Finished installation - free hot water! Need to tie the units down to the rooftop, but they're in near-final position. Solar recirc pump ordered that will run during day keeping the tank at max temp (way overkill, but...cheap). Total system cost about $500 vs. 15-1800 retail installed (w/80 gal tank - way overkill).
@FireMonkey Nice! Wanna do my house next? :)
Any way to do that without the new tank? Does it work in the snow?
@TrueBloodNet
Can be done in cold weather - with different options. This is in Puerto Rico. An off grid friend has a solar tube system in SE Utah for their BnB. It uses anti-freeze system and a in-ground heat exchanger - runs his hot water and heaters with it. Also has backup propane, solar electric panels.
@FireMonkey Ah.. I tried to get geothermal installed years ago, they refused to take the job and I have a well and everything - because I'm on a boiler system. Crazy. I'm proud of you doing it though!
@TrueBloodNet
Geothermal is trickier - basically using the earth as a sink for heat pump. Deep well or lots of excavation to run pipe below 1 meter where your soil temp doesn't change over the year. Both are somewhat complex and/or expensive, but do-able. My system is just stoopid simple.