Solar furnace

[G-Body]

Its getting to be time for me to think about a better way to heat the garage for winter. Previously it was a diesel torpedo heater. But I`m thinking of trying solar for this year.

Basically it looks like either a soda can heater or window screen. I can`t seem to find anyone who did a direct comparison between a solar heater using soda cans and one using window screen as an absorber. I will be making a 5' x 6' collector and can`t decide if I want to use cans or window screen.

Seems like the window screen design would be faster and easier to make, but I am worried about it fogging up with humidity as night falls and the collector cools off. Seems like it would be more prone to do that than a can heater. Aslo for anyone using a screen design, is it prone to filling up with dust and dirt? I would put a filter on the inlet no matter which design I build, but I`m worried that a screen design would be more prone to losing efficiency due to getting contaminated with dirt (I regularly weld, grind, fiberglass, bodywork, etc in the garage)

 

[mmurphy]

http://www.builditsolar.com/
Here is a great site for ideas. Gary has been in Mother Earth News and other publications. He is good at responding back to questions. He gets no money from anything that is put on his site, he just likes experimenting and seeing what works.

 

[Dragster Racer]

I really think where you live is going to limit how effectively you can heat with solar. However, you may be able to supliment the heat in there, and keep it a bit warmer, which will make it easier to bring up to temp when you are out there. There are a few decent passive solar designs out there, but you will have to be dedicated to consuming most of the southern wall with it, and there cannot be shade on that wall. And....if you are not well insulated and sealed, you won't get anywhere with your efforts.

 

[G-Body]

I am basically looking to supplement the heat to keep it a little warmer out there when I`m not working. I don`t mind firing up a heater when I go out there. Its a 1000 sq ft garage with 13' walls but has pretty good insulation. It usually stays in the 30`s to 40`s even when its only 10 degrees outside without any heater. If I could get the garage to hover in the mid 50`s to 60`s that would be great.

 

[GaryBIS]

Its getting to be time for me to think about a better way to heat the garage for winter. Previously it was a diesel torpedo heater. But I`m thinking of trying solar for this year.

Basically it looks like either a soda can heater or window screen. I can`t seem to find anyone who did a direct comparison between a solar heater using soda cans and one using window screen as an absorber. I will be making a 5' x 6' collector and can`t decide if I want to use cans or window screen.

Seems like the window screen design would be faster and easier to make, but I am worried about it fogging up with humidity as night falls and the collector cools off. Seems like it would be more prone to do that than a can heater. Aslo for anyone using a screen design, is it prone to filling up with dust and dirt? I would put a filter on the inlet no matter which design I build, but I`m worried that a screen design would be more prone to losing efficiency due to getting contaminated with dirt (I regularly weld, grind, fiberglass, bodywork, etc in the garage)

Hi,
I did test a down spout collector compared to a screen absorber collector -- the down spout collector may perform something like a can collector.
Results here:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/AirColTesting/Index.htm
The downspout collector did not do too well. Part of this may have been that the air distribution to the downspouts was not very even. Hope to work on getting the downspout collector working better this winter.

One thing I'd think about is that the screen collectors are SO easy and fast to put together, while the pop can collectors are a LOT of work.

I've not heard from anyone reporting condensation problems with the screen collectors. Mine certainly don't, but I'm in a dry climate.


Gary

 

[MLue1]

Hello there this is my first post.

I have been experimenting with the solar collectors for while now, they should not be used as the only souce of heat or you wil experience wild temprature changes in the garage which if you have a older hobby car like I do, isn't favourable.

I found this video on Youtube and have since purchase the plans as well as a fan similar to the one that they sell.

They actually copied the solar pannel that a guy in the New Foundland has been selling for several years for $2k. Having built a few variations of these pop can heaters, the good things about this design are:
1) Curved lexan cover captures and focuses the suns rays a bit better.
2) Using insulation on the back of the collector
3) Weather tight so you don't have to maintain it.

You could save youself alot of work and subsitute other materials instead of the pop cans as it is alot of work to collect, clean, cut and glue them togeater, that is prolly what I will wind up doing.