thermosyphon solar hot water heater

http://solargest.net/Solar_Water_Heater/Thermosyphon_Tubular_Solar_Water_Heater-colour_steel.htm

has anyone used one of these. it seems there are not any usa made hot water heaters. these are made in china, and used in many places in the world, but not in the usa. im searching for something for an off grid camping cabin situation. all the usa made systems i find are designed to be on a roof and have a large storage tank separate from the heating tubes.

any experience or suggestions for a better idea for a non-gas hot water supply

Violet Heart : I can report on observation only ! 2 of these, Medium size, were delivered to a work site that i was at and set up and tested separate from the build !

Because this was about 90 miles above New York City the tubes were filled with a mixture of glycerine/glycol? and water,exactly as the Architect specified for installation
and use- Each tube is an individual section with seals that have to be perfect at each end, and there were multiple leaks, and the setup crew did not return in a timely
manner to evacuate the system and re-plumb.

Based on that little bit of experience I would recommend only using a professional crew that had done multiple installations of this equipment, With the contractor willing
to provide a guarantee of serviceability with warranted free coverall on repairs and adjustment, in a timely manner for the 1st few months, after install !

Hopefully you are a quick study, and can learn how to service and maintain this system after the Warrantee period has expired !

Also i would not simply accept delivery, and write a check, but plan my installation date for after the building site was totally ready for your solar water heater, and agreed
to by all parties After an onsite inspection ! Add a clause for partial payments triggered by meeting construction goals and deadlines, no -deliver, drop and run!

In the building site I was at Working on an inter-connected set of (3) Yurts, construction equipment vied for space with supplies and materials and the road into the site
was a major problem !

This is not to say that this story does not have a happy ending, as my part in the build ended with the installation of the outside skin I have no idea how things worked out
Y.M.M.V. Big AL !

Here's an image from the site so people can see what we're talking about.

As Always ! Thanks Mother Tree ! For the Good of our crafts and Guilds ! BIG AL

I've been researching for an off grid cabin project and ordered materials today. Im using 12 v pump connected to a pv panel. No batteries or charge controllers needed to manage it. It seems pretty idiot proof (will know for sure in couple weeks). If the suns shining, it will pump. If its dark it won't. If its cloudy it won't pump as fast.

Past the $150 for pump and pv panel all you need is the solar unit and water tank.

I looked at passive but am an avid diyer and wasnt comfortable building my own panel due to issues like air bubbles that could stop the system. I feel i'd have better luck with a pump.

That looks to me like a warm climate batch system, not something I would use with glycol in a freezing environment.

Glycol is expensive and doesn't hold as much heat as water, so while useful for collecting heat in cold climates, not so great for storage of that heat. Additionally, it needs to be isolated (twice) from drinking water.

For a hot climate, or a summer only application, they should be fine filled with drinking water. For a cold climate, I would rather see standalone tubes and an inside storage tank.