Solar shower bag...which way to the sun?

[DoctorIknow]

Even the manufacturers can't figure out if the black or clear side should go toward the sun.

But you are smarter,,,,right???

(in the photo, I laid one bag over the other)

1-Picture 4-003.jpg

[Homiesinheaven]

weird! i've placed mine with the black side facing the sun and it's warmed up nicely.

[some seeing eye]

If you look through the clear side, do you see black? The greenhouse effect will work for you if you put the clear side up, and convection too. The melting point of the plastic in those bags is low, so you could have a mechanical failure with the black side up.

[Bob]

Jesus fuck, just hold it between your legs.

[DoctorIknow]

I knew there would be a physics theorist out there
(of course the manufacture never made a test!)

This year I'll make a test with two bags and take the hot temperature of each, which were given exactly the same conditions. I'll publish my findings in Science magazine.

The failure of those bags is always the same and can happen to a new bag or an old sun cooked one: the vinyl surrounding the handle rips as all the $10 variety have terrible designs. The only way to save that from happening is put no more than 3 gallons in a 5 gallon bag. Being very careful can save it, but hoisting a 5 gallon weight up above ones head usually involves jostling and will bring lots of stress to the pathetic handle, and there starts the rip.

[mgb327]

Clear side up, towards the sun, black side down. The sunlights' energy goes through the water, hits the black surface and heats the water. Hot water/heat rises. This heats the water just like on a stove. 2 hours should be plenty hot, as I found.

[Savannah]

Jesus fuck, just hold it between your legs.

I clicked on this thread in the hopes that Bob had replied.

I knew there would be a physics theorist out there
(of course the manufacture never made a test!)

This year I'll make a test with two bags and take the hot temperature of each, which were given exactly the same conditions. I'll publish my findings in Science magazine.

The failure of those bags is always the same and can happen to a new bag or an old sun cooked one: the vinyl surrounding the handle rips as all the $10 variety have terrible designs. The only way to save that from happening is put no more than 3 gallons in a 5 gallon bag. Being very careful can save it, but hoisting a 5 gallon weight up above ones head usually involves jostling and will bring lots of stress to the pathetic handle, and there starts the rip.

Agreed, don't fill the bag up fully. I fill a 5 gallon bag halfway.

Secondly, don't leave it hanging up with water inside after you're done. That's a lot of stress on the bag. Take it down when not in use.

[Trishntek]

I simply cannot recall ever suffering from a cold shower on the playa no matter what the source.

Yes, I never took a shower with ice melt out of the cooler,,, duh!

[Savannah]

Good point. I can't say that I've ever balked at a shower because the water was "room" temperature.

[Rice]

I simply cannot recall ever suffering from a cold shower on the playa no matter what the source.

Yes, I never took a shower with ice melt out of the cooler,,, duh!

The temperature of water in a solar shower at 7am is not exactly hot. Or warm for that matter. Still felt good to be clean for a couple minutes.

[SuperNakedGirl]

Doesn't matter it is so hot. Fill up before heading out in morning and right before sun sets take a good hot shower!

[DoctorIknow]

I simply cannot recall ever suffering from a cold shower on the playa no matter what the source.

Yes, I never took a shower with ice melt out of the cooler,,, duh!

The temperature of water in a solar shower at 7am is not exactly hot. Or warm for that matter. Still felt good to be clean for a couple minutes.

When the afternoon sun gets to about a 45degree angle to the bag, put it in an extra cooler you bought just so you can have a hot shower later.

Then, go ahead and finish the day and even bike out for the sunset or whatever, return to camp and take a hot shower before dinner or getting ready for the night.
I've even had one at midnight and the water is hot.

[CrispyDave]

Try a coffee enema, no need for a shower..... Warms u right up and you wont care if your clean.....

[ygmir]

Jesus fuck, just hold it between your legs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tlWaPvrE0M

[Trishntek]

Thanks YIGGY! That was so edifying and encouraging to me personally. It is such a nuanced endorsement of Devine intervention.

[ygmir]

Thanks YIGGY! That was so edifying and encouraging to me personally. It is such a nuanced endorsement of Devine intervention.

for you, dear friend, anything.........
your happiness is my joy.

[DoctorIknow]

Clear side up, towards the sun, black side down. The sunlights' energy goes through the water, hits the black surface and heats the water. Hot water/heat rises. This heats the water just like on a stove. 2 hours should be plenty hot, as I found.

Put a star on mgb327's forehead.

Science we learned in grade school makes us better able to understand what some sap in China who made instructions for these cheap devices couldn't understand.

I made a video,,,really boring,,,,bottom line, the clear side up won 140degrees vs 135degrees for the black side up.

So, if we have any days that aren't white out all day long, and we have enough sun to fry an egg on your car hood, maybe put the black side up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwttSNgJbIY

[theCryptofishist]

Even during a white out you can get a lot of heat. I ended up evacuated off the playa in 2005 after being caught in a dust storm in Robbidobbs' truck without enough water.

[Homiesinheaven]

haha, cool video. so the verdict is... WHATEVER.

[Noboundaries]

We never bother putting our solar showers in the sun when we're camping someplace where the temperature is going to be hot, like the playa. This year we filled the showers in the morning with ice cold melt water from our coolers. Then we hung the shower in the shower tent and by the time we were ready to take a shower in the late afternoon or early evening, the water had warmed to the ambient air temperature. We got a refreshing shower and recycled water we would only drink in an emergency. A hot shower was the LAST thing we wanted on the playa.