Posted under:
Going GreenSUPPLIES
- Passive solar hot water system components and hardware
- Solar photovoltaic system components and hardware
- Assorted screwdrivers
- Assorted wrenches
- Pipe wrenches
- Soldering iron and solder
- Clamp-style voltage meter
- Multimeter
Overview
Converting your home to solar energy is a good way to save money and help the environment. A complete solar conversion will involve two types of solar power. One collects the heat and converts it for hot water use. The other is an electric conversion that converts and stores solar energy as electricity. Once installed, the fuel for solar energy systems is both clean and free. The exact steps and requirements will vary, depending on your installation site. However, the general steps will be similar for most solar conversions.
Install a Passive Solar Hot Water System
Step 1
Turn off the water main to the house.
Step 2
Install the brackets that will support the solar collector by bolting them to your roof.
Step 3
Screw or bolt the solar collector to the brackets. The way it is attached will vary depending on the collector you are using.
Step 4
Install the hot water collector tank near your existing gas or electric hot water tank. Some collector tanks mount on the wall, others will sit on the floor. If yours mounts to the wall, screw or bolt the tank to the wall.
Step 5
Disconnect your existing hot water heater's cold water feed using a pipe wrench.
Step 6
Run plumbing from the collector's cold water intake to the cold water source that was feeding your hot water heater. The technique will vary depending on your existing plumbing and location of your solar collector. In most cases, pipe will be metal. Cut the pipe to length and use threaded joints at corners or in other places to allow the pipe to follow interior and exterior contours. Seal threaded joints with plumber's tape.
Step 7
Connect the outflow valve on the solar collector to the inflow of the storage tank. This process is similar to Step 6.
Step 8
Connect the outflow from the storage tank to your hot water heater's inflow valve.
Step 9
Turn the water main back on and check for leaks. If you find a leak, unscrew the pipe from the threaded joint and rewrap the joint with plumber's tape.
Install Solar Photovoltaics and Battery Power Storage
Step 1
Install the solar photovoltaic (PV) mounting brackets by bolting them to the roof.
Step 2
Screw or bolt the PV panels to the mounting brackets. The exact procedure will vary depending on the type and size of panels you have.
Step 3
Install the battery storage packs and inverters in a suitable location. The exact process will vary depending on the type and number of batteries your installation requires and the kind of inverter you will use.
Step 4
Connect the power outputs from the PV panels to the inputs on the battery packs. Connect the positive (+) lead from the PV panel to the positive (+) mains input on the battery system. Connect the negative (-) from the PV panel to the negative (-) on your battery system. This is usually done by screwing connectors similar to your car's battery connectors to posts on both ends of the cable.
Step 5
Connect the outputs from the battery packs to the inputs on the inverter. Be sure to connect the positive (+) connection from the battery packs to the positive (+) input on the inverter and the negative (-) connection from the battery pack to the negative (-) on the inverter.
Step 6
Connect the inverter to the mains on your home's breaker box. The exact way this is done will depend on the inverter and local zoning ordinances. Be sure to use an appropriate gauge of electrical wire for the amount of power your inverter will produce.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : The passive hot water system is intended to work as an adjunct to your existing hot water heater, an electric on-demand hot water heater connected to a larger solar array will help take your home "off-grid."
Work with a good system designer to achieve maximum efficiency with your home system.
If you are intending to take your home "off-grid," make sure that your battery storage is adequate for peak night power requirements.
- WARNING : Passive solar hot water systems produce very hot water when operating at their peak, so be careful of burns.
Solar PV systems produce high-voltage electricity and can produce lethal voltages.
Most municipalities require PV systems to be, at a minimum, inspected by a licensed electrician.
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