Convert electric water tank to solar?

[Sprinkler]

Hi, I'd like to install a solar panel for hot water, and I was wondering whether (almost) any normal electric water 100 litre cylinder could be adapted to use with a solar panel? I mean by removing the electrical resistance and installing a copper pipe serpentine. Thanks

[J.P.M.]

Possible - yes.
Practical - perhaps, but not without some real knowledge of what's required to effectively transfer heat from the inside of a coil to the water in the tank.
Reality: better and a learning/experiment exercise than practical, safe or cost effective.
Suiot yourself, but reading/learning/thinking before you cut/solder/build is a more effective and less costly way to go.

Suggest you see builditsolar.com to see a lot of stuff, some of which actually works but most of which you'll come to know as redneck engineering if you first take the time to educate yourself about solar and thermal design.

[Sprinkler]

Thanks for the information.

[Sprinkler]

Hi, just a follow-up question. Can I use a normal electric hot water tank by connecting a PV solar panel to the built-in electric element?

[Mike90250]

Hi, just a follow-up question. Can I use a normal electric hot water tank by connecting a PV solar panel to the built-in electric element?

Nope. The DC power from the panel will BBQ the thermostat switch, because it is designed to switch AC power.