Any ideas on this? Or else to the scrap!

[Bsbrett3]

I have four American solar king solar water panels from 1978 brand new still in the box! I'm not sure what to do with them and they are very very heavy so I don't think anyone would want to use them on a house. So just wondering if any of you have any ideas before I take them apart and scrap them!

[russ]

If they are unused they should still have value - try advertising them on Craig List maybe. If there are any rubber gaskets they may be gone but unless corroded the rest should be usable to someone.

[J.P.M.]

I have four American solar king solar water panels from 1978 brand new still in the box! I'm not sure what to do with them and they are very very heavy so I don't think anyone would want to use them on a house. So just wondering if any of you have any ideas before I take them apart and scrap them!

If those Amer. Sol. King units are from that era, they may have the "rollbond" absorber. I believe that absorber was made by Revere Copper. Thermally and fluidmechanically they're about as good as it gets (got) - a solar thermal engineer's dream for liquid cooled collectors. Cost effectiveness was a problem even back then w/ copper at about $.40-$.60/lbm. One reason they're so heavy: the absorbers are heavier than a dead minister. The insulation was substantial. They stopped making them in the '80's I think. I'd use them on a house in a hot second if I didn't have a solar water heater already. They may likely have a selective surface to boot (some were black chrome and a few were black nickel I think), and the glass was low iron as I remember. If nothing else, the salvage value of the copper is likely substantial. I'll look & see if I have some old lit. from the Copper Development Assn. or from Revere. if my search is successful I'll PM you. but no promises.

J.P.M.

[peakbagger]

List them on Craigslist. The basic design hasnt changed of SHW panels since they were built. No need to roof mount them is you have sunny spot next to the house. Unlike PV panels, occasional shadows doesnt really impact their output.

[Naptown]

Or put them on your house.
Roof loading is generally less than 5 pounds a square foot. Yes they are heavy but cover a good bit of area so roof loading is almost never an issue.
Now if your house is 100 years old I might look a bit closer at the roof. But anything built from about 1970 on should be ok

[Bsbrett3]

They are black chromed copper with redwood frames and they have glazed glass on top. I literally have every bit of information on these they are all still in original boxes and I have a three inch binder of all the papers that is why I hate to scrap these out. Also I have had them on craigslist for about four months and yes I have been renewing the post weekly but not one bite on it sadly. They are very very heavy it takes three big guys just to barely beable to pick them up. I sadly love in a development and don't have the extra room in the yard to set these up or else they would be in place already!

[J.P.M.]

They are black chromed copper with redwood frames and they have glazed glass on top. I literally have every bit of information on these they are all still in original boxes and I have a three inch binder of all the papers that is why I hate to scrap these out. Also I have had them on craigslist for about four months and yes I have been renewing the post weekly but not one bite on it sadly. They are very very heavy it takes three big guys just to barely beable to pick them up. I sadly love in a development and don't have the extra room in the yard to set these up or else they would be in place already!

How did you come by these if I may ask. Painted ladies - all dressed for the prom and no dates.

[Bsbrett3]

They came from my grandpas house that I had just cleaned out he had they from a plumbing project that were left over just sitting in the garage. I took them to tear apart and scrap out but decided that since they are new and good condition I would rather see them get used then torn apart.