http://zone5.org/2007/09/diy-solar-panel/ ...on the edge between Nature and Culture Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:05:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://zone5.org/2007/09/diy-solar-panel/comment-page-1/#comment-9417 Graham Sat, 08 Sep 2007 09:19:59 +0000 http://zone5.org/2007/09/06/diy-solar-panel/#comment-9417 <p>Thanks for that Cristophe Like you I didnt want to use a pump and the roof design planned for the addition of solar panels below the eves at the same angle. One possibility is that we have currently plumbed the panel into the lower coil- the top coil in the tank is for the wood-burning stove (yet to be installed); I think we will try it the other way around which might help a good bit.</p> Thanks for that Cristophe Like you I didnt want to use a pump and the roof design planned for the addition of solar panels below the eves at the same angle. One possibility is that we have currently plumbed the panel into the lower coil- the top coil in the tank is for the wood-burning stove (yet to be installed); I think we will try it the other way around which might help a good bit.

]]> http://zone5.org/2007/09/diy-solar-panel/comment-page-1/#comment-9410 christophe Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:16:49 +0000 http://zone5.org/2007/09/06/diy-solar-panel/#comment-9410 <p>From our own experience, termo-siphoning is by far the best option, eliminating the need for pumps (which aways prove to be troublesome :). 200 litres of tank capacity for a single panel is fairly big (we have around 150 litres / panel), but I think it is better to err on the side of too big a tank, as a smaller tank means that on a fine day, the water gets very hot (can easily be above 60 degrees), and then, the heat just gets lost. Sure, if you are getting 40 degree after a day of full sun in September, you probably got it about right anyway, no? It is worth insulating the tank as well as possible, a well large, well insulated tank will get your through a day with no sun.</p> From our own experience, termo-siphoning is by far the best option, eliminating the need for pumps (which aways prove to be troublesome . 200 litres of tank capacity for a single panel is fairly big (we have around 150 litres / panel), but I think it is better to err on the side of too big a tank, as a smaller tank means that on a fine day, the water gets very hot (can easily be above 60 degrees), and then, the heat just gets lost. Sure, if you are getting 40 degree after a day of full sun in September, you probably got it about right anyway, no? It is worth insulating the tank as well as possible, a well large, well insulated tank will get your through a day with no sun.

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