How To Make Solar Heating Panels

The cost of everything needed to run a modern home seems to be rising daily. Every homeowner is financially stressed and looking desperately for ways to reduce costs and stretch each dollar as far as possible. Recognizing that the cost of electrical power is responsible for a significant portion of monthly household costs, many homeowners are looking to solar power to help reduce those costs.

After a homeowner makes the initial investment in equipment, electrical power from solar energy is free, can run many of their appliances, and provide inexpensive hot water. Learning how to make solar heating panels and installing them to heat a homes hot water, can be easily managed by most homeowners by following the steps given below.

Acquire Materials for the Solar Heating Panel

Acquire the following materials:

l      Enough hardwood, teak of cedar is excellent, to build a frame that is 5 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3/8ths inch thick

l      A sheet of marine plywood large enough create a backing for the frame

l      Wood preservative

l      An aluminum sheet approximately 5 feet long and 3 feet wide

l      Matte black paint

l      Wood preservative

l      Wood screws

Building the Solar Heating Panel Frame

1.      Using the hardwood material, constuct a frame that is 5 feet long, 3 feet wide, and ³/₈ ths inch thick.

2.      Using a circular saw to cut out lips, approximately ¼ inch thick, into which the collector plate and glass will be fitted.

3.      Drill two ½ inch diameter holes in the sides of the frame, about 1¼ inches from the top and bottom of the frame to provide access for copper tubing.

4.      Attach a marine plywood backing sheet to the back of the frame. Cut it to fit the frame exactly.

5.      Screw the backing sheet to the frame.

6.      Coat the frame and backing sheet with wood preservative to ensure a lasting finish.

Assembling the Solar Heating Panel

1.      Carefully clean the aluminum sheet to ensure no oil coating remains.

2.      Rough the shiney side of the sheet with sandpaper and apply red oxide or zinc chromate primer.

3.      Position glass fiber wool insulation into the tray.

4.      Insert the plate into the tray.

5.      Screw wooden strips to the sides of the inner frame to hold the plate in place.

6.      Spray paint the inside wall of the wooden frame.

7.      Insert the glass panels into the frame.

You have now created a solar heating panel that can be installed at your home to provide you with low cost hot water, saving you money on that steadily rising electrical bill.