DIY Solar Panels
Prior to investing in factory made solar panels I seriously considered
making my own.
It seemed a simple and relatively cheap thing to make after all, surely it was little more than a box with some copper tubes painted black, a sheet of glass on the front and pipes to the heating system.
Then you have to add the means of putting the heat into the heating system, so perhaps either a pre-heat cylinder or a dual coil cylinder which is hardly a DIY option.
Also I had no idea what amount of heat I would be generating. Then there was the consideration of how to mount it on the roof; how big it should be; how to get the pipes through the roof; what sort of pump and pump controls to use; any electronics; perhaps overheating!
and most importantly, how long it would last!
Other considerations with regard to going DIY would be the potential adverse effect on my house with what might end up being an effective but ugly lump on the roof.
Below is a list of web links that describe how to make a solar panel, these are provided for interest only.
Build Your Own Solar Water Heating Panel
Comments about the Building regs and Solar Water Heating
A solar water heating system for swimming pools
A selection of solar ideas from "The Toolkit"
renewable energy, solar heating, wind turbine, solar panels, sustainability, eco,