Ah....an outdoor boiler....that makes more sense that what most people mean when they talk about rocket mass heaters.
As with anything else, they have a purpose. The purpose may be ideal for some and of no value to others. For the small amount of wood they need to heat up the "mass" there are few options as efficient. My suggestion of running a water line through the "mass" would allow warm/hot water eliminating the use of the electric water heater the OP currently uses. If the OP was cut off from public electricity that water heat would be his biggest power consumption and would drain batteries on a solar system pretty quick. They have a purpose, it may not be what the OP needs but it is something to be considered. That being said they do burn very efficient and they do get real hot but instead of using 6" or 8" pipe a smaller one made of 3" or 4" pipe would still get pretty warm and still be very efficient but the level of heat would be reduced to a more moderate level. I designed and built my home prior to learning about rocket mass heaters or I would have designed a corner for a small bench to contain the RMH, but when I build my patio outside I am considering a small RMH bench to I can sit outside and be comfortable in the winter months.I still don't get the obsession with rocket stoves. People talk about them endlessly on survivalist forums but few seem to actually have one and as a lifelong wood heat user, they seem like a problem in search of a solution.
I checked them out, awesome, I have been looking to do some experimenting but the price was out of my budget range, at these prices I could "experiment" with a 1000W setup for under $500.... That could be very useful to me.... Thankyou @SoJer , I never would have thought of used panels......Fwiw (as, not sure if 'Shipping to AK' will negate any possible 'gains', via this suggestion, but.. For You, TBD.. This Co. - in addition to selling New Solar Panels / Kit, etc - they redo Commercial solar fields and surplus out the replaced panels (which Still have Plenty of 'Life' left, as they're pulling / swapping panels for 'insurance' / Contract, etc reasons - Not because there's anything "wrong" with them...
..As an Example: Used Solar Panels Archives - SanTan Solar Store ..Such 'savings' on these Panels would allow those 'bereft of Budget' to invest more in Other system-critical things - like Better-qual Batteries / Inverter / Controller / Volt Meters, etc, etc - vs blowing 90% of it on "New" / pristine Panels - then having to 'go cheap' on those Other mission-critical items..
I mean.. https://store.santansolar.com/product/santan-solar-t-series-250w-silver-frame-solar-panel/ ..Yeah - that's Project-Quality-Boosting savings, right there.. (Imo..)
Fwiw..
jd
If you do try out the used panels let us know what type of performance you actually get. Solar panels do wear out.I checked them out, awesome, I have been looking to do some experimenting but the price was out of my budget range, at these prices I could "experiment" with a 1000W setup for under $500.... That could be very useful to me.... Thankyou @SoJer , I never would have thought of used panels......
That's why I like monocrystaline panels, they have a good record of holding up over the years.If you do try out the used panels let us know what type of performance you actually get. Solar panels do wear out.
Ben
...Solar panels do wear out..
Thank you. I have them saved for when I add solar to my house, hopefully next year. I will consider them when I get a couple panels for a yard project.Indeed, but that's the 'best-kept secret' of That Co - they're 'swapping out' / surplus-selling - Not 5 yr old 'jalopies' - but ones that are like ~ or < 12 mo.s Old - Practically 'infants'!
..Again, these (largely) are from Large, Commercial 'Solar farms', where, for 'insurance / contractual-reasons', they Must keep "new" panels in place, every year.. Thus, it's not for reasons of age / 'tiredness', they're selling 'em.. (though they Do also sell 'scratch & dent' ones - But they 'call that Out', up front, ie:
SanTan Solar T Series 240W Cracked Vinyl Solar Panel - SanTan Solar Store SanTan Solar Wholesale Solar Panels ..$40.!! That, and a tube of silicone, and yer off to the races!
Again, Fwiw.. (and No - Not a 'Rep', Not 'shiling', etc.. Just FYIin..
jd
Depending the design of the panels one cracked cell can lilmit the panel output when the cells are wired in series.Indeed, but that's the 'best-kept secret' of That Co - they're 'swapping out' / surplus-selling - Not 5 yr old 'jalopies' - but ones that are like ~ or < 12 mo's Old - Practically 'infants'!
..Again, these (largely) are from Large, Commercial 'Solar farms', where, for 'insurance / contractual-reasons', they Must keep "new" panels in place, every year.. Thus, it's not for reasons of age / 'tiredness', they're selling 'em.. (though they Do also sell 'scratch & dent' ones - But they 'call that Out', up front, ie:
SanTan Solar T Series 240W Cracked Vinyl Solar Panel - SanTan Solar Store SanTan Solar Wholesale Solar Panels ..$40.!! That, and a tube of silicone, and yer off to the races!
Again, Fwiw.. (and No - Not a 'Rep', Not 'shiling', etc.. Just FYIin..
jd
Fwiw (as, not sure if 'Shipping to AK' will negate any possible 'gains', via this suggestion, but.. For You, TBD.. This Co. - in addition to selling New Solar Panels / Kit, etc - they redo Commercial solar fields and surplus out the replaced panels (which Still have Plenty of 'Life' left, as they're pulling / swapping panels for 'insurance' / Contract, etc reasons - Not because there's anything "wrong" with them...
