A Portable Solar Water Heater

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Finally, you'll want a standard nozzle on the other end of the hose. When I was constructing my heater, I used the end of an old hose that still had the male connector on it — to which I could attach the water control valve. However, if you don't find such a piece, you can purchase a garden hose repair kit — which will contain the fitting you need — for less than $1.00 at any hardware store. Simply attach it, and your solar water heater will be complete.

Here's How to Use It

The operation of the portable hot water unit is even easier than its construction.

For efficiency, you'll probably want to use a funnel to fill it (just pour the water into the hose). However, when getting your liquid from a lake or stream, you can first fill up the tube with air, then dunk the whole device into the water and open the new valve. The water will displace the air and fill up the heater.

Once that's accomplished, place the apparatus in the sunshine. The average increase in water temperature will be 10 degrees for every hour your "tank" spends under ol' Sol, leveling off at about 115 degrees Fahrenheit. For a faster heat gain, place the tube on the hot roof of a car or truck that's parked in the sun. You can easily draw water from the heater in this position, too, as shown in Photo 5.

In order to take a shower, it'll be necessary to place the filled tube above your head. This can be done by putting it on the roof of your camper or hanging it from a pole or branch (just watch out for any sharp edges that could cause a puncture). And for a really fine shower, a small plastic sprinkler can be bought for less than $1.00 and attached to the end of your hose segment.

When you're ready to move on, merely empty the inner tube and roll it up (Photo 6) for handy storage. But don't forget about it when you get home: In addition to camping and traveling uses, the rubber doughnut can be placed on the roof of an outhouse or shed as a convenient water source for outdoor hand-washing. (Of course, you'll have to take the tube down every week or so to refill it, but its light weight will make that chore easy.)

Isn't it nice to know that — as long as the sun shines — you'll never have to go without the luxury of hot water again?

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