Everyone seems to agree that solar water heating is a good thing to do - from both energy and cost perspectives

- but it would be good to hear why people have gone for the particular system that they are using.

I am aware that there are the high tec evacuated tubes as well as a variety of more simple concepts available.

We are also keen to hear stories of the process of installation and maintenance and the energy saving that you think you are achieving.

Not quite a reply, more a continuation.

We have now had a Worcester Bosch system installed and are very pleased with it.
Slightly nerdlike, I can stand with my airing cupboard door open and watch the readout of temperature in the solar panel and in my hot water cylinder. As the sun comes round in the morning, the panel heats up, even when it is near freezing in terms of air temperature, and when it gets to 8 degrees difference between the two readings, the pump clicks in, circulating the fluid and harvesting the heat. Magic!

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[size=4]We installed an 18 tube evacuated system a few months ago and are very pleased with it.
Living in Tasmania, we need to optimise sunlight, and the tubes tend to do this more efficiently than a flat panel; system, although those are still popular here as well.  Our system is connected to the normal house hot water cylinder rather than having a large cylinder on the roof.  It is regulated to keep the h/w system at a comfortable temperature.  On a dull day, we simply supplement the solar aspect by flicking the switch to electrical heating.[/size]