A solar water heater works by absorbing energy from the sun in collector panels located on your roof. This energy is then transferred to water stored in a hot water cylinder.
At times when there isn't enough solar energy to heat the water, 'booster' heating is used to keep the water in the cylinder at the right temperature. The booster heating can be provided by electricity, gas or a wetback.
The main components of a solar water heating system include collector panels, the hot water cylinder, and equipment such as pumps and controllers.
Above left, a flat plate solar collector panel with hot water cylinder on the roof; above right an evacuated tube solar collector panel (images from EECA).
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