From: Winston@Bigbrother.net   
      
   Jim Wilkins wrote:   
   > "j"  wrote in message   
   > news:jhjhjb$v1h$1@news.albasani.net...   
   >> ... If I were to do this again, I'd probably save all the cost of copper   
   >> and aluminum and do a Thomason style trickle down collector with mylar and   
   >> SunTuf. Or perhaps a batch heater like yours and save a lot of money and   
   >> time! Not to mention having it up and running!   
   >> ...   
   >> Jeff   
   >   
   > The self-contained batch heater requires yard space with good sun exposure   
   > and perhaps more attention to its appearance. I painted mine to match the   
   > foundation and house. It looks like a doghouse when it's closed, not a   
   > wierdo science experiment (got those too). Recovery time for the 40 gallon   
   > tank is a day or two, so it's better for laundry than showers.   
      
   That is high tech, Jim!   
      
   Right now, I'm experimenting with solar reflectors.   
      
   I have some surplus acrylic mirror material taped to some MDF   
   which is propped up on a step ladder.  It reflects solar   
   energy from the back yard into the kitchen/living room area.   
   It brightens the place up a lot.  The stuff is $7 to $10 a   
   square foot, so I buy cheap 'drops' of it when I'm in the   
   area of my plastic monger.   
      
   Curiously, aluminum foil did not reflect nearly as well as I'd   
   hoped. The crinkly surface puts too much power at inconvenient   
   angles.  Also, I find that plain (non-mirror) acrylic appears   
   to work nearly as well as does the expensive 'mirror' stuff   
   in reflecting sunlight.   
      
   I've also discovered that merely opening a screen door and   
   allowing my garage exhaust fan to pull in heated air from outside   
   heats the place up a *lot* faster than does my solar reflector.   
      
   --Winston   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)