Then and Now ----high performance coaxial vacuum solar collectors and 1970's flat plate hot air collector.

The solar collector on the left uses a small PV module to power a DC pump. The air collectors need a much more powerful AC blower motor to force air through the collector array. With PV liquid pumping there is no utitlty electricity needed to run the collector energy into the radiant heaters inside the house.

Pump assembly is outside under window greenhouse, normally in a basement or garage.

Photo on right shows available pre assembled DC pump & gauge pkg for easy installation.

Measuing radiation levels

Solar Noon, October 3, 2007 the radiation perpindicular to the sun was at 946 w/M2 ( blue sky, bright sunny day ) and the radiation on the plane of the collector at 90 deg to horizon was at 665 w/M2. It is amazing that at a loss of 30% of the radiation ( not including reflection and no snow on the ground ) that the collector gets as "hot" as it does !

Radiant baseboard panel temperature

This is a small reading room and home office. The radiant panel on the wall is just enough to warm it up nicely on a sunny day. A much better idea is to use hydronic in floor ( pex tubing ). That would warm the floor of the entire room and increase the performance of the solar collector.

The photo shows temperature in early October in south west Michigan at over 160 degrees F. The vacuum tube collector is a solar sponge, it sees radiation and captures the waves. The outside ambient temp does not affect the collector performance.

Solar wall heating system packaged Kits:



• ( 2 ) SP-10 solar thermal collectors
• Pump assembly ( DC pump, X tank, T gauge, pressure gauge, Fill / driane valves, 20 watt PV module.
• 2 - 3 ft x 3/4" radiant baseboard panels.
• not including: 1/2" copper pipe, insulation, etc.

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Gallery of Interesting wall mounted solar thermal systems: