Ask-Answer-Review

» Home

Water Heaters Types

» Reviews

» Best

» Electric

» Gas

» Solar

» Tank

» Tankless

» RV

Reviews by Brands

» American

» AO Smith

» Bosch

» Bradford White

» GE

» Noritz

» Paloma

» Rheem

» Richmond

» Rinnai

» Ruud

» State

» Takagi

Water Heating Help

» Parts

» Troubleshooting

Boilers

» Vaillant

Applications

» Radiant Heat

» Water Dispensers

About

» My Blog

» Directory

» Privacy Policy

» Contact Me

Subscribe To This Site

Home > Solar Hot Water Heaters > Solar Panels

Solar Water Heater Panels

How to build and install panels for solar water heating

Solar water heater panels or solar collectors are the most important elements of the sun powered water heating system. Find out how to build a panel, where to buy panel kits and mounting hardware, small portable panels for RVs, diy panel books and more.

Solar water heating systems use panels for water heating by absorbing the sun heat energy (sun radiation) or produce electricity. With the selective coating applied on the absorber plates, the absorption efficiency increases. Inside the solar panel, a thermal fluid circulates and absorbs the energy and further through the plumbing system goes to the storage tank.

Solar panels and other collector types
Sizing solar water heater panels
How to orient panels for the best efficiency
How to install collectors
Tips when building solar panels
Panel kits, mounting hardware, portable RV panels, diy solar panel books

Types of Solar Water Heater Collectors

There are several types of solar panels for water heating you can buy, or build, and which type you will install depends on the climate you live or temperature of the application you will consider:

Glazed flat-plate solar panels
Unglazed flat-plate collectors
Evacuated tubes
Parabolic-trough collector

PV panels are designed to produce electricity from sun heat energy. In solar water heating systems, they can be used to run pumps and controllers, for example, so your system can become energy independent.

Solar water heater panels that we will cover here are actually glazed flat panels, consisted of the flat-plate absorber with the coating for high absorption ratio, installed in a frame (box).

solar panels for water heating

Solar panel frame has the insulation panel, while the cover is usually made of the tampered single or double layer glass, for the greenhouse effect (to keep the heat inside the panel longer). Glazed collectors are ideal for moderate temperature applications for domestic water heating, space heating or for pool heating.

Sizing a solar water heater panels

How to size the solar water heater panel depends on the area where you live. If you live in the northern and colder part of US, you need more square footage on the collector than if you live in the southern parts. Always consult your local plumber and code requirements.

Example: If you need standard 20 gallons of hot water per day, and for the family of four your water heater tank should provide at least 80 gallons of hot water. Recommended collector size for such a demand will be around 48 square feet, or 4'x12' surface area.

How to Orient Solar Water Heater Panels

Solar water heater panels' orientation is very important for the solar panel efficiency and efficient free sun heating. Between 30 and 65% of the sun's heat energy goes through the cover of the solar panel and heats the water that circulates through the tubing installed inside the panel box.

This is the reason why you need an efficient solar panel or collector. The perfect orientation for the collector is when it is perpendicular to the sun's rays.

As this orientation is ideal, and if you try to buy the necessary equipment to follow the sun's path and keep the angle close to the perfect, it will take you lots of money.

Majority of the solar water heater panels is installed to face south, southeast or southwest at the specified angle, with the goal to have a full exposure during the major sunlight hours, two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset, when the sun is approximately 30 degrees above the horizon.

Installing Solar Water Heater Panels

Roof is the best place to install solar panels for water heating. They also have to be close to the storage tank, so they don't lose too much heat. In modern home construction, collectors are an integral part of the house, as they are designed to blend with the exterior. These built-in solar panels are installed flush or nearly flush with the roof surface.

Standard solar water heater panels should have a structural frame which is securely mounted on the roof (bolted) so they can resist the snow and wind loads, for example. At the same time, it is important to allow the proper roof drainage. If the solar panels are not flush with the roof surface install them 3-5" above it.

Solar panel mounting hardware (mounting rails, clamps, brackets, bolts...) is available with a purchase of any solar heating system or separate. Mount hardware allows you to install the panel on the roof, ground, top and side of the pole, RV... PV panels are more flexible and easier to install, while panels for water heating have more restrictions.

Keep in mind that the roof installation increases the possibility for roof leaks. This is why it is important to seal every drilled hole and secure all the joints on the pipes to be watertight.

Another important factor to consider when installing solar collectors is to have them accessible for the maintenance and service.

Solar panel ground mount is convenient, much easier than the roof mount, doesn't affect the look of your home and possible roof leak, and as long as it has the sun exposure majority of the day go for it.

Either you install the panels on the ground or the roof, secure the area and the panel to reduce the risk of the breakage. During the winter time drain the pipes dry to keep the pipe from the bursting during the freezing temperatures.

When deactivating the solar heating system, always cover the collectors with material like cardboard or other sturdy light-blocking material.

Tips when building solar water heater panels

When you build your own solar panel make sure to insulate it well to reduce the heat loss and have the efficient heat transfer; and to protect the inside (tubing) from the weather conditions. The trapped heat will then transfer the heat to the incoming fluid that is passing through the tubing.

You will get the maximum absorption and the efficiency of the collector if the exposed surfaces (tubing) are painted in black.

The top of the collector should be made of the material which is transparent to the incoming sunlight and at the same time reduces the heat loss. Recommended cover should be made of the tempered glass with the low iron content. The advantage of the glass panel cover, over the plastic, is its durability, heat resistance, and it deteriorates less due to the outside conditions, but it is breakable.

Panel box should have drainage holes at the lowest point so it can drain the rain, condensation, etc. Use the aluminum for the collector casing as it looks better, doesn't corrode, and it lasts longer.

If you live in the colder area, use the double layer glass so it can keep the heat longer inside the solar water heater panel.

Panel kits, mounting hardware, portable RV panels and diy solar panel books

Amazon.com is my favorite online store where you can buy water heating equipment like collectors and PV panels, solar panel kits, books that are describing in details how to build panels, flexible panels for pools, small portable for RVs, roof and ground mounting hardware for installation ... or in short the whole solar panel systems. Most of the manufacturers are providing 25-year warranty and their panels are designed for easy installation and maintenance-free service. Another website I recommend, which is specialized in plumbing and water heating is www.pexsupply.com.

Solar charging kits are designed to provide free and clean power and are perfect for you RV, cabin, boat, battery charging and even home. The kit usually comes with the solar panels, mounting frame, power inverter and controllers.

Foldable or flexible solar panels are very convenient way of converting sun power into the electrical current, even in low light. Due to its multi section design, they can be easily folded and stored. Solar cells are high efficient and mainly used for charging electronics when camping, hiking, during power outages and whenever the portable power source is needed.

RV solar panel kits are designed with the solar charging kits, inverter, DC installation kit, transfer switch and other components making it ready for complete plug and play installation.

Return from Solar Hot Water Heaters to Solar Water Heater Panels

Return to Hot Water Heaters Homepage