Hot Water Solutions for Summer Camps
Seasonal use homes present special opportunities since they will not be used durning the short days of winter. For these applications we often recommend Sklyline™ flat plat collectors
as opposed to evacuated tube systems. A flat plate system is less expensive, lighter in weight, and quicker to install. They have a durable double wall polycabonate glazing instead of glass. This system will not have the capablity to provide home heat, but for seasonal use this is not an issue.
A solar water heating system has a small circulation pump that can be powered by regular AC power or by DC. A small roof mounted PV panel will allow the pump to run when the sun shines, and will shut down the flow at night when no solar radiation is available. This is the perfect solution for homes or cabins that do not connect to the regular utility grid.
The flat panel system can be filled with Gylcol, instead of water, so that there is no need to worry about draining, or winter freezing.
If you have good plumbing skills you may be able to even install a Sklyline™ flat plate solar systems yourself. But please remember that the Maine Rebate program and the Federal tax credit require that a certified installer do the work to be eligible for their programs.