|
Welcome
Jan 12, 2011 15:49:37 GMT -5
Post by cye on Jan 12, 2011 15:49:37 GMT -5
Welcome to the SolarCo-Op discussion forum. What is the SolarCo-Op? Founded in early 2010, the co-op is simply a co-operative network of people helping one another with simple, low-impact energy solutions. We're not trying to sell anyone anything or promote any particular product or brand, we're just trying to get people working together and sharing knowledge on DIY-able energy generation & energy saving measures in their own homes. At the outset the co-op started out working with and advising people on installing their own solar water heating systems. Also known as 'solar thermal', this is a lovely simple technology. After insulating your house, solar water heating is pretty much a no-brainer in terms of the potential energy benefits. It’s also much easier to do than most people think. By the end of our first year we'd run 5 half-day workshops for transition, permaculture and other community groups across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and so far we have half a dozen co-opers who have installed their own solar water systems in collaboration with one another. The Co-Op also encourages and supports the use of efficient low-tech wood-burning techniques, low-power transport, improving home insulation, small-scale solar electricity generation, etc. And all with a focus on improving one's ability to make and repair one's own stuff, and indeed anything else which increases a person's self-reliance and reduces their general consumption! Check out our website on www.solarco-op.net/Feel free to ask questions or to share your knowledge. Enjoy!
|
|
|
Welcome
Jan 12, 2011 19:04:22 GMT -5
Post by campbeji on Jan 12, 2011 19:04:22 GMT -5
Hi all,
I attended one of the workshops put on by the SolarCo-Op in Belfast recently. When I booked it I had expected it to be either of two scenarios. A very polished presentation that was delivered in a very 'professional' way by an organisation (possibly government funded) that new a lot about the physics and best practice and the 'proper way' to do things, but that they hadn't actually seen or touched a solar panel before. The other possibility was that it would be a bunch of rampant greenies who would be promoting a totaly unrealistic lifestyle type thing, where you need to put in stacks of work and a fortune in money to get a little benefit from.
I was very suprised when it was neither of these things, it was actually two guys who were very entertaining, giving a presentation that while not 'polished' was packed with more info than I could remember. They have had first hand experience of putting their own systems together. They were also promoting a way of doing it which is basically a professional system at a fraction of the cost, and most importantly they made me think that I could do it too.
So basically if you haven't been to one of the presentations and you get a chance then just go, you'll learn something.
Jim
|
|
|
Welcome
Jan 13, 2011 14:03:32 GMT -5
Post by cye on Jan 13, 2011 14:03:32 GMT -5
Hi Jim, thanks for the favourable comments on our gathering at Lawrence Street Workshops. We enjoyed it too and learnt a fair bit into the bargain! I appreciate we probably crammed more than we should have into a few short hours, so, when we get a chance, we'll start posting the core elements of what was covered on either this forum or on the www.solarco-op.net site. Rgds Cye
|
|
|
Welcome
Mar 3, 2011 17:51:51 GMT -5
Post by solarcompanies on Mar 3, 2011 17:51:51 GMT -5
Hello!
I came across your site and love the concept. I think a lot of people are intimidated by DIY solar projects and other green endeavors. So kudos to you for helping out the renewable community.
Cheers! -tad.
|
|
|
Post by binhoker on Apr 4, 2011 7:48:29 GMT -5
hi paddy from the workshops here. i have dug out an old plate heat exchanger that i had lying about and am going to plumb it in to my boiler using a radiator as a colector to start with. i can't find the 12 v pump you guys like so much on ebay as i recall it had 3\4 threads each end do you have a link to the seller
|
|
|
Welcome
May 6, 2011 17:11:26 GMT -5
Post by binhoker on May 6, 2011 17:11:26 GMT -5
got the system up and running after a fashion first hitch i encountered when i put a bit of extra torque on a dripping pump fitting and managed to snap of the plastic thread. a couple of days and a lot of tec7 later it has been bodged together. i havent got the controller built yet and am just using a mains timer, and seem to be losing pressure very slowly. but get enough water to wash more dishes than i could be bothered to wash. net i will lag my tank which is still bare copper sort out the controller and eventually fit more collector. thanks for the help
|
|
|
Welcome
May 6, 2011 17:31:49 GMT -5
Post by cye on May 6, 2011 17:31:49 GMT -5
binhoker, that's great news!
if I get anyone with a pump failure i'll refrain from dumping the pump and will keep the top section for you. this can then be swapped over to replace your one with the sheared threads.
