Mother's Do It Yourself Solar Water Heating Project

(Page 4 of 4)

September/October 1981
By Mother Earth News Editors 
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Since we published the first installment of our solar collector comparison (in issue 70), we've heard from Michael F. Zinn, president of BioEnergy Systems (the manufacturer of SolaRoll) ...who pointed out that polystyrene insulation should never be used in a solar device, since the material melts at approximately 200°F. Below that temperature, the foam may release gases that can degrade a collector's glazing. (Bio-Energy specifies only polyisocyanurate foam insulation for its products.)

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The company's director mentioned, too, that SolaRoll absorber mat is now approved by the Food and Drug Administration for potable water use ...but like most collector manufacturers, Bio-Energy recommends the use of antifreeze to prevent over pressurization of the tubes, which might be caused by freezing.

Finally, Mr . Zinn suggested that the availability of trained SolaRolf dealers might aid do-it-yourselfers in getting their solar heaters to work properly.

And, under separate cover, we received a "thumb saver" device, which is used to set SolaRoll absorber mat tubes into the collector's headers ...the tool works quite well, and makes the task of plumbing a Bio-Energy collector both easier and less painful.

We also need to update our description of MOTHER's in-line collectors. The devices that our research staff built from aluminum printing plates were not soldered. Instead, two such sheets were sandwiched around the collector's tubes and then stapled in place. However, we ended up using copper-equipped-in-line collectors for the test ...since the only available aluminum absorber units were permanently mounted in a seminar exhibit. Please note that the per-square-foot price for the in-line units has been adjusted accordingly. (EDITOR'S NOTE: To order MOTHER NO. 67, which contained the plans for the stapled aluminum in-line collector, turn to page 148.]

* Price does not include insulation.

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