Which way up solar shower

Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 06:51

Redeye

Off camping tomorrow so decided to purchase another solar shower to supply the camp with heated water. I purchased one from Super Cheap Auto. Something I never do is read instructions so but in this case I did. Interesting results.

On the package containing the shower it has the following.

1. Fill with water, Do not overfill past line marked on bag
2. Place clear side up on a flat, stable surface that is exposed to direct sunlight.
Etc …..

On the Solar Shower

1. Fill camp shower bag with water
2. Place on a flat surface with black side exposed to direct sunlight.
Etc ….

Interesting to note that not even the manufacturer or the quality control in Super Cheap know which way is up.

Will spend my time on Fraser Island wondering if I am getting the maximum effect from the suns rays.

Redeye
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AnswerID: 145203   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 07:04

3.0turbob replied:

Redeye,
The Black side goes up, towards the sun this will give maximum heating (black surfaces absorb heat more easily. Be warned though, the water can get very hot.
Enjoy your time on Fraser.

Rob
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Reply 1 of 14
FollowupID: 398723   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 07:08

Eric from Cape York Connections posted:

If the clear is to the sun and black down the sun will heat the water on its way to the black. Just a thought.

All the best
Eric
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AnswerID: 145204   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 07:09

Member - Steve (ACT) replied:

Ditto on the "water can get very hot" warning, it's like feeling water through washing up gloves if you fee the bag, make sure you check the water by running it over your hand.

Sandy
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Reply 2 of 14
AnswerID: 145205   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 07:13

Member - Matt L (NSW) replied:

Hi Redeye,

I am like you and rarely read instructions but my wife brought one from Big W the other day and I too noticed that it said to face the clear side up.

That doesn’t sound quite right.

Matt
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Reply 3 of 14
AnswerID: 145209   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 07:43

Jimbo replied:

Having had two of them, and being the experimental type I am, I tested them side by side. It doesn't matter which way up they go.
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Reply 4 of 14
FollowupID: 398730   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 08:05

Peter 2 posted:

I've also got two different brands with opposing instructions, the original which is about 25 years old says clear side up the newer one says black side up, Jimbo is right doesn't make any difference, but due to habit I always put them clear side up, preferably on a green non conductive surface, grass is good.
Green because it absorbs the most heat, on the Humvee the green bits get hotter than the black, to the touch anyway.
Peter
1996 Oka Motorhome
2005 F250 4x4 Super Duty with Real Lite slideon (in USA)
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AnswerID: 145215   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 08:04

hoyks replied:

I would go clear side up. Light will travel through the water and heat up the black side, heat from the black side will then rise into the water circulating it and heating it through.
If it was black side up, only the water in direct contact with the black part would get heated and not at all if there was an air bubble in it.
Clear side up=more efficient.

A job for mythbusters??
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Reply 5 of 14
AnswerID: 145216   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 08:17

Alloy c/t replied:

Have a 5yr old solar shower bag thats all black so no conundrum as to which side is up , now have no use for it as have a Coleman hot water system ,solar bag for sale @ $1.05 plus postage !!!!!
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Reply 6 of 14
AnswerID: 145218   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 08:23

Ron173 replied:

Prop it up sideways, get best of both worlds!!!!!!!!!! LOL

Ron
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Reply 7 of 14
FollowupID: 398735   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 08:28

Member - Oldplodder (QLD) posted:

The suns only over head at noon so can the logic of placing it side ways to get the mid morning and afternoon sun. :-)

My wife also says I could people into believing black is white. :0)
(It is isn't it, since the colour we see is the light not being reflected back?)

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AnswerID: 145226   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 09:28

Rigor replied:

Hi Gazza , how come we techo types never read instructions ? Too impatient I imagine , used my solar heater last W/E and I don't think it makes much difference which side as the ambient temp is bloody hot either way.
Fitted new rear springs and shocks last night, EFS got through Marks mate . about 50 mm higher but will settle I imagine and the OEMs were sagging a bit as well . Definately firmer ride with reduced body roll . P**ck of a job with reduced work space but hands healing nicely! Have a good trip and see you back at the salt mines.
Cheers Dave L.
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Reply 8 of 14
AnswerID: 145227   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 09:41

K and S replied:

Used them for 20 years until we went to a bilge pump and always put the clear side up according to the instructions.

Same principal as a solar kiln.

Why would they bother with the clear if it wasn't meant to go up, just put black on both sides.

Either way you'll have a hot shower.

Keith
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Reply 9 of 14
AnswerID: 145232   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 10:29

Member - Tony G (ACT) replied:

We have a black screw top washing barrel, you no the canoe type. For showers we fill the baeel up and leave it in the sun all day.

Shower time and using the glind shower just pump straight out of the barrel, you dont even need the engine running. it gets hot enough to sometimes add a bit of cold.
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Reply 10 of 14
AnswerID: 145248   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 12:10

Redeye replied:

Thanks all for your input.

I only use the bags to warm water as I have a 12v bilge pump set up to use as a shower. 35 ++ deg here this week so may only need a cold shower after all.

Redeye
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Reply 11 of 14
AnswerID: 145314   Submitted: Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 19:09

Member - Brian (WA) replied:

Bet theres no differance which way it goes
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Reply 12 of 14
AnswerID: 145397   Submitted: Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 11:21

joc45 replied:

I tend to keep the black side down, so the water warmed by the black surface then rises, creating a better thermal circulation. If the black side is at the top, then the hot water collects at the top, reducing circulation.
I also try to place some insulating medium between the sac and the ground to reduce heat transfer away from the sac.
But in practice, I've found that at the end of the day, you get a hot shower either way.
Gerry
Beach Heaven - Winderabandi Bay, Ningaloo
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Reply 13 of 14
AnswerID: 147421   Submitted: Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 16:15

Goona replied:

We had two different types and one said clear up and one said black up so a test was in order. What we concluded was the black up was deffinately hotter no doubt. As a result we always have the black up nodays.
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Reply 14 of 14

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