PV Gap

Stacey Said:

can solar water heater be use to heat still water.?

We Answered:

The temperature is not a problem for a solar water heater. Consistent heat for 8 hours would depend on your location.

It sounds like you might be a good candidate for a solar-assisted conventional water heater. You would get a regular water heater, but the water in it would be mostly heated by solar. A small pump would move the water through the system, so the water would be moving in that sense. If the water gets too hot, the control system on the pump will shut the system down. If the water doesn't get hot enough, the regular water heater will do its job.

Jeffrey Said:

Does anyone have a solar water heater? how much do you really save on your electric bill?

We Answered:

What you will save depends on how much sun your area gets, and how much electricity costs.

In Hawaii, I recall an electric water heater costing about $41 a month, but remember that Hawaiians take baths every night. And electricity is 20 cents a kWh in Honolulu. If your electricity costs less than that, or you use less hot water, I'd be very suspicious of that $65 per month savings claim.

If you want to run an experiment, you can buy a device called a Kill-a-watt meter on the internet for about $35. For example, http://www.killawattplus.com/?gclid=CP6f… . You could plug your electric water heater into that, and actually measure how much energy it's using per month. Then you can look at your electric bill and figure out how much would be saved.

Olga Said:

Solar thermal collector Which one is preferred for domestic solar water heater, Evacuated tube collectors or F?

We Answered:

Flat plate is better than other.

Miguel Said:

How can I make a solar water heater out of these objects?

We Answered:

Use the plastic wrap and balsa wood to make the "housing" for a solar oven. This will trap warm air and prevent air movement which would pull heat away from the water in the aluminum can.

The aluminum foil can be shaped into a parabola (one axis, at least), placed inside the oven where it will be used to focus the Sun onto the back and sides of the aluminum can, which I assume you know should be painted black. Also, any other surface exposed to the Sun inside the oven should also be painted black (floor, back wall, etc).

If you use multiple layers of plastic wrap with a little space separating them, it will lessen the heat loss (just like double-paned windows).