Solar heating panels

There are various types of DIY solar heating panels.

The above are some of the different types of DIY solar heating panels. They are all extremely easy and straight forward to construct.

The basic materials required to construct a solar heating panel:

• Wood for frames
• Copper pipes or high-heat-resistant rubber pies (Black)
• Clean sheet of glass
• Heat insulators (wrap with aluminium foil)

How solar heating panel works:

When room-temperature water enters the solar heating panel, the heat build-up inside the enclosed panel is transferred to the water as the water travels to a coil or maze like pipe. By the time it reaches the out flow point of the panel, the water should be heated. The longer the water travels in the panel, the more heat can be transferred to the water.

The enclosed environment of a DIY solar heating panel is very important. The clean sheet of glass allows sun ray to pass through it. The aluminium wrapped heat insulator traps the heat from the sun's rays and prevent heat from escaping. The only route for the heat to escape would be through the copper pipes where water is slowly flowing through it.

Also don't forget:

• A water pump
• A water storage tank

A water pump is necessary to push water through the panel and into your storage tanks.

With the storage tanks, you can access heated water anytime during the day or night.