Go Solar

mecca says on Apr 10, 2007, 21:50:

Found them Here's a link to the

http://www.motherearthnews.com/DIY/1984-01-01/Build-an-Integral-Passive-Solar-Water-Heater.aspx

"passive solar hot water heater" this would be perfect for your place Poco. It's what i'm doing. If you use hot water heater tanks, the whole system is fine for drinking, shower, etc.

NOTE: you can do this with 55 gallon drums but you'll need a float switch (standard float valve used in toilets to control water flow as the 55 gallon drums can not handle the line pressure) and it's not for drinking or dish washing..just your showering. Doing it that way is real cheap (less than $100) (The drums would HAVE to go on the roof or higher than the output and you'd have gravity feed system)

They show all the systems at an angle but being so close to the equator, a company in Florida tells me just lay it flat.

Additionally, where they show wood construction, you'll want to have it welded metal frame so you get 10 years out which is how long your tanks will last.

You're looking at say under $400 (with all new parts) for a system that should give you all the free hot water you'll ever need. If you can find used tanks you can probably get it done for about $200 in Colombia.

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miamimike says on Apr 10, 2007, 22:11:

This Solar Oven Project is Interesting also,,, currently projected for Haiti but applicable for Americas also due the Abundance of Sun Light.

http://www.sunoven.com/haiti.asp

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Apr 10, 2007, 22:20:

I'm very interested

and going to have somebody look at those drawings and I'll have to translate the instructions into Spanish for my workers. It looks like it's really a piece of cake. I have 360 square meters of roof in Cali and the sun shines on it all day long. I could be saving some money heating my shower and perhaps dishwashing water on the top of it.

Cheers,
Desi

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe
they are free." —Johann Wolfgang van Goethe

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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mecca says on Apr 10, 2007, 23:23:

Desi we're goin to start this in a few weeks in Cali. I'll have them draw it all up while doing it and keep notes. If all goes well, you can just call my maestro and he can do it for you also. If you've got that many meters on top, your place is at least that, double or triple (BIG f'n house). So you'll want AT LEAST 3 tanks of 100 liters each for 6 people.

There are more tricks that we're going to do to increase the efficiency. Actually you wrap the tanks in a black sponge tape instead of painting, it's more efficient to take in heat and lets less out. Then you foam insulate all the lines going out of the system. With that done your ready to roll. Haceb and Challanger (both CO companies) build hot water heaters, so i'll have all the model numbers, etc. after doing my place.

Do you have a Jacuzzi or pool outside?? I've found the perfect solar heater for that too. Look at www.samswholesale.com and search solar heaters. Haven't installed them yet, but they claim to work great.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Apr 10, 2007, 23:31:

No. I don't have that much backyard to put a pool in it, but yes, a jacuzzi would fit. Geez, why didn't I think about it before? Anyway, I have to do some more repairs/and/or remodelling of the house as soon as I can afford it. The solar water heaters would fit snuggly on my roof and you wouldn't even see them from the street. Send me an e-mail so I can be in touch with you outside this forum and once in Cali. I'd also like to see pics of the finished product and a price quote from your maestro.

Cheers,
Desi

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe
they are free." —Johann Wolfgang van Goethe

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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mecca says on Apr 10, 2007, 23:38:

Desi, sent you my contact info via the site.

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GregYohn says on Apr 17, 2007, 18:41:

Solar Cali Hola!

Building an addition in Cali. It was decided to get a concrete roof for the new room. Concrete has an R value of .1 per inch. YUCK! To keep the room cool, I am looking to find rigid foam 7 R value to the inch to the ceiling of the new bedroom inside and place copper or PEX tubing similar to radiant heat of floors in the USA. The hot sun will heat the water that passes through the roof and then will be stored in a regular 500 liter water tank for just showers.

Can I get PEX tubing in Cali or Rigid foam insulation there at the HomeCenter? I may need to use copper tubing placed in the concrete as it is poured.

Greg

2.5 cent Calls to Colombia & Free to most of the world!
http://www.voipstunt.com/en/index.html

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

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