Solar collector thermostat

In a solar radiation collecting system, a main solar radiation collector having a radiation-absorbing panel with predetermined absorbing characteristics and piping means in thermally conductive relation with the panel for conducting fluid to be heated by thermal conduction from the panel, the combination therewith of a thermostat device comprising a miniaturized collector comprising an enclosure having an open upper side, a glazing closing said open side of the enclosure, a radiation-absorbing panel located within the enclosure beneath the glazing and having thermal absorption characteristics the same as those of the panel in the main collector unaffected by the temperature of the fluid in the piping means thereof.

A system for heating water by solar radiation comprising at least one collector comprising an enclosure having an open upper side, a glazing on said open side of the enclosure, a radiation-absorbing panel positioned within the enclosure beneath the glazing and having predetermined radiation absorbing characteristics, piping means in thermally conductive relation with the panel for conducting fluid to be heated by thermal conduction from the panel, a storage tank containing fluid to be heated, a feed pipe connecting said tank to one end of said piping means, pump means for forcing fluid from the tank through the feed pipe and piping means, and a thermostat device operatively electrically connected to said pump means and including a surface area which possesses the same thermal absorption characteristics as said panel unaffected by the temperature of the fluid in the piping means and operable to turn on the pump means when the temperature of said surface area indicates a predetermined level of heat is available.