Solar Panels and Solar Water Heating Systems

[Arwenn]

Here is another video that’s similar in principle. Not sure how well any of this works, it would need to be looked into further or tried out IRL.

 

[Cosmos]

Forgot to mention the following important points in the initial/first post. I added them to the original post:

[…][Edit 29.11.2023. Added the following two points=] 5: Bifacial panels handle snowloads better. Especially if positioned at an angle and you have a good Albedo effect (via snow on the ground or similarly diffuse white grounds) those panels tend to melt the snow on the panel much more pronounced even in very cold weather. Which means that they tend to clear/melt the snow away above the cells quite effectively in contrast to standard panels. 6: A good positioned bifacial panel can continue producing electricity (although much reduced) when the top is covered with snow because of the bifacial feature.[…]

[…]- [Edit 29.11.2023. Added the following=] Be aware of snowloads on solar panels in the winter. When there is snow cover on standard solar panels they pretty much stop to function. Bifacial panels handle snowloads better. Especially if positioned at an angle and you have a good Albedo effect (via Snow on the ground or similarly diffuse white grounds), those panels tend to melt the snow on the panel much more pronounced even in very cold weather. Which means that they tend to clear/melt the snow away by themselves above the cells quite effectively in contrast to standard panels. The handling of snowloads is even better when you have a tracking system equipped with bifacial panels. A good positioned bifacial panel can continue producing electricity (although much reduced) when the top is covered with snow because of the bifacial feature.[…]

 

[iamthatis]

The coil in the fire would work just fine to heat the tub - although it could be more efficient. You could capture better heat just by enclosing the coil in bricks or something, decreasing the amount of fuel needed to heat the tub.

To my eye it works on the same principle as many wood-burning stoves that have water jackets installed, and which can provide plenty of hot water to even a sizeable home.

As an example, a few of my neighbours heated all their water all year long with just their wood stoves. When the fire was going, the heated water rose all the way to the reservoir on or near the roof. Just by turning the tap and letting gravity do the rest, this hot water could then be used in the kitchen, for showers, etc. Good ol' thermo-siphons.

The presenter in the video below starts talking about how this works at 1:34:19. There are other points in the vid that may be interesting, such as a serpentine coil system attached to the stove, which starts at 39:40. There are various other methods discussed.

For thermo-siphon systems, it is very important to have pressure release valves at the high point of the system and on top of the storage tank to let steam or oxygen bubbles out - otherwise things start blowing up!

Also, if such a pot has a lid and is not too big, one might easily carry the hot water pots to the kitchen, bathroom or laundry area, keeping them in (DIY) insulated boxes.

FWIW, I found this tutorial about a cheap DIY hand-washing 'machine' using 5 gallon buckets and a plunger. The music is pretty obnoxious but the concept is simple enough, and would be cheap and easy to make. I was thinking it'd probably be much more effective in cold times to heat water and use some 'machine' like this rather than anything else. 5 gallon buckets make an easy toilet as well... just gotta make not to mix up the toilet bucket and the laundry one...