PROJECT EARTHBILLY

Funded by:

 Hadley Sawmill, New Stone Age Jewelry, and Earthbilly Organics

All owned/operated by Mark & Rita Hadley
www.hadleysawmill.com       www.missouridreamstone.com

 

Solar Hydronic domestic hot water system.  Home

This is the second system I have used. Back in the late "70"s, I had an Earth Enterprise system installed. The collector enclosures failed after many years of service. The new collectors look like they are superior.

4/6/08 We installed the 100+ gallon stainless steel tank and unpacked all the hardware but the two solar collectors.

4/9 installed the controller and expansion tank on the wall next to the storage tank. Making a list of hardware to buy the next time we leave our valley. Begin the preparations for installing the panels on our roof.

4/12 Pretty much have the routing of pipes figured out. Not an easy task with 12" to 36" thick concrete and masonry walls, floors and ceilings everywhere. Also need to coordinate wood heat liquid tie in.

5/5 Mounted wooden rib to concrete wall to strap tank for earth quake survivability.

5/9 Ready to install spar extensions to beams for mounting panels.

 5/21 Put up the solar hydronic panels today.

 5/28 Have a week of meetings to coordinate. Just need the pipe to plumb system together.

6/9 Some of the fittings, 1" to 3/4" connectors, are special ordered and will take several days to arrive.

6/11 The hot water storage tank is connected, full of water and pressurized. Still missing two fittings for the panels, but I should be able to completely plumb the PEX and insulation tomorrow. I need one 1" fitting for a air bleeder and one 1" fitting for a cap and pressure relief valve. Have everything else ready to install tomorrow.

6/12 Finished plumbing and insulating system. Just waiting on two special fittings due in Monday Morning.

 

 

6/14 Put temporary plugs on two fittings and flooded panels, bled air and turned on system for first time. Had to work out a few changes to thermometers for proper metering but now heating water properly. Took my first shower with solar hydronic hot water in 27 years. Well that's not true, many hot baths in China using solar hot water. It looks like it is imperative to install a pressure relief valve...the water was boiling in the panels today before I could turn on the circulator pump. We will debug the system and operate for a while before adding RV antifreeze to system.

6/21 Solar hydronic system is now fully installed with check valve, pressure relief valve, thermostat sensor properly placed and pressurized. It is automatic and fully functional. It uses 60 watts for a circulation pump from 10:30 to 18:00 on a partly cloudy to sunny day.

6/25/08 THE PROOF! 60 DEGREE C. IN THE HOLDING TANK! THAT'S 140 F.

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