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Profiles

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The profiles provide structure and support to the collector box. Materials, cuts, and assembly of the profiles for the 2025 model.

And here's a really cool and impressive trick that was revealed to me. My great friend Julio.

Photo by Julio
Photo by Julio

Julio uses the same system and differential thermostat as this project.
Use square aluminum profiles, which are sold at Obramat at a very reasonable cost.

Square profile aluminum bar
Square profile aluminum bar

Obramat rectangular aluminum profile

The trick and the result: you make a great, high-quality box, very durable with zero maintenance. With very little money, about €100, which may seem expensive, but try finding an aluminum box for that price; even wood is very expensive these days.

The This DIY project involves taking each of those profiles and cutting them in half with a circular saw. As if we wanted to make two pieces for a photo frame from that profile. That is, to obtain two U-shaped profiles from that square tube. It would look something like this:

Aluminum bar U-profile
Aluminum bar U-profile
Then, with two profiles measuring 2 meters x 10 cm x 4 cm, we make the entire box.

Profile Structure

All profiles will have this structure.

Internal structure of the aluminum profile for the box
Internal structure of the aluminum profile for the box

The EGA profile (the inverted U-shaped sheet) is used to separate the heat source from the aluminum profile. It is also the perfect size for the profile dimensions and fits the guide, while maintaining separation with a bit of rock wool. The guide is for fitting the polycarbonate screen.

Between the aluminum profile and the components, there is a separation with Teflon gaskets and special heat-resistant silicone. The Teflon gaskets are not visible, but they are there. Inside, between the aluminum profile and the Ega profile, right around each rivet. I'm using 2 gaskets per joint; the more we separate the guide from the box, the better. Much better, but you have to take into account and calculate the space you leave for the polycarbonate screen.
The joints are like this (they have to be special to withstand high temperatures)

Teflon gaskets for separating the case and internal components
Teflon gaskets for separating the case and internal components

An EGA profile, or EGA master profile, is this, and it's very common to find it in DIY stores because it's used for assembling plasterboard walls.
It looks like this:

Master profile ega of obramat
Master profile ega of obramat

Between the guide and the aluminum profile of the box, you also have to leave a little separation, as a thermal barrier.
I used 2 red plumbing gaskets to maintain that margin before creating the joint with the rivets, and where I could later fill with silicone.

Separating the guide from the aluminum profile of the box
Separating the guide from the aluminum profile of the box

Graphic representation of the profile

Graphic diagram of the internal structure of the aluminum profile of the box
Graphic diagram of the internal structure of the aluminum profile of the box

1 - The aluminum profile
2 - The rivets that hold the EGA profile
3 - Guide for the aluminum screen
4 - Special heat-resistant silicone
5 - Teflon gaskets to separate the components of the aluminum profile
6 - Rivet that holds the components, passing through the Teflon to maintain the thermal distance.
L - Rock wool

The profile structure in the complete assembly

The profile would look like this: when it's done everything assembled and closed.

Graphic diagram of the internal structure of the aluminum profile of the closed box
Graphic diagram of the internal structure of the aluminum profile of the closed box

1 - The aluminum profile
2 - The rivets that hold the EGA profile
3 - Guide for the aluminum screen
4 - Special heat-resistant silicone
5 - Teflon gaskets to separate the components from the aluminum profile
6 - Rivet that holds the components, passing inside the Teflon to maintain the thermal distance.
L - Rock wool
7 - Copper grill and absorber
T - Polycarbonate screen
B - Rear sheet-metal enclosure

Documento creado por Pedro Reina Rojas