Search found 16 matches

by Gary Gary
Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:45 pm
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Using 50' roll of 3/4" Copper ,painted black, in enclos
Replies: 14
Views: 31763

RE: Using 50' roll of 3/4" Copper ,painted black, in en

Hi, Almost all of the solar radiation coming into the collector is going to be absorbed by the metal plate, not by the copper tubing. Unless you have a good heat transfer path to transfer the heat from the plate to the tubing, I think that you won't have a very efficient collector. The absorber will...
by Gary Gary
Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:12 pm
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Using 50' roll of 3/4" Copper ,painted black, in enclos
Replies: 14
Views: 31763

Re: Using 50' roll of 3/4" Copper ,painted black, in en

Greetings. Im wondering if anyone has tried this specific approach to a Solar Collector for water ? I cant find any info for such a Collector online. How do u think it would work out by using a 50' roll of copper as a collector, then sending the heated water to a storage tank below utilizing a smal...
by Gary Gary
Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:18 pm
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Need a serious capacity Storage Tank for solar hot water ?
Replies: 23
Views: 67345

RE: Need a serious capacity Storage Tank for solar hot water

Hi, If you want to get both space heating and domestic water heating from solar, and you live in a cold climate, it takes a lot of collector area. Most solar domestic water heating systems do quite well in the summer, but don't meet the full domestic hot water needs in the winter, let along providin...
by Gary Gary
Sat May 09, 2009 11:00 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Serpintine versus grid
Replies: 4
Views: 18742

RE: Serpintine versus grid

Hi, We still have our forced air furnace, so it is our backup when there is not enough solar -- this happens a lot as our house is pretty large and not as efficient as I would like. The insulation scheme we used on our buried pipe is shown on the " Trench" page -- I think its a pretty good...
by Gary Gary
Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:56 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Serpintine versus grid
Replies: 4
Views: 18742

Hi, If the flow rate is the same through the collector, the temperature rise from inlet to exit should be the same. On the grid one, the temp rise will be from bottom to top of each riser, and on the serpentine it will be from entry to exit, but it should be the same. The solar input to the collecto...
by Gary Gary
Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:42 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Has anyone here built solar hot water panels and storage set
Replies: 8
Views: 25931

RE: Has anyone here built solar hot water panels and storage

Hi, For most people in cold climates, about 1.5 to 2 gallons of storage per sqft of collector works out pretty well. This is enough storage to store about one full sunny days worth of output from the collector. Unless you have a whole lot of collector, or a very very well insulated home, you will us...
by Gary Gary
Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:45 pm
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Has anyone here built solar hot water panels and storage set
Replies: 8
Views: 25931

Just out of curiosity what type of absorbers are you using closed loop - trickle down or the newer vacuum absorber tubes. My plan was closed loop finned aluminum absorber pipe or else copper absorber with finned heat sink design. And transfer to two linked 265 gallon super insulated steel tanks as ...
by Gary Gary
Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:29 pm
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: New windows?
Replies: 6
Views: 21445

RE: New windows?

Hi, You can use this calculator to get an idea what you might save with new windows: http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Calculators/InsulUpgrd/InsulUpgrade.htm If the current windows leak a lot of air, then the saving will be more. We use a thermal shade that has side tracks to prevent flow arou...
by Gary Gary
Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:24 pm
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Lost link
Replies: 3
Views: 4363

RE: Lost link

Hi,
There are a lot of people building their own wind generators -- couple places to look:

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Wind/wind.htm
(under DIY windmills)

The big DIY windpower site is:
www.otherpower.com

Gary
by Gary Gary
Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:07 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Flourescent bulbs
Replies: 21
Views: 21140

RE: Flourescent bulbs

Hi, We have had pretty good luck on life and performance with the Costco house brand -- called Conserv(?) They have had specials with prices down to 70 cents, with the usual price in 8 pack size of $1.30 per CF. The life ratings are done without turning the bulbs off or on. Turning off or on shorten...
by Gary Gary
Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:24 pm
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Flourescent bulbs
Replies: 21
Views: 21140

RE: Flourescent bulbs

Hi,
If you have a Costco in your area, the one here has been running a real deal on the CF spotlights (as in for can lights). It works out to about 70 cents a light for a 6 pack of them.

Gary
by Gary Gary
Thu Aug 09, 2007 8:57 pm
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Window Sandwich
Replies: 4
Views: 7767

Re: RE: Window Sandwich

GaryGary- Were can you buy Polycarbonate glazing? At Menard's, Home Depot? Or anyone? Thanks Indians Hi, The hardware stores and big boxes around here don't carry the double or triple wall polycarbonate glazing. I think the best places to try are the places that handle supplies for greenhouses, sin...
by Gary Gary
Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:52 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Window Sandwich
Replies: 4
Views: 7767

RE: Window Sandwich

Hi, The way I understand what you want to do is to essentially have a transparent window in the middle of the Styrofoam insulation panels. It seems to me that this would work. Your R value would drop down to about R1 in the clear area of your pop-in foam panel, but the overall all R value would stil...
by Gary Gary
Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:35 am
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Solar panel
Replies: 9
Views: 11034

RE: Solar panel

Hi, Solar heating works really well for pools. The collectors can be simple and cheap because in the summer the air temperatures are warm and the heat losses from a simple collector are low. Lots of info on various types (homemade and commercial) collectors on my site here: http://www.builditsolar.c...
by Gary Gary
Thu May 10, 2007 12:53 pm
Forum: Alternative Energy
Topic: Flourescent bulbs
Replies: 21
Views: 21140

Re: RE: Flourescent bulbs

[quote=" .. I wish the manufacturers would make florescent that gave off light like incandescents. We'd buy more of them then.[/quote] Hi, Maybe you can find a CF brand with a more pleasing light color from this test that Popular Mechanics did: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/home_...