May 1 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Laura Gossman Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.

Solar heat is trendy today, but 32 years ago Dean Finseth improvised a bulky but effective solar panel in his backyard that's saved him thousands over the years.

Solar panels on roofs enjoyed vogue status in the mid-1970s, as well, because of an energy crunch.

Dean and Carol Finseth built their home in Chatfield in 1975, and a couple years later, Dean decided to design and build his own solar panel.

In 1977, Finseth went to the Chatfield Lumber Yard looking for materials.

"I didn't know what I was going to use, but they had a big thermal-paned window that had sprung a leak," Finseth said. "They gave it to me as long as I hauled it out."

He put his experience in farming and welding to work and created a solar panel that automatically follows the sun.

Smooth oscillator

A one-sixth horsepower motor with a small roller chain sprocket is mounted to a gear box from a James way silo unloader.

The panel moves clockwise and counter clockwise so it can follow the sun from the east to the west, then automatically goes back to its original position at 6 p.m., so it's ready to catch they sun's energy the next morning. The panel also tilts back for high noon.

It works on a timer, but Finseth said the timer is beginning to wear out.

"About once a week, I have to go out there and correct it," Finseth said.

The panel rotates even on cloudy days, just in case the sun does come out.

Water heater

Finseth circulates water through the solar panel to a recovery unit in his basement via a pump. The water travels through 1/2-inch copper tubing and runs from the panel to two underground, 40-gallon holding tanks.

The sun has heated the Finseths' water to as high as 140 degrees, he said. Earlier this week, the temperature of the stored water was 120 degrees.

Finseth said the water is stored until they need to shower or wash laundry. The water heat is also used to heat parts of their basement.

Finseth hasn't calculated how much money he has saved over the years, but, he said, "I think I've saved quite a bit."

Solar technology has evolved since 1977, and now the energy can be made into an electrical current.

Finseth said there's been some maintenance to the solar panel over the years, including repainting the black panel so it can absorb the light. He's also replaced the metal reflectors and the glass.

It works in winter, too, without rotating, but Finseth has to shovel snow off it.

"It's a very simple solar panel, but it's worked wonderfully," Finseth said.

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