PV Gap

Joe Said:

How does a simple homemade solar water heater work?

We Answered:

many years ago, when i was in Hawaii, i found a shower in an almost unused country park.
it was wonderful.
there was a water tank on top of the concrete structure.
when you turned the shower on, you got water that had been heated by the sun.
no pumps, no tubeing, no nothing.
just the water tank, out in the sun.

more typical systems have a black panel, with a tube network, and a pump that circulates water from a tank through the panel.
water is recycled through the panel, and the tank, as long as the panel is warm.

Claude Said:

Why would you install (or not install) a solar water heater?

We Answered:

why? the answer is simple
to harness a free and easily available energy source
they work on daylight, not sunlight
i live in Scotland UK and have one, and believe me, we are NOT famous for sunshine here
i have had mine since January, and even in this climate, my bills have quartered in that short time
its a no brainer really
the initial cost is there of course and you have to work out re coup time, especially if you do not plane to live in that house for a long time, but if you are settled, its worth looking into

Ernest Said:

How would you make a solar water heater out of these items?

We Answered:

Shape the cardboard into a reflector (looks like a satellite dish), and line the inner surface with the aluminium foil without wrinkling it too much. Paint the aluminium can black (and fill it with water). Determine the focal point of your reflector dish, and place the filled can there. Face the whole thing due South.