A typical flat-plate collector is a metal box with a glass or plastic cover (called glazing) on top and a darkcolored absorber plate on the bottom. The sides and bottom of the collector are usually insulated to minimize heat loss. Sunlight passes through the glazing and strikes the absorber plate, which heats up, changing solar energy into heat energy. The heat is transferred to liquid passing through pipes attached to the absorber plate. Absorber plates are commonly painted with "selective coatings, " which absorb and retain heat better than ordinary black paint. Absorber plates are usually made of metal—typically copper or aluminum—because the metal is a good heat conductor. Copper is more expensive, but is a better conductor and less prone to corrosion than aluminum. In locations with average available solar energy, flat plate collectors are sized approximately one-half- to one-square foot per gallon of one-day's hot water use.

A solar-powered pump is a pump running on electricity generated by photovoltaics or the heat from collected sunlight. The operation of solar powered pumps is more economical and has less environmental impact than pumps powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE). Solar pumps are useful where grid electricity is unavailable. Solar pump motors may be DC (direct current) and AC (alternating current). Direct current motors are used for small to medium applications up to about 3 kW rating, and are suitable for applications such as garden fountains, landscaping, drinking water for livestock, or small irrigation projects. Since the motor system overall has higher efficiency than an AC pump of similar size, cost is reduced since smaller solar panels are used. Some kind of pump controller is required.

A typical flat-plate collector is a metal box with a glass or plastic cover (called glazing) on top and a darkcolored absorber plate on the bottom. The sides and bottom of the collector are usually insulated to minimize heat loss. Sunlight passes through the glazing and strikes the absorber plate, which heats up, changing solar energy into heat energy. The heat is transferred to liquid passing through pipes attached to the absorber plate. Absorber plates are commonly painted with "selective coatings, " which absorb and retain heat better than ordinary black paint. Absorber plates are usually made of metal—typically copper or aluminum—because the metal is a good heat conductor. Copper is more expensive, but is a better conductor and less prone to corrosion than aluminum. In locations with average available solar energy, flat plate collectors are sized approximately one-half- to one-square foot per gallon of one-day's hot water use.

A solar-powered pump is a pump running on electricity generated by photovoltaics or the heat from collected sunlight. The operation of solar powered pumps is more economical and has less environmental impact than pumps powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE). Solar pumps are useful where grid electricity is unavailable. Solar pump motors may be DC (direct current) and AC (alternating current). Direct current motors are used for small to medium applications up to about 3 kW rating, and are suitable for applications such as garden fountains, landscaping, drinking water for livestock, or small irrigation projects. Since the motor system overall has higher efficiency than an AC pump of similar size, cost is reduced since smaller solar panels are used. Some kind of pump controller is required.