Simple solar heat

I'm thinking of building a solar panel based on this
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/04/26/almost-free-garage-heat-just-drink-a-lot-of-soda/ to help heat my former shop space. It's become a studio/noise room for my kids
It's about 280 square feet with r-13 walls and about r-50 ceiling. Its got a fairly unobstructed south wall.

Right now I have a 240v electric heater, but it's pretty expensive to run. My insurance co. nixed the idea of a wood stove, and a gas heater isnt in the budget right now.

I've got a couple of used thermopane patio doors, some 2" styrofoam, a fan controller, and a couple of different fans,one from an air hockey table, and an inline heating duct booster fan. I figure all I may need to buy is some caulking, paint and ductwork.

Anyone here ever tried a project like this??

they were just talking about his a couple days ago. If you go to youtube look up popcan heater or something like that theres a guy that makes them

heres another good website http://napenergia.freeweb.hu/gyak/szp/sztgyi_en.htm

I think you would be underimpressed with the results. You would need a much larger collector to make any difference in your room. The forced air would only be helpful if you really had a large, efficient collector. There are other plans out there that are much larger, and have a large strip opening at the top and bottom that go directly into the space you are looking to heat. This is strictly a passive solar collector. That means that there is no motor to move the air. It works strictly off of convection of warm air. Depending on collector and room size, I have heard of as much as a 20 degree rise in temp from outside to in. That would be good in mild climates, but you would need suplimental heat. Winter sun hours are also much less than summer by their nature. That works against you too. I am certainly not discouraging you from trying this. I have considered using it as a supliment in my shop, but I was afraid that the heat loss at night would cancel the heat gained during the day.

Two Different ideas from Mother Earth News
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Homes/1977-09-01/Mothers-Heat-Grabber.aspx
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2006-12-01/Build-a-Simple-Solar-Heater.aspx

Check out the solar barn/workshop project on builditsolar.com:

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/solar_barn_project.htm

This is the size needed to get some usable heat... even in a Montana winter!

I realize that it won't be able to completely heat the building, but it should be able to limit the amount of electrical heat needed during the day. If it does work out, I could build one or two more. I have most of the materials on hand, so I can probably do this with no budget.

To counter night time heat loss, I plan on using some sort of one-way device, like a louvred dryer vent. Since It's double pane glass and will be well insulated, I think it would be controllable.
The fan control would be set to come on only when the temp in the collector rises above a preset temp, say 80 or 85 degrees and shut off at a few degrees above room temp.
I just have to get out in the shop and see how it comes together.

i think it will work great. I talked to a company that makes them they said that there will be 40 degree difference from whats coming in to whats already in. All th youtube stuff shows heat coming in. if it saves you couple dollars a month why not? I have a1200 froot cabin and plan on installing 2 of them what is there to loose few hundred dollars and some time?? if you get in built let me know how it works