How Do I Build Passive Solar Panels for Radiant Floor Heat?
- 1). Measure the area where you will mount your solar panels. Determine the size panels that will fit, accounting for the weight to be borne by any underlying structure, and ease of handling. Frame out panels with lumber. Cut plywood to size to cover the backs of the panel frames. Cut Styrofoam to fit backing. Attach backing to frame with wood screws, sandwiching Styrofoam between plywood and frame to ensure a leak-proof seal.
- 2). Build a manifold out of copper tubing to fit the size of the frames. This involves cutting copper tubes to size with the tube cutter, soldering them into a main delivery tube to send heated fluid to a collector, and a main return tube bringing cooled fluid back to the solar panel. Cover the copper manifold with copper or aluminum sheeting, formed for maximum contact with copper tubing. Attach the entire assembly to plywood back wall with wood screws.
- 3). Paint the entire manifold assembly with black paint to enhance absorption of the sun's heating energy. Cut glass panel to size to cover the front of the solar panel frame. Glaze edges of the glass panel to form an airtight seal. Cut wood frames to hold the glass to the front of panel. Glaze the edge where glass meets wood.
- 4). Attach outbound copper tube from the solar panel to feed the collector for the radiant floor heat system. Attach the return tube coming from the collector. Fill the solar collector with fluid.
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