solar thermal collector water for central heating?

[Teamkruuse]

Hello 

Does anybody use the sun for heating there houses?
Not only for the shower but especially for central heating?
Strange that I don’t see more solar thermal collector than I do!
If I see any 
Sun is shining every day 

If anybody have one fitted
I would like to get some info about this subject 

Thanks 

[llamedos]

The Spanish are very backward when it comes to solar energy, which is strange when you consider the bun fight you see when there's anything free being handed out.
As far as I'm aware you have to pay for the electricity you manufacture via solar panels or at least you had too a while ago, although there are a few solar panel water heaters popping up in the area they are by no means popular.
I'd love to have a solar water heater which would save a fortune.


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[Teamkruuse]

I wonder if there will be enough power in one of these to heat up the house (central heating) 

[John H]

I remember when I looked into this a few years ago the two issues when using solar energy for heating are;
1. The large amount of harvesters/panels you would need
2. The size of tank you would need to store the energy/hot water to heat the house with.

With the quality of the insulation of the average house in GA the size of the tank would be massive




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[llamedos]

You're right John, the tanks on the roofs of the houses down near the gabe are pretty large, and the solar panels seem quite small in comparison.


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[Tony Gillam]

Yet they are almost universal in Greece. Are all those Greek apartment blocks better built than Spain?

[kevinb]

As far as I know the systems we see are for domestic hot water not for heating the house, as John mentions a system for heating the house would be massive, also wouldn't produce heat at night.

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[llamedos]

I wondered why my solar torch wasn't working last night.


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[Blue and white stripes]

Or my sundial. :-)

[Aficionado]

I remember in the days of the old forum one of the members built his own solar collector then published a booklet on how to do it and put it on Amazon where it could be downloaded for free. I can't recall who it was now, think it was about 7 to 8 years ago?? Maybe someone else can remember.

I downloaded the booklet at the time but now I can't find it on my system. Anybody out there still have it?

Michael.

[John H]

It was Steve Guest Michael, I can't remember the name he used on the forum.
Him and his family are still in GA full time and living and loving life to the full


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[Aficionado]

Brilliant John, well done. Here is the publication, still available for free on KIndle

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DIY-Solar-Hot-Water-power-ebook/dp/B006PQMNM6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1488382479&sr=8-3&keywords=steve+guest

I wonder if it is still going strong on Steve's roof?

Michael.