..As an Example: Used Solar Panels Archives - SanTan Solar Store ..Such 'savings' on these Panels would allow those 'bereft of Budget' to invest more in Other system-critical things - like Better-qual Batteries / Inverter / Controller / Volt Meters, etc, etc - vs blowing 90% of it on "New" / pristine Panels - then having to 'go cheap' on those Other mission-critical items..
I mean.. https://store.santansolar.com/product/santan-solar-t-series-250w-silver-frame-solar-panel/ ..Yeah - that's Project-Quality-Boosting savings, right there.. (Imo..)
Fwiw..
jd
I agree, I want to make one in the yard to use for quickly heating the pool in the spring, that would allow swimming a month or two sooner around here when the days are 80* but the nights are still in the 30's, I would also like to use it for heating a hot tub for the yard if I ever get one. But, adding a cob bench to warm up will also provide a comfortable place to relax in the yard during the cooler months. If someone lived in an area with very cold winters and had a place in their off grid home I think the RMH could be helpful for them, but it isn't for everyone.Ah....an outdoor boiler....that makes more sense that what most people mean when they talk about rocket mass heaters.
Depending the design of the panels one cracked cell can lilmit the panel output when the cells are wired in series.
Buyer beware
I did check this out and ...
“There are no shipping options available.”
Well I am on my way to a brighter future. I ordered enough supplies to make a 400 watt stand by-power power backup.
I am not sure about exactly how I will set it up but I am thinking of a sliding plane (similar to the multi-level chalk boards at the university) that can move 2 banks of panels in and out of a stored position. I hope to use it to keep a bank of flooded batteries charged so I can use it to power the wife's medical equipment in a pinch, I would like to design it with ability to expand to cover a couple of freezers.... but that is down the road a bit, for now I want learn all I can so I will be able to act intelligently going forward.
It would be best for you to get an MPPT controller for your system from day one.
Here is a lightweight solar setup I had running a couple of days ago that demonstrates the benefits of an MPPT over a PWM controller:
View attachment 71154
The panel is supplying 1.8 Amps at 16.5 Volts. That is too much for safe charging of the battery, so the MPPT controller is dropping that down to 13.1 Volts. But it is also converting panel power in a way that boosts charging current to the battery to 2.3 Amps.
So the MPPT controller is charging the battery 28% faster than a PWM controller would.
Thanks for that great suggestion. Another thing for me to research.
The panels each weigh 2.6 lbs - with two of them in full sun they can charge the battery to 100% from 30% charge in under 3 hours.
https://www.powerfilmsolar.com/media/products/60_Watt_Foldable_Solar_Panel_Spec_S_274E48335C594.pdf
These are amorphous silicon panels?
How do you find the performance compared to monocrystalline?
Thanks
Do you have a tool or way the ensure that you are at the optimal angle? I was thinking of installing a dowel or tube perpendicular to the mounting plane to act a an aligning guide... but that was just a thought>>>I would keep the low edge of any panels a MINIMUM of 24 inches off the ground. All our panels are adjustable for angle so I can catch the optimum sun angle at any give time of the year. Which is something you may want to consider also.
Do you have a tool or way the ensure that you are at the optimal angle? I was thinking of installing a dowel or tube perpendicular to the mounting plane to act a an aligning guide... but that was just a thought>>>
I'm sorry I wasn't being clear, I want to set up a system that I can quickly deploy in power outage, but be able to remove it and place it back in storage just as quickly. I have the guides but would love to be able to do a quick line of sight alignment and walk away. I am thinking of being able to deploy about 400watts in under 15 minutes..... that kind of complicates things.There are online guides where you enter your location, and it spits out your angle for a given time of year OR what the best average angle will be in your location for panels that don't move.
We use one of these to set the angle when we adjust depending on the time of year. You could probably find such a thing on Amazon I'm sure. Quick way to check the angle.Do you have a tool or way the ensure that you are at the optimal angle? I was thinking of installing a dowel or tube perpendicular to the mounting plane to act a an aligning guide... but that was just a thought>>>
I'm sorry I wasn't being clear, I want to set up a system that I can quickly deploy in power outage, but be able to remove it and place it back in storage just as quickly. I have the guides but would love to be able to do a quick line of sight alignment and walk away. I am thinking of being able to deploy about 400watts in under 15 minutes..... that kind of complicates things.
A carpeters square laid on the panel with the short leg pointed at the sun. Adjust angle for no shadow.I'm sorry I wasn't being clear, I want to set up a system that I can quickly deploy in power outage, but be able to remove it and place it back in storage just as quickly. I have the guides but would love to be able to do a quick line of sight alignment and walk away. I am thinking of being able to deploy about 400watts in under 15 minutes..... that kind of complicates things.
Enter your email address to join: