Build an Extreme Green Hot Water Solar Collector

These instructions describe how to build a passive solar hot water collector using your existing water heater. This solar collector uses no pumps or additional electricity to operate and assembled without pipe bending. The instructions include a complete materials list with prices and part numbers from a large well known hardware store.

The Second Edition adds a solar-powered pump solution when collector positioing, long pipe runs, or other issues do not permit proper thermo-siphoning. Also included is a new appendix for troubleshooting common issues, and small changes in the text body with new illustrations to further clarify some of the existing steps.

The third edition makes minor corrections and updates.

The fourth edition adds a Spanish translation and additional updates.

This is an advanced project that requires good skills in silver soldering and custom plumbing fabrication.