Flat plate panels are the original way to heat water with the sun. These plates are normally housed inside a 4'x 8' insulated aluminium box with tempered glass. The usual method of production consists of large pipes as a header at the bottom and top of a panel and a number of smaller pipes or risers connnecting them. These risers are then connected to flat plates of metal used to capture the sun's rays. The fluid moves through these risers as the sun beats on the plates. The plates heat up and the fluid takes the heat out and moves it to the storage tank, usually in the basement.


There are many variations of flat plate panels and ways to mount them. The steeper they are mounted, the more energy they can capture in the cold winter.