badwithcomputer
Jeeper
You have DC2's? You just made a new best friend.
Posts: 2,863
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Post by badwithcomputer on Feb 20, 2012 15:33:37 GMT -4
Thanks Paul, I sent him a PM
your new name should be TheThreadHunter
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dan
Jeeper
Membership Co-ord - Valley
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Post by dan on Feb 20, 2012 17:04:00 GMT -4
any idea on the size of the panel Dan? nothing huge if my memory serves me correct. I think it was about 8' tall, 3' wide I think, although maybe 4'
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willyswagon
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King of the last minute Road Trip
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Post by willyswagon on Feb 20, 2012 18:42:28 GMT -4
The problem with the solar systems is that they provided heat when the sun is out and strong.
That does not lead to great heat in the months of Nov- March. You know the cold months.
You will get some benefit but not enough to make it worth while to have a your only source.
The reason the water system is so great is that you need hot water all year a round, and it can make alot of hot water from April-Nov. It makes some hot water on ideal days during the winter. If you want to make some heat in a small insulated garage, following the Creepy method and put in a 240v electric unit. Turn it on about 20 min before you go out, or leave it on just enough to keep it at 5 * all the time, and crank it just before going out. Thats what I'd do if I could do it agian.
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Post by Zach "Hulltech Redneck" on Feb 20, 2012 19:30:49 GMT -4
but thats not next-to-free
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Post by KubanKrawler on Feb 20, 2012 19:32:41 GMT -4
It would be great if there was a way to combine one of these panels with some sort of heat storage unit. Maybe something like an ETS unit, but instead of electricty the unit absorbed heat from one of these panels.
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Post by ©Big6™ on Feb 21, 2012 16:10:32 GMT -4
Ideally you'd have a 60 or 80 gallon hot water tank, get the solar unit to heat the water all day long, then use the stored heat through the night....
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willyswagon
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King of the last minute Road Trip
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Post by willyswagon on Feb 21, 2012 19:55:51 GMT -4
Ideally you'd have a 60 or 80 gallon hot water tank, get the solar unit to heat the water all day long, then use the stored heat through the night.... You need 100's of sq ft of collectors in order to capture enough energy from the sun during the months that you need the heat. That collection system will take far to many yrs to pay for itself. If you enjoy playing with alternative systems as a hobby, then sure. If you are trying to heat a small area(shop) it is hardly worth it.
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Dewie
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Junk Lord
Yeah thats right - I drive a Lada :P
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Post by Dewie on Feb 22, 2012 8:29:30 GMT -4
Ideally you'd have a 60 or 80 gallon hot water tank, get the solar unit to heat the water all day long, then use the stored heat through the night.... You need 100's of sq ft of collectors in order to capture enough energy from the sun during the months that you need the heat. That collection system will take far to many yrs to pay for itself. If you enjoy playing with alternative systems as a hobby, then sure. If you are trying to heat a small area(shop) it is hardly worth it. x2 - unfortunate reality of the the part of the world we live in... now wind is another story...
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Hawkes
Hardcore
Lurker
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Post by Hawkes on Feb 22, 2012 19:12:47 GMT -4
You need 100's of sq ft of collectors in order to capture enough energy from the sun during the months that you need the heat. That collection system will take far to many yrs to pay for itself. If you enjoy playing with alternative systems as a hobby, then sure. If you are trying to heat a small area(shop) it is hardly worth it. how annoying it is to start and stop x2 - unfortunate reality of the the part of the world we live in... now wind is another story... One of my co workers was always talking about solar heat for hot water. Anytime he mentioned it I said look out the window, you see any sun out there? NS isn't known for it's bright days. I started using a solar heater for the pool last year, a few hundred feet of black pipe in a black box covered in glass. It's barely worth the power to run the pump not to mention remembering to start it and stop it before and after peak times. You can't start it once the sun is fully up, it melts the corrugated hose on the ends of the pump.
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Big G
Hardcore
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Post by Big G on Feb 22, 2012 19:18:32 GMT -4
You can't start it once the sun is fully up, it melts the corrugated hose on the ends of the pump. I would think the water running through would cool the hose? If you've got a cheap source, wood heat's the way to go to heat a pool. ;D
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Hawkes
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Post by Hawkes on Feb 22, 2012 20:17:49 GMT -4
You can't start it once the sun is fully up, it melts the corrugated hose on the ends of the pump. I would think the water running through would cool the hose? If you've got a cheap source, wood heat's the way to go to heat a pool. ;D You would think that but initially it's extremely hot. I have a copper loop that I used over the outside fireplace the year before last, but that means making a roaring fire every night, and you know what happens if the flow stops, instant steam and violent hose whipping. I could get well over 100 ° F out of it putting 70° water in with about 20 lbs of pressure. (good flow) That corner of the pool was way warmer than the rest.
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Post by bhamm on Feb 23, 2012 19:47:24 GMT -4
I'm actually making a solar heater as well, I have the aluminum box, all cans cut and ready, fans, glass, etc, but unsure as to use it for hot air , or to heat hot water, and circulate it in another tank. I saw one a guy had done, where he filled the cans with sand and put copper pipe through them, and ran either glycol, or water through the, I believe he lived in a much hotter climate than we do. I have too many projects on the go to finish this , I'll save it for later. The great thing about this is IF you can get it to work, the sun when it's out is FREE.
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willyswagon
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King of the last minute Road Trip
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Post by willyswagon on Mar 4, 2012 7:58:14 GMT -4
Today is a fine example of when the solar can systems work the best. My oil fired furnace came on at 6;45 brought the house up to 20 * C. The Cansolair started pumping hot air into the house at 7:45. It will continue to keep the house warm as long as the sun is shining. So when my programed thermostat hits the 3pm setting the house will be at about 22* C. Not requiring the furnace to bring the house back up to the pre programed temp, as it will be above the threshold thanks to the sun. ;D Now as for yesterday... no sun = no free heat! From now until November is when the system works the best at my location
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