How to build the best solar collectors?

Question

How to build the best solar collectors?

Answer 1

Assuming you mean electric generating collectors?

you can use LEDs out of electronics to build a solar collector.It's not the most efficient, but it's expandable. As you tear apart more junk electronics you can add more LEDs.

Building actual solar collectors is harmful to the environment. Toxic chemicals are used, and a byproduct of the process will kill anything that grows in the ground if it seeps into the ground. The damage is similar to that of nuclear waste in that it remains for centuries.

Answer 2

System types

For solar heating of domestic hot water, two common system types are thermosyphon and pumped. In the thermosyphon system, a storage tank is placed above the collector. As the water in the collector is heated, it will rise and naturally start to circulate around the tank. This draws in colder water from the bottom of the tank. This system is self-regulating and requires no moving parts or external energy, so is very attractive. Its main drawback is the need for the tank to be placed at a level higher than the collector, which may prove to be physically difficult. A pumped system uses a pump to circulate the water, so the tank can be positioned independently of the collector location. This system requires external energy to run the pump (though this can be solar, since the water should only be circulated when there is incident sunlight). It also requires control electronics to measure the temperature gradient across the collector and modulate the pump accordingly. Systems using solar electric pumping and controls are known as zero carbon solar while those using mains electricity are known as low carbon, since they typically have a 10-20% carbon drawback.

Placement

Solar collectors can be mounted on a roof but need to face the sun, so a north-facing roof in the southern hemisphere, and a south-facing roof in the northern hemisphere is ideal. Collectors are usually also angled to suit the latitude of the location. Where sunshine is readily available, a 2 to 10 square metre array will provide all the hot water heating required for a typical family house. Such systems are a key feature of sustainable housing, since water and space heating is usually the largest single consumer of energy in households.

Answer 3

I think more information is needed.  Solar collector for heat? Hot-water? Concentration to a PV? (Technically day-lighting may fit too, but I don't think that's what you're referring to)

What's the climate you live in?  

Evacuated Glass tube will work until about -40 degrees Fahrenheit for hot water, and could probably be retrofited to work with heat.

Or are you talking about a build your own solar-space heater style?  (I'm working on trying that one myself.)

Answer 4

With the most tax dollars.

You talking "private" or "utility"?

With a government grant.