Matt's "$1K" Solar Water Heating System

 

This is Matt's $1K type solar water heating system.  Matt tried a few new things that might be just what you are looking for.  One of Matt's innovations is what might be the worlds first bicycle powered groove forming machine! 

 

 

 

Matt is a very good craftsman, and provides a wealth of interesting alternative ways of making the components.

 

Some of the unique features of Matt's system:

- A unique forming machine to form the groove in the aluminum fins.


- A new method of attaching the fins to the copper tubes.

 

- A copper heat exchanger that uses 6 parallel coils of 3/8 inch copper pipe.

 

- a galvanized metal collector frame.

 

- A steel tank instead of the EPDM lined plywood tank.


- Glass for glazing instead of polycarbonate.

Thanks very much to Matt for taking the time to document this project!

 

Download the details on Matt's project:

A detailed, 6 page description of the project ...   (0.8 mb pdf)

 

More photos of the build and install process...   (a photo album)

 

Matt will answer email questions at: auch  AT tds  DOT  net   (change AT to @ and DOT to a period)

 

 

 

Gary August 7, 2009