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A “dashboard” in the kitchen
August 22, 2006 
I have been so obsessed with documenting the system performance that my wife has started teasing me about my “affair” with the water heater. To which I reply “Yeah, once you’ve had a water heater baby, you never go back. They’re hot!”.
But seriously, when I tire of logging data I will need a conveniently located basic system monitor, or a “dashboard” if you will. So I put a dual display up next to the kitchen sink which is right above the water heater in the basement. This unit displays the collector temperature (from the pipe as it enters the Solar Wand just above the tank) and the temperature at the top of the tank. There are 2 lights, a green one indicates the pump circulation, and a flashing red one that warns of low fluid in the overflow reservoir above the collectors.
August 2009 update:
I have found that the low fluid warning has activated about every 14 months or so. It is great to have this warning in a highly visible location rather than hidden in the basement utility closet (where I have a duplicate light). I checked the tank each time the warning came on and it was about 1/2 full and I added 2-3 quarts of 50% glycol solution. I am able to simply reach out the bedroom window to fill the tank – a nice feature of a wall mounted system.
Sustainable living is the buzz word these days. Many people are wanting to learn to build their own solar panels to create their own home solar power to replace their utilities monthly power bills. Adding a wind power generator to your renewable energy system is also very beneficial. This would help generate electrical power on those not so sunny days. Wind turbines can be installed on your homes roof just like the old fashioned TV antenna’s used to be. Mind you they must clear the taller of your obstacles close by, such as a tall tree, etc.
Learning how to make solar panels or a wind power generator is easy and fun and wouod be a great feature to add into the project above.
