Does anyone have any open loop solar water heating. Using either commercial or DIY solar collectors. This could be plastic or copper tubing as well. I live in Hawaii so there's no need for a closed loop system or glycerol.
Do you recirculate the water from the cold side of the water heater back into the water heater. How do you prevent the water in the collector tubing from overheating? Assuming it's a really hot day and the water isn't being used. Has anyone ever used a recirculator pump to pump the water through the tubing? Maybe use its thermostat somehow? Automatic dump system or shading system? A pressure release valve?
I know there are kits that used the drain valve to pump the hot water into the tank. A furnace valve is usually added to that pipe lower than the drain outlet on the hot water heater for a drain valve. These are usually full-size water heaters. Has anyone ever seen this done on a 20 or 30 gallon tank. I realize some of the smaller tanks don't have drain valves but some do.
Do you recirculate the water from the cold side of the water heater back into the water heater. How do you prevent the water in the collector tubing from overheating? Assuming it's a really hot day and the water isn't being used. Has anyone ever used a recirculator pump to pump the water through the tubing? Maybe use its thermostat somehow? Automatic dump system or shading system? A pressure release valve?
I know there are kits that used the drain valve to pump the hot water into the tank. A furnace valve is usually added to that pipe lower than the drain outlet on the hot water heater for a drain valve. These are usually full-size water heaters. Has anyone ever seen this done on a 20 or 30 gallon tank. I realize some of the smaller tanks don't have drain valves but some do.