PLUMBING UP MOTHER'S SOLAR FURNACE

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... INSTALL THE MIRRORS ...

Once the correct elevation has been determined, begin installing the mirrors. Slip each foot-square pane of reflective glass into its individual mount by spreading the two sheet-metal "fingers" apart, then—using the tool described in the accompanying sidebar—bend the short 1/4" stem on each mirror mount until its spot of reflected light strikes the underside of your heat exchanger squarely.

(It will be easier to mount and adjust the mirrors if you cut out about two dozen 12" X 12" cardboard blanks, and use them to cover the installed reflectors as you go. This way, only one mirror at a time will throw a spot of light on the boiler, and you'll be able to insure an accurate adjustment. When all your blanks have been used, merely remove them and cover the mounted reflectors with a couple of bedsheets. Then reinstall We cardboard squares on the next series of mirrors ... and so on till the entire job is completed. For your own safety, PLEASE wear protective dark glasses or goggles when making the above adjustments ... concentrated sunlight can easily damage your eyes!)

... AND YOU'RE READY TO GO!

Finally, install the furnace's water feed system (a garden hose—plumbed into the inlet side of the steam generatorwill do just fine). In our case, water pressure on the "in" side figured out to nearly 90 PSI ... which was about right for our needs. Of course, if you plan on running higher pressures in your own furnace (or if you want to operate a steam engine, and the water pressure in your area is a good deal lower than 90 PSI), you'll have to supplement your incoming "H2O punch" with an additional pump.

Now you're ready to give the tracking system a "dry run" before passing water through the plumbing. First, check to make sure all the electrical components are wired together correctly (according to the diagrams on page 95 of MOTHER NO. 55), then remove the ropes that hold the mirror frame in an upright position.

Next, note—at noon—the position of the phototransistor switch housing ... to determine whether a shadow is being cast on the small nodular control itself (the shadow should just barely cover the switch to its edge). If shade doesn't fall on the eye as it should, bend the shelf bracket till the housing is in the optimum position, then connect your power lead to the storage battery.

As the day goes on, the gimbal frame should move in small increments from right to left (as you face it with the sun at your back) until late afternoon ... when the left-hand control arm will strike the sunset switch and reverse the motor to bring the entire frame-and-boiler assembly back to its original position, ready for the start of a new day. (Then, as the frame returns, the right-hand control arm will trigger the sunrise switch, shutting off the motor and setting its current flow back to normal.)

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