Been messing around with solar water heaters for years and this is a keeper. DIY $400.00 more or less.
Frame up a 4" slab 8x8 feet. On the top side of the frame nail in a 2x2 inch wood guide on all 4 sides. This will be the "cut out" for the 1x1 inch aluminum square tubing that will be the framework for the cover.
Before poring the slab install 2 or 4 3/4 inch elbows to size, how deep you want the cold water intake and the hot water outtake to be. I have 4 elbows, 2 extras for future ideas. (outdoor shower).
Before setting the slab give yourself extra room, length, for the elbows and cut to size as needed later.
Make a loop from the cold in pipe to the hot out pipe that run into the house. (install a check valve in the loop if you like)
Use only CAL40/SCHD40 water tubbing.
My system hold 5, 2 inch lines at the face of the intake/outtake and 6 lines on the other 3 sides. Just start on the outside of the slab with the 2 inch and work the tubbing around as they shorten up. 2 inch line-elbow, repeat.
Give the 2 inch line 15 or 20 inches of 3/4 inch from the intake/outtake
for ease of future repair. Very important. Now you will see the center of the slab has some 30 inches of open space. Also very important for easy access for future repair.
The cover,has a 20 degree tilt to shed the afternoon rains. Use 1x1 inch aluminum square tubing frame and polycarbonate cover. I used rivets to build the frame. Cut the ends 1&1/2 inch into the tubbing and fold back 2 sides to slide the ends to match the main tubes, and rivet. This gives 4 points of contact for each joint. The cover weight 20 lbs +or-.
Set the frame in the 2x2 cutout of your slab. Cut the polycarbonate to size. Use 1 inch "roof screws". Take off the small rubber gasket and replace it with the (newer) fat gasket 10cents at DoItCenter. Do Not Over Screw just let that fat gasket spred a touch to seal.
Anchor the cover front to back into the slab with 1 screw each side, no need for more.
Almost 2 years and no shifting of the 2 inch tubes. 45 gallons and 8 to 10 hours of warm to hot water a day. Zero maintenance.
Regards.
Frame up a 4" slab 8x8 feet. On the top side of the frame nail in a 2x2 inch wood guide on all 4 sides. This will be the "cut out" for the 1x1 inch aluminum square tubing that will be the framework for the cover.
Before poring the slab install 2 or 4 3/4 inch elbows to size, how deep you want the cold water intake and the hot water outtake to be. I have 4 elbows, 2 extras for future ideas. (outdoor shower).
Before setting the slab give yourself extra room, length, for the elbows and cut to size as needed later.
Make a loop from the cold in pipe to the hot out pipe that run into the house. (install a check valve in the loop if you like)
Use only CAL40/SCHD40 water tubbing.
My system hold 5, 2 inch lines at the face of the intake/outtake and 6 lines on the other 3 sides. Just start on the outside of the slab with the 2 inch and work the tubbing around as they shorten up. 2 inch line-elbow, repeat.
Give the 2 inch line 15 or 20 inches of 3/4 inch from the intake/outtake
for ease of future repair. Very important. Now you will see the center of the slab has some 30 inches of open space. Also very important for easy access for future repair.
The cover,has a 20 degree tilt to shed the afternoon rains. Use 1x1 inch aluminum square tubing frame and polycarbonate cover. I used rivets to build the frame. Cut the ends 1&1/2 inch into the tubbing and fold back 2 sides to slide the ends to match the main tubes, and rivet. This gives 4 points of contact for each joint. The cover weight 20 lbs +or-.
Set the frame in the 2x2 cutout of your slab. Cut the polycarbonate to size. Use 1 inch "roof screws". Take off the small rubber gasket and replace it with the (newer) fat gasket 10cents at DoItCenter. Do Not Over Screw just let that fat gasket spred a touch to seal.
Anchor the cover front to back into the slab with 1 screw each side, no need for more.
Almost 2 years and no shifting of the 2 inch tubes. 45 gallons and 8 to 10 hours of warm to hot water a day. Zero maintenance.
Regards.
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