solar heating

[billcole]

I have always been interested in solar heating for my garage. Anyone ever tried passive solar? I like to tinker and figured someone here probably has tried.

 

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

Hey Bill,try www.builditsolar.com

There is a ton of info on solar heating and making your own collectors/panels etc.....

 

[RPH]

Mother earth news has a few great designs on their site.

 

[6768rogues]

I don't know where you are located, but you will probably need a big panel and a small garage if you are in a northern climate. Also, you will have to keep snow off the collector.

 

[billcole]

I live in northern Michigan and I just wanted to hear about other peoples results. I have looked at a lot of designs and thought about building a panel. No big deal, thanks for the reply's.

 

[redsky49]

I have always been interested in solar heating for my garage. Anyone ever tried passive solar? I like to tinker and figured someone here probably has tried.

Passive solar is not solar panels, pumps or collectors. It instead includes items such as thermal mass, fenestration and Trombe walls. It is more of an architectural design factor, best addressed during initial schematic design. It is typically "built-in", not added after the fact. A lot of the "Green" movement has been adopted from this philosophy.

The benefit is that it typically has the best payback, has no moving parts and requires no maintenance.

Do some study at the library.

As always, offered only as opinion

 

[sneezer41]

Passive solar in a garage is fairly simple

great insulation

south[pref south south east] glass with almost no other glass

we already have the thermal mass[floor]

prep floor as if for radiant

large overhangs and/or deciduous trees for summer sun

 

[redsky49]

Passive solar in a garage is fairly simple

great insulation

south[pref south south east] glass with almost no other glass

we already have the thermal mass[floor]

prep floor as if for radiant

large overhangs and/or deciduous trees for summer sun

There you go!

 

[billcole]

I am looking into the the large insulated boxes with clear fronts with aluminum inside that collects the heat. Here is a link to one. http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/TomLargeCol/TomCol.htm

 

[billcole]

Sorry that link was for a water boiler system. The same thing is done with just heated air.

 

[JohnMcD348]

I have the best Passive Solar setup imaginable. Large arched double window facing East with a South facing Garage door with smaller windows. It works pretty good. Only problem is it REALLY Kicks **** in the Summer Time.............

This past few weeks when the temp would drop into the 40's, it got up to about 60 or better during the day with the everything closed up.

During the summer months.. 130* when it's 90+ outside.

 

[socapots]

good ideas here.
a buddy of mine has been trying to convince me of doing the pop can method.
saw a couple designs online that looked pretty good. Easy to do. Not expensive at all.
and good results.
We'll see how it goes. I dont think id be able to use it as the only heat source. But certainly keep the chill off a couple rooms in the shop.

 

[79stang514]

I'm currently building both passive solar heating and hot water heating into my new garage. I was planning to just do the passive, but would lose most of the heat during the night because of our -35 deg. days and nights. I'm not interested in the huge temp. swings, so I decided to add the hot water to keep it constant. If you look at the $1000 hot water heater on builditsolar, I'm starting to build the same collector. I'm hoping I can build the hot water system for about the same as a furnace would cost, but with no expense for fuel after. Here's the passive:

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

Here's the hot water:

http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/PEXColDHW/Overview.htm

 

[walrus]

Her is my build thread, my shop is currently being heated by solar backed up by wood. My climate has been pretty brutal this winter, lots of snow and cold not much sun. Shop still hasn't fallen below 44, generally stays around 48.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40482

 

[billcole]

Her is my build thread, my shop is currently being heated by solar backed up by wood. My climate has been pretty brutal this winter, lots of snow and cold not much sun. Shop still hasn't fallen below 44, generally stays around 48.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40482

Nice thread, I wondered how affective it would be in a northern area since there is not a lot of sun this time of year.

 

[Falcon67]

Maybe look at variations on this:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67346&highlight=pool+attic

 

[socapots]

I'm currently building both passive solar heating and hot water heating into my new garage. I was planning to just do the passive, but would lose most of the heat during the night because of our -35 deg. days and nights. I'm not interested in the huge temp. swings, so I decided to add the hot water to keep it constant. If you look at the $1000 hot water heater on builditsolar, I'm starting to build the same collector. I'm hoping I can build the hot water system for about the same as a furnace would cost, but with no expense for fuel after. Here's the passive:

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

Here's the hot water:

http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/PEXColDHW/Overview.htm

That first one looks great..
Has anyone compared the outputs of a can style system to one of these screen type ones?