[Greenbuilding] Solar Water Heater architecture

[Keith Winston]

I also keep meaning to mention, Laing has just come out with a small DC 
pump with a built-in MPPT, for solar applications. I have one sitting 
here but haven't had the opportunity to  hook it up yet. A timer in the 
circuit could keep the morning/evening problem from occurring, of 
course, but it's made trickier since all the wiring is on the roof! 
Actually, a little snap switch that won't let it pump until the panel is 
hot would be the easy way, and cheap too!

"Boneyard" is junkyard, I believe. I'm right up the street from a major 
paint factory, and they don't let go of their totes: they reuse/recycle 
them internally. You can buy them new from US Plastics for about $400 or 
something (yuck, virgin material). I discovered used ones were hard to 
find used when last I looked. Their size, shape and construction is good 
but not optimal: they are made of polypropylene or HDPE generally. 275 
gallons is standard.

Keith