Hey,I made a simple solar water heater with a 55 gallon barrel elevated slightly. Took a garden hose connected to a well and made a connection for the rather cold water on the bottom, the barrel is black and in direct sunlight most the day, so I'm thinking the warm water will rise, the output sends the top third of the water to the camper. The problem I'm having is with the psi the barrel can hold. It wouldn't take the psi of the well so I got a regulator with the gauge. Now I can set it but I'm dissapointed to see the barrel can only take 10 psi, any more than that and it deforms. Anyone have any idea on what to do?It is one with a removable head, but the lock is a very simple, and effective metal clamping lock. I would attempt the same thing with a non removable lid barrel if it wasn't for the bottom also deforming at over 10 psi

That's a good idea but I'm wanting it to be able to hold psi and be able to regulate the input pressure from the well to be able to pressurize the output to a sufficient amount.

The toilet float valve sounds good at first, but I think you will lose a lot of water heating efficiency if there is an air space at the top.How much pump pressure, and how much tank pressure would you like? Maybe 40psi to feed an RV?The problem is the large area of the flat drum heads. Do the math and you will see how much pressure there is on the heads. The cylinder of the drum would probably handle it, but not the heads.Consider a 20 gallon drum. Do the math on the head area, and it is much much less. I still don't know if you can get to 40 or 60 psi. Can you add stiffeners to each head?Try to eliminate all of the air inside the drum, and then you don't have to worry about creating a bomb. Air will expand violently. Water won't.

A better vessel is a hot water heater tank. There are plans on YouTube. Build a wooden box around it, paint it all black, tank black, clear plexiglas.Cold into the bottom, hot out the top.

How about putting a 12 volt pump in line. Let the barrel gravity flow to the pump and let the pump build your pressure.

Simple passive solar water heater | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

Swell1
Explorer
Nov 07, 2018
How about putting a 12 volt pump in line. Let the barrel gravity flow to the pump and let the pump build your pressure.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Nov 07, 2018
A better vessel is a hot water heater tank. There are plans on YouTube. Build a wooden box around it, paint it all black, tank black, clear plexiglas.

Cold into the bottom, hot out the top.
bpounds
Nomad
Nov 07, 2018
The toilet float valve sounds good at first, but I think you will lose a lot of water heating efficiency if there is an air space at the top.

How much pump pressure, and how much tank pressure would you like? Maybe 40psi to feed an RV?

The problem is the large area of the flat drum heads. Do the math and you will see how much pressure there is on the heads. The cylinder of the drum would probably handle it, but not the heads.

Consider a 20 gallon drum. Do the math on the head area, and it is much much less. I still don't know if you can get to 40 or 60 psi. Can you add stiffeners to each head?

Try to eliminate all of the air inside the drum, and then you don't have to worry about creating a bomb. Air will expand violently. Water won't.
TerrorismIsn_tO
Explorer
Nov 07, 2018
That's a good idea but I'm wanting it to be able to hold psi and be able to regulate the input pressure from the well to be able to pressurize the output to a sufficient amount.
ScottG
Nomad
Nov 07, 2018
Toilet fill valve with float?

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Simple passive solar water heater

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