Do anyone know of a Solar Energy site like AVSForum that would help the DIYer on building and installing Photovoltaic power system or Domestic hot water systems or even solar pool heaters....

I could not have built my home theater without the knowledge I learned here. Plus there are tons of inspirational designs to get the creative juices flowing.

Any links would be greatly appreciated.

A while back I had googled solar pool heaters and came up with many good informative sites, including some DIY sites. Given the distance from my house/roof to my pool and the duration of direct light, I did not go the solar route, so I do not have the sites linked. Sorry.

I thought there was a thread here a couple years ago. I googled and came up with nothing much. Maybe it got political and got zapped. This was kind of interesting.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=876222

Don't forget the tax credit (or credits CA might have some too) if you go for H/W heat.

bunch of links to get you started:

http://www.ecs-solar.com/solar_resources.htm

And a forum:

http://www.solarpowerforum.net/forum/index.php?sid=58615ca2a4653dadc159899d5d6765de

A while back I had googled solar pool heaters and came up with many good informative sites, including some DIY sites. Given the distance from my house/roof to my pool and the duration of direct light, I did not go the solar route, so I do not have the sites linked. Sorry.


I also did a lot of searching but did not find any form with the kind of DIY info that you find on AVS Forum.

I was hoping some one here had the inside track on a good Solar Engery site. A lot i found were not very active....

When we built our current home we looked into several solar options. We ended up with mostly traditional systems, but we do have radiant heat in some areas of the home.

While it isn't a forum such as here, one site I did read lots at was: http://www.builditsolar.com/

I'd be really interested in what you do with this, even down the road. I'm quite interested in solar options and know for sure that it will be incorporated in our next home.

Warren:

The plan is to:
1. Provide 75% of our current California summer and 110% of our winter electrical load.
2. 100% of our domestic hot water
3. 100% of the pool pump
4. 100% of heating the 32,000 gallons of pool water (which in not heated now)

We will have a grid attached PV panel system on the roof. No battery back-up at this time.

As will the domestic water system. No sure what kind of system but leaning toward a open look system.

For the pool we will be building a new shade structure and placing the collectors on the roof. bnoth for the electrical need of the pump(changing existing 220v to 12v) and for heating the water.

Just need to find a place to get more how to information....

While it isn't a forum such as here, one site I did read lots at was: http://www.builditsolar.com/



I remember visiting the site before. It does have some great articles. The best one was Bob's Solar Project. He has a web site with lots of how to's, on his installation of PV shingles. The shingles lwork a lot better when your south roof slop faces the street. The PV shingles look better the the panels.

You should be in DC this week. Judging on Wed. runs through Saturday.

You could visit and discuss 20 demonstration homes built by college teams in one location.

http://www.solardecathlon.org/

Note that there is a list of product links on the site. may be of use.

Thanks i will check out the link