| With a self built solar powered water heater you will | | | | These can be directly connected to your existing hot |
| significantly reduce the costs of your electricity bills. Not | | | | water system to heat your water as normal. You can |
| only that, but you can also build a mini water heater | | | | install some deep cycle high capacity batteries to heat |
| that can be taken camping or hiking. You need a few | | | | when the sun is not out. |
| bits and pieces from the local hardware store, some | | | | If you don't already have an electric hot water system, |
| project schematics, and a bit of time to cut and | | | | you can build a "real time" solar heater. This device is a |
| assemble. Obviously the bigger the project, the more | | | | bit more complicated that other projects, but allows |
| time is required. This article gives you a general | | | | you to use your solar energy to heat water "on the |
| overview of the building process, and shows you | | | | fly". In other words, it heat the water as you use it, and |
| where to download some easy to build solar water | | | | requires no water storage device. |
| heater blueprints. | | | | The easiest option is if you're wanting to build a |
| You've basically got a few options here, depending if | | | | portable water heater for showers and washing up |
| you want to have solar hot water at home or when | | | | when you're camping. This takes just a simple solar |
| you're out camping. If you want to run your home hot | | | | panel and a container to hold the water. You can |
| water system off solar energy, I would recommend | | | | leave it hanging up in a tree to heat up, and have a hot |
| building a proper solar panel for your roof or backyard. | | | | shower within 20 minutes. |