solar hot water panel installation

Tom Stonehouse
4 Posts
Jun 11, 2008 10:56 am
solar hot water panel installation

I was just given 2 20 year old panels. How do I plumb them in? Closed system, on the roof, down to the garage to baseboard heat. What size pump, etc?
Tom
 
 
Tom M
462 Posts
Jun 12, 2008 11:53 am
Re: solar hot water panel installation

Tom, where are you located? If you are in a cold climate a closed loop system utilizing antifreeze is the norm. A heat exchanger tank should be included, if this is the case, for hot water storage. Locate the panels in whatever spot gets the most sun each day and throughout the year. Most times the roof is not the best spot. Standard circulators for heating are usually the norm for these closed loop systems.
 
 
Tom Stonehouse
4 Posts
Jun 12, 2008 09:01 pm
Re: solar hot water panel installation

Located in Maine. (the sunny southern part)
I'm trying to do without the expense of a storage tank, just passing the heated water thru the baseboard heater in a cold garage to assist in heating the living space above. Would this work?
 
 
Tom M
462 Posts
Jun 13, 2008 08:37 pm
Re: solar hot water panel installation

Tom, if you are looking for an easy and cheap way out, use a closed loop with antifreeze. Then you can either use a differential controller to turn the pump on whenever the panels are hotter than the garage. Or just use a manual switch wired to the pump and turn it on manually whenever sun is available. You can incorporate a 110 volt thermostat too if you want to....
 
 
Tom Stonehouse
4 Posts
Jun 13, 2008 09:36 pm
Re: solar hot water panel installation

Super! Thats just what I needed to know. Thanks for helping!  I can't wait to get the system operational.
tom
 
 
Tom M
462 Posts
Jun 15, 2008 10:55 am
Re: solar hot water panel installation

Tom, one other suggestion, if you can get your hands on some old cast iron radiators, they may be better than using regular baseboard heaters. At least they will hold the heat and radiate longer. A radiant heat zone in an insulated slab is good too, though I am sure your garage already has a finished concrete floor.
 
 
Tom Stonehouse
4 Posts
Jun 16, 2008 06:59 pm
Re: solar hot water panel installation

Good idea ! Hmmm, have to think about that. They're somewhere about.
 
 

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