Project: Solar water heater.

[MidnightFarm]

One of my first experiments was heating water by solar energy. In it's basic prototype form, initial testing heated the water to approximately 85 degrees C. Pretty impressive for what essentially was a black radiator in an insulated box, behind a double glazed patio door panel. It was mounted vertically on a sheltered South facing wall, to enable it to be self circulating. On the inside, there was a coil of copper tubing inside a water tank (like a hot water tank, but home made!). This indirectly heated the water enabling it to be useful. I was considering using it to pre heat filtered rain water prior to the washing machine, but never got that far with it.

So many ideas, but so little time as work gets in the way! Has anyone else tried anything like this, and what were your results?

[John Headstrong]

I have made one of these years back, it was great, we had a free very large tank of hot water everyday. Later on in the year I made a small woodburner to heat the water, which could make the water far too hot. It was a system totally made from scrap so cost nothing aprt from a few clips and welding rods for the burner.

[Dr.Syn]

Seems to me this could be adapted to provide heat to a greenhouse.

[Zech]

I haven't tried this, but I'm planning to. Our new thermal store has a coil in the bottom all ready to take the solar heated water. It's very encouraging to hear about other projects that are working - I'd love to hear more details.