DIY Solar Water Heating

Build Your Own DIY Solar Water Heating Panel

Building your very own Solar Water Heating Panel is not beyond anyone with basic DIY/handyman skills, and no specialist tools or equipment are required.
Tools required:
A hacksaw, wood saw, drill, hammer, screwdriver, nails, screws, paintbrush, file and a tape measure.
Materials required:
10 mm annealed copper tube, 16 swg aluminium sheet, timber for making a frame, glass fibre wool, marine-ply sheet, and 4 mm glass.

Making the panel yourself will save you 60%+ of the readymade versions, and if made correctly will last 20 years+. In addition, if you make it yourself, you'll also be able to maintain it yourself. The panel discussed here offers 50% efficiency which is on a par with commercially available units.

Full instructions are available at the following website (1) together with information about wind power, lead acid batteries, electical solar panels, and heat pumps. Take a look.
Alternatively have a look at this new Simple Solar Water Heating Design (2).

Solar water heater - Copper pipe absorber assembly

Web Link References

(1) http://www.bigginhill.co.uk/energy.htm
(2) http://www.reuk.co.uk/Simple-Solar-Water-Heating.htm