a price
|
02-27-13, 11:53 AM | #8 |
Lex Parsimoniae
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Woburn, MA
Posts: 4,918
Thanks: 114
Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts
|
Maybe it's too new to have a price?
But, it's on Super Sale right now.. Nanosol 35-Gallon Capacity Portable Solar Water Heating Unit
__________________
My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less.. |
02-27-13, 01:35 PM | #9 |
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Posts: 961
Thanks: 188
Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts
|
So what happens if you don't use hot water for a while? Does it just boil off? I see a problem with stagnation.
__________________
Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog. |
02-27-13, 02:05 PM | #10 |
Lex Parsimoniae
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Woburn, MA
Posts: 4,918
Thanks: 114
Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts
|
In cold weather, I see a lot of problems.. It would have to taken inside or drained each night, and on overcast days..
__________________
My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less.. |
|
|