If you roll ptfe up into a skinny string (as thick as dental floss) and wind into the threads first of all, then lap ptfe over the threads in the normal way, it seems to work a treat. conor gave me that tip and it works every time.
any chance of a few pics of your radiator panel setup?
if you can't see any leaks & you're using an expansion vessel and seeing pressure loss, perhaps it's the balloon losing air pressure? The schrader valve in mine does this and like any other bike/car valve can be tested with soapy water.
thanks for letting is know how you got along.
|
|
|
Welcome
May 7, 2011 13:48:41 GMT -5
Post by binhoker on May 7, 2011 13:48:41 GMT -5
i was using a thread sealing paste which is normally good but i think i might have been tightening the compression fitting when i bust it. havent figured out how to upload pics yet [/img]
|
|
|
Welcome
May 23, 2011 13:10:33 GMT -5
Post by binhoker on May 23, 2011 13:10:33 GMT -5
update the tec 7 gave up on my pump which has taken out the whole system
|
|
|
Welcome
May 23, 2011 14:45:13 GMT -5
Post by cye on May 23, 2011 14:45:13 GMT -5
paddy, i've asked around to see if there's a spare head anywhere. i'm all out until another lot arrive in a fortnight. i have a different type of head with hose connections you can try if you're stuck.
cye
|
|
|
Welcome
May 24, 2011 13:33:28 GMT -5
Post by cye on May 24, 2011 13:33:28 GMT -5
paddy,
colin lloyd has kindly agreed to post a spare pump head to the workshops to get you going again
rgds
|
|
|
Welcome
Dec 13, 2011 14:13:15 GMT -5
Post by caveman on Dec 13, 2011 14:13:15 GMT -5
We are now 50 members. Before you know it the forum will be a hive of activity with folks making stuff out of nothing and posting accounts and pics of their efforts. I am off to open a bottle of homebrew to mark the occaision.
|
|
|
Welcome
Dec 13, 2011 14:46:16 GMT -5
Post by cye on Dec 13, 2011 14:46:16 GMT -5
Jim,
Good to hear you are inspired, I will, along with others here no doubt, give you a hand on your solar.
I know Joe knows that manure is good stuff and doesn't regard it as sh*t, just the other cr*p that is sprayed on most foodstuffs on the typical farm. You are quite right about what needs done to support and encourage local farmers re the stuff we can't grow ourselves in wee pots and in window boxes and on ledges here and there. Jim, please stick some of your endeavours up on this forum as well as your blog so we can see the progress!
Caveman, please tell us about your brew and what the ingredients are and methods etc. My memory of homebrew is that the secret is not to drink the stuff straight away, as even a few months improves flavour greatly. Why would anyone throw more money in VAT and duty at the taxman, sure he only wastes it and you never know what's in it either.
|
|
|
Welcome
Dec 13, 2011 19:08:04 GMT -5
Post by campbeji on Dec 13, 2011 19:08:04 GMT -5
Cye, Thanks for that, I'm sure you and the other people here will be a great help. I'll certainly post any relevant stuff on here as well as my blog, although the blog will have other stuff about a few different projects that I'll not burden you all with Like I say the blog will be a way for me to record stuff for myself and I'm sure most of it will be as boring as dishwater for most people.
|
|
|
Welcome
Dec 15, 2011 19:28:20 GMT -5
Post by cye on Dec 15, 2011 19:28:20 GMT -5
|
|