Solar Panels

[3DTIM]

Anybody here done it. Here is what I made. On 30deg day it is keeping the shop at 60deg. But only on sunny days. The shop is 30'x26'

 

[autoist]

I'm building solar heaters sort of like them right now....

Have you looked at this month's "Mother Earth News" magazing....they show some solar collectors that are rolled out & glued to a metal roof then run into a meter in front of your garage's meter...if they don't do the work, their meter automatically calls for power from the grid....if you make more electricity that you need, the grid buys it!

 

[3DTIM]

Thanks I will look them up.

 

[autoist]

Here's what I'm building:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2006-12-01/Build-a-Simple-Solar-Heater.aspx

 

[must8657]

can you give some more details on what you built in the picture?
jason

 

[seatec]

I have one on my new garage, puts out 5000 + btus on a good day, I have built 12 so far. Pictures can be seen at atlanticenergy.ca under projects, picture of garage with solar panel can be seen at www.burgmantrikes.com on my home page and in my album, dont know how to post a picture here, says its to large and i dont know how to make it smaller. Wayne-seatec

 

[PAToyota]

A couple similar discussions:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24648
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23029

 

[Torque1st]

The solar panels are a disguise. That purple globular object is actually a containment vessel for the fusion reactor that feeds steam thru the columnar support to the turbine generator under the shop that powers the whole area.

 

[3DTIM]

Mine Were very simple. 1 4'x8' sheet of plywood 4 2x4 8' sliver backed insulation and 1 4'x8' Plexiglas " I wishes I could have found some glass". I sealed all cracks with clack. And one thermostat. After I framed it I cut my hole for the exit air and for my fan. Then I put in the insulation. Taking one of the 2x4 I cut it in to 2x2 to set my metal on and screwed it in to place. I used metal roofing but now I hear that alum. will work better. Painted the metal flat black. Putting the Plexiglas on be very careful as it will bust very easy. I used lot of clear silicone on the Plexigas and put the screws in every 6" . I set my thermostat at 80 degs on cool to turn the fan on.

I hope I covered most of it. If you want to call me and ask on it here is my number. 270 934 3971
Hope this helps 3DTim