Its started :)
- Thread starter walrus
- Start date
fergus
Well-known member
Nice. Never forgot about this thread. The solar collector has been stuck in my head since day one on this board.
Finished the addition up, around 1600 dollars in it. I like the symmetry of having wings on both sides. Now I have some room for equipment I don't want outdoors in the winter. Next step is car skates so I can get my Mustang in the shop and be able to move it out of the way
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rburke65
Well-known member
Wow....nice total job, from the salvage to the new build, to the solar panels. You have me wondering now as I am all electric and just put up a new shop. I don't have the floor in yet, and debating if I should spend the money for the pex anyway...no NG. But after reading this post, the solar might be a possibility.....
Sureshot
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Nice job on the shop and solar. So in hindsight what would you do different on the solar?
How many sqare feet is the current solar?
How many sqare feet is the current solar?
The solar, maybe bigger collector but other than that I can't think of anything.
The box is 10 by 16 so 160 sq ft.
I did it 1st of October, been running for awhile slab temps in the upper 50s low 60s now, will drop to the upper 40s to low 50s once winter really hits. Shop stays around 50 plus or minus in winter, this year probably warmer as I plan to work out there quite a bit on a couple of projects
Haven't really been in my shop at all for a month other than cleaning out service truck, I've been leaving my bucket truck in there as I've been using it alot for changing out some lighting other than that the place has been shut up. Its 50 in there with no heat other than the solar, it was 11 degrees f outside this morning. I'd say thats pretty good especially the way the wind has been howling the last few days
Today is the first time I've had a fire in the stove this heating season, 41f in the shop with just the solar, coldest I've seen it since I built it. It was -4 last night and has been cold all week. Still didn't freeze in there
Modern Jess
Well-known member
Love the solar radiant system. That's awesome.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Awesome work and in particular the solar system.
Walrus,
I know this was sorta asked before, but I got a slightly different spin...
Have you considered building a second smaller collector to heat a hundred gal. storage tank, and use the tank for a forced air (recycled truck radiator) type system that you would only turn on when you wanted to work out there? The storage tank would likely always be ready for you unless you had a week of cloudy days.
Just thinking out loud!
(When I get finished insulating my 'new-to-me' shop, I am going to build a solar hot air collector for it. Too late for the floor, and to expensive to jack up and re pour!)
I know this was sorta asked before, but I got a slightly different spin...
Have you considered building a second smaller collector to heat a hundred gal. storage tank, and use the tank for a forced air (recycled truck radiator) type system that you would only turn on when you wanted to work out there? The storage tank would likely always be ready for you unless you had a week of cloudy days.
Just thinking out loud!
(When I get finished insulating my 'new-to-me' shop, I am going to build a solar hot air collector for it. Too late for the floor, and to expensive to jack up and re pour!)
Coldest winter(so far anyway) here since 1940s, shop has done well. I've built a few fires to thaw trucks out, melt ice off after we had 3 or 4 days of ice around christmas. The past days have been below 0, 2 of those days we had a high temp of below zero, -3f,-6f. Even then I got collector temps in the 90s, today was warm almost 30 and the floor is up to 54. As well insulated as the shop is I'm not sure how warm I could get it during that cold snap, even after filling the stove a couple of times it was still around 50. All that metal, tools, vehicles etc takes a while to heat back up
Still cold, still no time to play in shop, right now its full of parts and pieces for the 2 jobs I have going, huge mess. This morning I needed to change oil in wifes car, moved bucket truck out, her car in. Heard solar pump start at 9am, outside temp around 10, collector temp 64, inside temp around 50 as I got a fire going yesterday so it would be reasonable in there, Temp yesterday was around 40 inside when I got fire going. So 40 is now the new low in my shop since being finished. We are now getting to sun angles that are favorable for solar, longer day length makes a huge difference. Supposed to be snow and rain tomorrow and then rest of week sunny and 20 or so. I expect I'll see a rise in temps inside if forecast holds true.
Shop and collector performing as expected, not a slave to heating it. Could have done the oil change at 40 but I'm not crazy
Shop and collector performing as expected, not a slave to heating it. Could have done the oil change at 40 but I'm not crazy
I just read this thread -- from your link when you commented on another thread.
Very interesting build ... I have been thinking of trying to provide a solar warming for my slab .. I'm going through many different thoughts in my head. Thanks for posting all the pictures and the followups.
I was wondering about the walls -- It looks like you used two different types of rigid foam on the exterior - the upper with with an aluminum skin and the lower without? Are they both the same thickness? Then you covered with plywood -- lower being pressure treated.
I have an older building and I have to replace the sheathing and I was thinking of using some rigid foam to the outside. Is that typical batts to the inside?
In my neck of the woods we do need to watch for condensation forming against the inside of the rigid foam.
Very interesting build ... I have been thinking of trying to provide a solar warming for my slab .. I'm going through many different thoughts in my head. Thanks for posting all the pictures and the followups.
I was wondering about the walls -- It looks like you used two different types of rigid foam on the exterior - the upper with with an aluminum skin and the lower without? Are they both the same thickness? Then you covered with plywood -- lower being pressure treated.
I have an older building and I have to replace the sheathing and I was thinking of using some rigid foam to the outside. Is that typical batts to the inside?
In my neck of the woods we do need to watch for condensation forming against the inside of the rigid foam.
DonPowers
Well-known member
Just read your thread, nice job on shop Walrus, still working on mine.
One of my goals is to have a very low operating/heating cost into my retirement years. Looks like you achieved that with yours.
One of my goals is to have a very low operating/heating cost into my retirement years. Looks like you achieved that with yours.
