Off-Grid Stuff

Solar water heating is a small part of the entire solar heating subject. In british climate large amount of energy you use annually goes to make domestic hot water. In sunny days this water might be prepared using solar energy with a help of solar water heater.

The solar water heater in most cases is not one device, but a system consisting of at least three components:

1. solar thermal panel, the device that makes the hot water using solar radiation,
2. storage tank, well insulated, that holds the hot water from time it’s prepared to the time you open the tap,
3. pump and controller that turns the pump on only when the sun is shining (except for the thermosiphon systems).

For systems that prepare the hot water in a storage tank already, retrofitting your home for solar energy use is quite easy. In other cases you need to create the entire system from scratch…

You can find even electric immersion water heating elements that may be powered using solar photovoltaic panel, but it’s just silly. Simple solar thermal panel is able to produce usable heat from solar energy with even 60-80% efficiency, while most solar PV panels are in 15-25% efficiency range.

Some say that you can use solar water heaters to heat your home but that’s difficult as in winter you don’t have much solar energy.

SOLAR PV or Water Heater System Panel Roof Brackets x 4 £49.95 Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-05-2012 15:02:57 GMT   | Watch this Item

Solar water heater controller £47.47 Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-05-2012 16:33:38 GMT   | Watch this Item

24v DC HD water heater camper van wind turbine solar power 600watt £35.00 Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-05-2012 21:20:03 GMT   | Watch this Item

48 Volt WATER HEATER IMMERSION ELEMENT Solar Wind 48V V £51.20 Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 8:39:27 GMT   | Watch this Item

36 VOLT WATER HEATER IMMERSION Element solar wind 36v V £51.20 Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 9:01:50 GMT   | Watch this Item

SOLAR SHUCO Water Heater System Antifreeze Fluid 10ltr £36.50 Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 12:04:07 GMT   | Watch this Item

CONTROLLER of SOLAR WATER HEATER, 220V, 3 temperature SENSORS, £50.63 Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 13:55:50 GMT   | Watch this Item

CONTROLLER of SOLAR WATER HEATER, 3 sensors, 12V £54.54 Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 13:57:39 GMT   | Watch this Item

CONTROLLER of SOLAR WATER HEATER, 5 SENSOR, 110V, for solar water heating system £63.28 Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 13:58:17 GMT   | Watch this Item

I strongly suggest checking as those above are not the best or even the cheapest you can get. I must also say that you can make your own cheap solar water heater, but that’s another story.