Is solar water heating system worth installing?

[LakersFan]

I am thinking of getting a solar water heating system. I have heard some negative comments on usability and on going maintenance. I would like to hear from anyone who has any personal experience with solar water heating. Thank you.

[n3qik]

If you live in a frost/freeze free area. Then it is worth looking at. The panels are good for about 10 years. The pumps are good for 15 years and the electronics, well, that is a coin toss on longevity.

They say solar hot water has the fastest payback.

[Davetech]

I have an electric tankless water heater. I'm preheating water for it with a solar collector system I built from scratch. No commercial products used.

I have read, and tend to believe, that mounting lots of big, wind resistant panels on the roof of your typical wood/stick home is asking for roof leak troubles down the line. So I built my collection system with the "hot box" on the ground. That also enables me to eliminate the need for an energy gobbling pump. Thermal convection carries the preheated water up to my holding tank.

I use 2 mirrors (at present) to concentrate more energy on the collection box and it easily hits 170 F. But the mirrors have to be adjusted every 30 minutes or so manually.

I am presently building a heliostat system to be controlled by a Picaxe micro to take care of that little chore.

This is a dirt cheap system that is already paying off. My home has been averaging 1500 KW hours per month consumption, but since installing all cfl's, the tankless heater and this preheating system, I'm down to 750 KWH average.

When winter rolls around, I plan to build a heat exchanger and go to a safe anti-freeze solution.

[Off Grid Solar]

Solar hot water systems do not use grid electric power yet the system makes hot water. I know you will be happy when you see the first 3 months electric bill reduction. Electric hot water heaters use a lot of electric power. The one in my home has two 1,500 watt heating coils and a 60 gallon tank. A solar hot water heat uses no electric power and can make hot water for free. You decide. Free verses your electric bill.

[Davetech]

I've documented my system here: http://davetech23.tripod.com/preheater.html

if you are interested to see. I've maybe got $100 tied up in the system (not counting the tankless heater, of course). I've designed the electronic control board for the heliostat to but have been slowed down by the need to etch the board ( it is too complicated to lay out the resist by hand) so I'm side tracked right now building a tabletop cnc milling machine to mill my circuit boards.

I've also built a linear actuator from dead vcr and printer parts that the picaxe micro controls very nicely. Doing this on a shoestring budget. Photovoltaic panels are for people who have $$. Solar hot water heating is accessible to the poor man who has enough junk to play with.

[Off Grid Solar]

I can not think of too many negative things about products that replace electric power. I think the end results is better. No more electric power for 10 years to make hot water. If it freezes where you are. That is another story. Water can freeze. If this is what will happen where you live just go back to the old electric or gas hot water heater. Also drain the solar hot water heater and turn it off with a safety valve. I once used a lawn hose to heat water during the summer months for washing boats as a kid. That works also. You will need a lot of hose but you will not need to install on a roof. That works also. Solar thermal energy is the best way to make hot water. To make steam you need lenses. Optics and the sun's energy is another way to make energy. Heat in its purest form is energy.

[mpmoriarty]

solar Thermal vs. PV

Hopefully, you get what you pay for. I am a certified PV installer, and I wouldn't recommend them to most people. They are exspensive, and really do not contribute unless the building owner is very conservation motivated already, and has done everything possible to reduce electricity usage before installing PV.

My undeerstanding / research has shown that Solar THermal is cheaper, requires less installation costs / area, and is versatile for heating water and heating space. I know of two homeowners in Northern new England that have used their systems for several years and can confirm that they work above expectations even inthe winter months.

Understand that these systems are mechanical. Unlike PV systmes, they have moving parts, and can have adverse reactions to severe weather, so the better the system, the better the design, and the better the installation, the more likely your system is to last and perform acceptably.

payback on these systems (per dealers, EPA, NREL) is 8-15 years versus PV systems, but this number (for either system) is variable depending on the overall efficiency of the other systems, and the individuals operating within.

I am currently trying to research adding a steam generator to the system to be operated by the excess summer heat generated in order to generate electricity. i am figuring that with system that develop up to 240-degree water, that electricity can be generated first, and the reduced heat water (140-180 degrees) can be used to heat water / space after it has released its electrical potential.

Anybody have any leads on this area?

[Mike90250]

I am currently trying to research adding a steam generator to the system to be operated by the excess summer heat generated in order to generate electricity. i am figuring that with system that develop up to 240-degree water, that electricity can be generated first, and the reduced heat water (140-180 degrees) can be used to heat water / space after it has released its electrical potential.

Anybody have any leads on this area?

Do a bit of research on "Steam Explosions" and homeowners insurance. I think you should drop the steam idea. even 4 PSI in a pressure cooker can mess up a whole room. 4 psi will not generate usable power, you need over 50, and that is an insurance nightmare.

[Off Grid Solar]

What area? I have leads all the time for people that want to purchase the products that we develop. Contact me. Jim

[mpmoriarty]

PSI requirements

Do a bit of research on "Steam Explosions" and homeowners insurance. I think you should drop the steam idea. even 4 PSI in a pressure cooker can mess up a whole room. 4 psi will not generate usable power, you need over 50, and that is an insurance nightmare.

The systems that I have been looking at for Hot Water and Space heating have an integral pressure release valve of 65psi. My thought was to reduce this limit, and when the system went above, say 35psi, the steam would be released into the steam turbine to generate electricity. I would guess that it might work bettter if the valve had a hi-lo setting so that it released steam at its upper limit, and continued to deliver steam until a lower limit was reached, say from its recommended high of 65psi - down to 15psi.

Thanks for the feedback, but such a system would be installed by a plumber, i am only an electrician, which means that I can dream of plumbing projects, but am really not interested in executing the projects - it's the little things that are missed that will get you inthe end, or make or break a project.

[hotbox]

Solar water heating works great

I am thinking of getting a solar water heating system. I have heard some negative comments on usability and on going maintenance. I would like to hear from anyone who has any personal experience with solar water heating. Thank you.

Solar water heating works great if you do it right. I highly recommend a drain back system for ease of operation. If you live up north use evacuated tubes.
You can call me at 607-846-5569 if you need help.

[Off Grid Solar]

Solar Panel Return on Investment

This is not a test. What is the best Renewable Energy Return on Investment?

[Mike90250]

This is not a test. What is the best Renewable Energy Return on Investment?

How are people supposed to reply ??
If you were asking a question, the answer would be solar hot water/solar heating.

A better answer would be Conservation First.

[mpmoriarty]

This is not a test. What is the best Renewable Energy Return on Investment?

COnservation of any and all systems that you currently have in operation. By far teh greatest payback for energy savings and promotion of efficient renewable energy is the conseervation of lighting and power systems currently in operation, the replacement of existing appliances and furnaces, water heaaters, etc. with Energy star Rated units, Utilizatio of Fluorescent Lighting, High mpg vehicles vs. electric hybrids, public transportation, etc. After your current lifestyle and installed systems are as efficient as possible, solar thermal is the most efficient currently available system.

There is an introductory video avialable for viewing, online at the Alternative Energy Store, on energy conservation and renewable systems that is a great overview of where we are in this country.

[rumpole!]

Check out my site solar-hot-water.org . We installed an evacuated tube SHW system at the beginning of '08, and we're totally happy.