Thats why I built it the way I did. It was 50 out there this morning. Threw some junk wood in my woodstove and changed the oil on my truck. No fire in stove for 2 weeks or so, just the solar keeping it warm or at least above 45
.DonPowers
Well-known member
I'd be happy at 35.
I see northern Maine, 35 might be down right warm depending what northern Maine means
..Pay attention to tightness of building even if overhead doors ruin it and for me the insulation is worth every penny. People talk about return on your money but I think of comfort
DonPowers
Well-known member
I see northern Maine, 35 might be down right warm depending what northern Maine means
Pay attention to tightness of building even if overhead doors ruin it and for me the insulation is worth every penny. People talk about return on your money but I think of comfort
Just north of Caribou. When its 20 below outside with wind, 35 is darn toasty.
Using Roxul insulation, R23 in the walls, R38 on sloped part of ceiling upstairs, R46 in the attic and R17 overhead doors. All the vapor barrier seams are being taped.
2011laramie
Well-known member
What did you use for glass on the collector?
and how about an update on the system?
and how about an update on the system?
fergus
Well-known member
Hey,
Any updates? Thought you would like to know: I'm thinking of using a system like yours on one of our barns to make a kiln for drying lumber...doesn't get all that cold in Nor Cal and I figure I'd gain enough heat to effectively drive moisture out quickly. Thanks for the inspiration.
Any updates? Thought you would like to know: I'm thinking of using a system like yours on one of our barns to make a kiln for drying lumber...doesn't get all that cold in Nor Cal and I figure I'd gain enough heat to effectively drive moisture out quickly. Thanks for the inspiration.
Systems works great, the shop has never gotten below 43 and it generally is around 50 in the dead of winter.
The glass is kalwal, a plastic thats easy to work with, rugged and lightweight
https://www.kalwall.com/
2011laramie
Well-known member
im starting my 44x64 in the spring and pretty much gonna copy your design. I plan on making a 24x44 bay that will be heated by a solar collector. gonna go 20x12 with twinwall polycarbonate panels. Im just not sure if i should heat the slab with it or just run a glycol fan coil unig heater.
Heat the slab, you can get useful heat at lower temps. Even on days that don't get out of the teens(F) I get heat put into my slab. If the sun is out I still get collector temps in the 80s or 90s, obviously not for long in Dec, January because of length of day but come February when sun is higher and length of day starts to increase the shop stays in the 50s without any other help. yesterday we had outdoor temps in the 40s, complete sun, I was burning a pallet(didn't even burn the whole pallet) in woodstove floor temp went from 50s to lower 60s. I'd guess its still over 60 in there right now, temps over night in 20s(F). Don't expect this kind of performance without strict attention to insulation and air infiltration. You can't have a huge heat load and expect to heat with solar in northern climes.
dlcwent
Member Emeritus
John, you have a real nice garage. The work you've done must be very pleasing now that you've been reaping the benefits. I'm most impressed with the solar panel you made. I was talking with my brother yesterday and discussing how we could incorporate that idea and use it in a forced hot water system (as I don't have the option of floor heat). Talk soon I'm sure........Dan
Missed this post,
Dan, the problem with forced hot water system is how high the temps need to be for it to work. In other words, baseboards won't do **** at 110 degrees but radiant floors will work at 60 degrees. My system works great because I can take advantage of low temps. I have solar in my house also for domestic hot water it works great from february thru october then it goes away as day length and sun angle kills it. trying to get 130 degrees in those months in near impossible. But I still get heat into my shop floor as I only need 60 degree water to help keep it warm in there. Floor temps right now are in the mid 50s, don't really need any other heat source to work out there in a sweatshirt, floor is warm and thats great for comfort.
DonPowers
Well-known member
Have you considered a fresnel lens or parabolic mirror to boost the water temperature?
Nah, keep it simple is my way of thinking, it does what it does without having ton of money in it and without ever working on it. The panels on my house have been there 25 years, I've done nothing to the system except take panels off to reroof.
dwysywd
Well-known member
great write up. After reading your write up, the comments you made on my post seem to make more sense. Thanks for the input on my build. I have saved this build and will continue to follow your progress. Your insulation is crazy. I think I want to use my SS tanks we discussed as a storage tank, maybe even run an external radiator off it. Not sure yet.
As for your aluminum covers, why not just paint them all black? Or put black corrugated plastic over the collector? I didn't follow that piece.
As for your aluminum covers, why not just paint them all black? Or put black corrugated plastic over the collector? I didn't follow that piece.
dwysywd
Well-known member
so I now know why you used metal collectors... plastic tube is an insulator, metal tubes conduct. it makes sense now. and I just finished the stove in my barn. so time to get cracking on my solar collector ideas. I'm going to print Gary's stuff you sent me. I am going to make (2) 4x8 collectors.
Sent from my facsimile machine
Sent from my facsimile machine
sean Buick 76
Well-known member
Nice work all around I am impressed! I love the re-purposing of the materials and it really gives character to the build! Great idea to add the lean to on the back, that it nice.
Quick question:
I really like the insulation on the outside of the building, and then you have the 2x6 between that and the inside walls. Do you have more insulation in the 6 inch depth or is it a sealed air space? Just curious as I am still deciding about my insulation options on my build.
Quick question:
I really like the insulation on the outside of the building, and then you have the 2x6 between that and the inside walls. Do you have more insulation in the 6 inch depth or is it a sealed air space? Just curious as I am still deciding about my insulation options on my build.
That space has R 19 fiberglass in it
dwysywd
Well-known member
Understood. I have supplemental heat. And cracked the code on my Insullation. Going spray foam. Best for quanset huts.