Abstract: A light-weight, low-cost and high efficiency solar panel includes a light-weight rectangular wood frame which surrounds and houses a copper absorber plate. A pair of spaced glazings, formed from plastic film materials, are disposed above the absorber to define a pair of enclosed air spaces. The lower glazing is capable of withstanding high temperatures and the upper glazing material is capable of providing good weather resistance. The material of the upper glazing extends fully about the frame to protect the entire frame from weathering. Insulation is provided beneath the absorber plate. The frame rests on top of a bottom sheet of insulative foam plastic which is wrapped in a plastic envelope. The surrounding film of the outer glazing is bonded securely to the envelope to encase the entire panel within a protective sealed envelope of weather-resistant plastic film.

Abstract: Lightweight, economical and highly effective solar energy collector panels are formed with a sheet of transparent plastic exposed to solar radiation and spaced by a rigid lightweight spacer frame above a sheet of metallic foil, which embraces in heat conducting relationship a spaced array of metal water-carrying tubes all supported by an underlying plastic foam slab, with the overall assembly being encircled by a channel section peripheral frame.By completing the panel assembly with foam material which substantially entirely encapsulates the panel components internally in an inexpensive, lightweight, and completely effective framed unit, a unique panel construction is achieved by a unique manufacturing process.