GLASS VACUUM TUBES FOR SOLAR HOT WATER HEAT

[wildwood]

WE ARE WANTING TO UP GRADE OUR THERMOSIPHON SOLAR HOT WATER COPPER PLATE AND TUBE SYSTEM AND HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE GLASS VACUUM TUBES. WILL THESE WORK ON A THERMO SIPHON SYSTEM OR CAN ANYONE PROVIED SOME GOOD LINKS WITH HOW THESE SYSTEMS ACTUALLY WORK? WE ARE HOPING WE CAN YANK OUT THE COOPER PLATE AND TUBE SYSTEM AND JUST PUT THESE IN ITS PLACE. IS THIS A POSSIBLILITY? THANKS

[MooseToo]

the problem you're having with the plate and tube system in place now - is this something i missed in previous posts ? if not, please explain _

[wildwood]

Its a thermo siphon system and was a hand me down. There are some leaks going on and with the plates welded to the tubes it is awful hard to solder. I have just heard these vacuum tubes are much more effecient in cloudy conditions and that is what we have alot of.

[MooseToo]

i gave the vacuum tube process a quick look-see several years ago - while they seem obviously more efficient, their high initial cost and high potential maintenance costs turned me off - i felt the decreased efficiency of a syphon system could be more economically offset by going with a greater storage volume and increased panel area -

[wildwood]

That gives some things to think about Thanks