To fully maximize your DIY solar heating systems, you must know the right tilt angle and orientation.  These two factors are important to ensure that your solar collectors receive the maximum amount of solar energy throughout the year, especially during winter when sunlight is limited.  These two factors should be taken into consideration during the planning stages so your setup will take up less space; it could lower the total cost as well.

The right tilt angle for DIY solar heating systems depends on your location.  If you’re in the northern hemisphere, your solar collectors should be titled toward the south.  The tilt angle must be at least 15 degrees plus the latitude of the site of installation.  This is the ideal setup to get the maximum sunlight throughout the year.

Most homeowners don’t consider the tilt angle at all and install the solar collectors of their DIY solar heating system directly on their roof, thus conforming to their roof’s inclination.  Setups such as these are not optimized, but that doesn’t mean that they are bad because solar collectors that are within 20 degrees in either direction don’t suffer that much loss.  If you tilt them 15 degrees northward, water will not overheat during summer and water will be hotter during winter.  The opposite will occur when you tilt the solar collectors southward because water overheats in summer and colder water during winter.

It is ideal if the tilt angle can be adjusted according to season, but aesthetically it will be unattractive because of the additional metals and joints needed for the setup.  Plus it would add maintenance work on the DIY solar heating system that most homeowners don’t want.

Orientation of solar collectors of your DIY solar heating system should be toward true south.  Veering off 15 degrees from true south is forgivable since the systems can still receive most of the solar energy. Beyond this, the effectiveness of your collectors will diminish.

If you can’t orient your solar collectors pointing to true south and must choose between west-biased or east-biased, go toward the west.  The collectors of your DIY solar heating system will be exposed to more heat because of the increased temperatures during the afternoons.

Lastly, inspect the location of your DIY solar heating system since there might be shadows that can affect the amount of heat absorbed by your solar collectors.  Make sure that you place them in an area unobstructed from 9 a.m. up to 3 p.m., as this is the period when the maximum amount of sunlight shines.

This post was originally published on DIY Solar Power. To read the full post, please visit Important Factors for DIY Solar Water Heating Systems.

For this simple DIY project you’ll need 20”x4’ aluminum flashing, 1x8x4’ wood, ½” copper tubing, and some drywall nails. You’ll be using a jig saw, hammer and a drill with ¾” drill bit. This is all you need to acquire for the solar heating parabolic trough.

The first thing you need to do is to cut the 1x8x4 into half. Take one of the boards and draw a grid with one inch increments. The grid will be used to plot the positive y values with the formula y=x²/4p.

If you don’t want to compute you can use the graph below as guide:

Once you’ve plotted the parabola, cut it out using a jig saw.

Then use it as a pattern to cut the other board. These boards will serve as your end pieces.

Drill a ¾” hole near the focal point of the parabola, where the copper tube will be inserted. This will gather the heat from the sun solar radiation.

The next step is to make the reflective panels for your solar heating parabolic trough. You will need someone to help you holding things. Take the aluminum flashing and nail it to the end boards. You could pre-drill the holes in the aluminum flashing to make your job easier.

Now you made a DIY solar heating parabolic trough. You can improve on it by placing furring strips on either side of the trough. The strips make the flashing more durable and provide a place here you can attach the glazing. You could use glass or a piece of clear plastic to cover your trough. To use it as a water heating system, water is fed through the copper tube at a uniform flow rate.

An alternative way to create DIY solar heating with a parabolic trough is the procedure shown in the video below:

The DIY solar heating parabolic trough in this video might be more expensive. The mirror-like reflector he used costs around $15 per linear foot.

Plus, the efficiency will be improved if a black PVC pipe is used instead of a white one.

This post was originally published on DIY Solar Power. To read the full post, please visit DIY Solar Heating Parabolic Trough.

The MTD solar heating system utilizes a black polyester material to distribute a thin sheet of water. Then a polycarbonate material acts as the exterior glazing with a thin, inner polypropylene film, to help conserve heat. The inner film helps prevent the water from condensing on the outer surface.

The inner film, or the Trickle Down Mat, might make the MTD solar heating system more expensive, but it also increases its efficiency. This film acts as a waterproof envelop that traps heat inside. The solar heated water is diverted to a gutter and drain at the bottom of the collector array.

A 2×8 MTD collector can be constructed for less than $100.

MTD collectors can easily be mounted on a south-facing roof. They can be pressed together to form a large array. The gutters and distributors are slid into position after the collectors are mounted. Lastly, heater hoses are used to bring the water into the holding tank.

The orientation of your MTD collectors depends on your location. Those living in the northern hemisphere should mount their collectors in the south. That maximizes the amount of solar radiation absorbed.

