This tutorial of how to catch the heat of the sun with plastic bottles to heat water diy project shares the knowledge homesteaders need to go off grid.

DIY solar panels? Not exactly, but this sunlight-powered array can heat up water just as effectively as a traditional water heater without all that wasted energy.

Make sure you like The Homestead Survival on Facebook, Shop AMAZON with Us and explore our  PINTEREST BOARDS  for innovative ways you can become self-sufficient on a budget.

You will need:

• 60 x 2L plastic bottles

• 50 x cardboard cartons

• 70 cm of 100mm PVC pipe

• 11.7m of 20mm PVC pipe

• 4 x 90-degree 20 mm PVC elbows

• 20 x 20mm PVC T-connectors (20)

• 2 x 20 mm PVC end caps

• PVC glue

• Black matte paint

• Paint roller/brush

Time required:

One day to one weekend.

Instructions:

1. Begin by cutting off the bottoms of the bottles.

2. Cut the 20mm pipes into segments measuring 10 x1m and 20 x 8.5cm.

3. Paint the 1m segments black.

4. Slide the bottles over the pipe segments.

5. Join the segments together using the T-connectors.

6. Cut the cartons to size and paint them black to help the bottles absorb sunlight.

7. Referring to the video, put all the pieces together to create a large panel.

Positioning the Panels:

Find a location that is 30cm (or more) below the base of the water tank.

Tilt the panels to the angle of your location’s latitude plus an additional 10 degrees for maximum solar absorption. For example, if you live in New York, New York (with a latitude of 41) then you should tilt your panels at a 51 degree angle.

Maintenance:

You should completely replace the bottles every five years, and regularly touch up the black paint on the carton. Remember that the old bottles can still be recycled.

Each panel should provide enough hot water for a single shower, saving you plenty of money and natural resources.

Click here to read about how to catch the heat of the sun with plastic bottles to heat water:

[amazon-related-products keywords=”solar”]