Freezing during winter is not a cause of concern because MTD solar heating systems have no flow tubes. An open loop system does not require any antifreeze. Once the pump shuts off, the water goes back into the heat storage holding tank.

The size of the heat storage tank depends on the number of collectors, the flow rate of the pump, and the location. A 55-gallon plastic drum should be enough for every 2’x12’ MTD collector. Multiple heat storage tanks are capable of storing more heat than a single tank is.

Most parts needed for a MTD solar heating system can be purchased from a building supply store or home depot. They are modular and can easily be pressed together. The gutters and drain tubes can be connected with simple plumbing know-how.

The video below shows you how a MTD solar heating system works:

This post was originally published on DIY Solar Power. To read the full post, please visit MTD DIY Solar Heating System.

All you need, in terms of equipment, are:

• a wood saw
• a hacksaw
• a drill
• a screwdriver
• a hammer
• screws
• nails
• a file
• a paintbrush
• a tape measure

Materials you need to procure include the following:

• a 10mm annealed copper tube
• a 16swg aluminum sheet
• glass fiber wool
• a marine-ply sheet
• 4mm glass
• timber for the frame

The copper tubes will be used to bring the water through the collector area. Copper has high thermal conductivity which makes it perfect for the job. It is available at most plumbers’ shops, and comes in 20m, 25m, and 30m coils.

Once you’ve assembled the copper tubing, you’ll attach it to the blackened absorber plate. It will collect the sun’s heat and transfer it to the copper tubing. It is recommended to use aluminum as an absorber plate because it is cheaper than copper sheets and it is more readily available in most locations.

The absorber plate will be encased in a wooden frame. It is made out of hardwood with a marine-ply backing sheet. If you want the frame to last longer, a preservative coating should be applied to it. This will add a couple of years of service.

The last part of the DIY solar heating panel is the transparent cover. This will prevent heat loss especially during cool weather. Glass is preferred because of its high light transmission value. If you can’t afford a float glass, acrylic sheeting is a suitable substitute. The bad side of using acrylic sheeting is that it is prone to scratching and discoloration.

The efficiency of DIY solar heating panels might not be as good as the efficiency of commercially available ones, but they can get good results. And think of the savings you’ll get when you make one. A DIY solar heating panel costs a third the price of a commercial one. Not only that but you’ll be cutting down your energy bill as well if you use it. If constructed right, the panel has a life expectancy of twenty years. There are no moving parts involved, and no maintenance should be required the panel.

Constructing DIY solar heating panels is not complicated and is one of the easier DIY solar power projects. This is one project that you should definitely try if you are interested in setting up DIY solar power equipment or systems. You can use the panel to heat your pool, or to supply your home with hot water.

If you need complete construction details, you can find them here.

This post was originally published on DIY Solar Power. To read the full post, please visit DIY Solar Heating Panels.

There are different types of do-it-yourself solar projects you can choose from. Be sure to pick the one that will meet your needs.

In the solar thermal category, you can choose among home solar power ideas, solar space heating, solar water heating, passive solar cooling, sunspaces, greenhouses, and solar pool heating. These projects will help you use the sun’s energy to heat your home and/or your water supply.

Passive solar power set-ups in the home make your living area more energy-efficient. You could do this along with a solar heating project, especially if you live in a place where the winters are cold. Solar space heating is more cost-effective as compared with solar electric systems.

But if your location is off the grid, you could also try your hand at do-it-yourself solar electric projects. You can make a simple PV solar system that can power your water pump and other electronic devices. You might also want to combine this with wind and hydro systems.

Then, there are the do-it-yourself solar cooking projects. Solar cooking is the safest, simplest, and most convenient method of cooking your food without using of fossil fuels or conventional electricity sources, and without producing unwarranted heat in your kitchen. Solar cookers are not just for cooking. They can also heat water for your household, preserve fruits and tomatoes, sanitize utensils and dishes, and kill insects in grains. These are just a few of the ways solar ovens and cookers can help your household.

Whatever your particular circumstances, you should be able to find DIY solar power projects that will suit your requirements. There are tons to choose from – solar powered lighting, water pumping, conservation, solar space heating, home solar power, solar water heating, greenhouses, passive solar cooling techniques, solar pool heating, solar electricity, solar cooking, solar drying, and even solar vehicles. The level of expertise required for these projects can range from novice to professional. You can also pick up DIY kits from stores but some projects can be made from thing you commonly find at home.

Have you ever done a do-it-yourself solar power project? What was it, and how did it benefit you?

This post was originally published on DIY Solar Power. To read the full post, please visit Do It Yourself Solar Projects.