Solar Radiant Heat

[gtivr4]

Has anyone done a radiant heat system that is heated (or at least partially heated) by a solar heat collector? Seems like its something that could be done relatively inexpensively if a lot of DIY ingenuity is used.

 

[CenTex52Chevy]

haven't done it myself, but looked into it. There is a site "build it solar" I think it is called that has several article on solar radiant heating. There are a couple of article that miight help you decide if you want to go that route.

 

[ixlr8]

I am looking into it for my garage radiant heating system. Rough calculations show solar can provide 70% of my heating needs if I can get the building sealed and insulated propertly.
Here is a site that has some good info, cheap online subscription.

http://homepower.com/home/

 

[Possum]

Check out Walrus's build - http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40482
Maybe we can get him to give us an update.

 

[Possum]

Another thread with some info - http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24164

 

[walrus]

Check out Walrus's build - http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40482
Maybe we can get him to give us an update.

Been to hot this summer to think about heat but Northern Maine had a frost so the coast will get one soon. I'm playing with a Differential controller right now, its not working http://sites.google.com/site/mydtcstore/. Been back and forth with the guy who made it, haven't got it resolved yet but we will. My collector is all done other than glazing and the DTC. I have the glazing just haven't had the time to install it yet. Its all plumbed, filled with antifreeze, just need a controller that works.

 

[70 chevelle]

I have a 1200 sq foot garage that I would like to do solar base board radiant heat or forced air. anyone have any information?

 

[brianh]

Last year I made a solar hot air collector for my barn it works very well.

Currently I am building a 40x60 garage that will have solar radiant heat I hope that it will at least keep it above freezing while I am not in it.

I have a 160 sq feet of hot water panels and plan on doubling the amount, at the moment I am just pouring the slab with insulation and the pex I am doing 3 pours 20x40 to keep it manageable since I am doing the work myself with some friends helping.

A wood stove with a hot water coil will also be tied to the system.

I have a few pictures of the hot air collector being built here

I had to fit it on a sliding door ideally it would be set up vertical to take advantage of natural convection.
The blower fans are powered by the two 15 watt photo voltaic panels on top.
http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l249/brianharnett/solar panel/

The build it solar website is a great website for ideas and where to buy supplies.
http://www.builditsolar.com/

 

[VHF]

Has anyone done a radiant heat system that is heated (or at least partially heated) by a solar heat collector? Seems like its something that could be done relatively inexpensively if a lot of DIY ingenuity is used.

If you are willing to tollerate some daily temperature swings, you could hook some solar pannels directly to a radiant floor loop. No storage tank needed*--the mass of the floor becomes the thermal storage. The garage would be coldest first thing in the morning, warm up again by midday and reach maximum temperature at the end of the afternoon, then start cooling off again overnight.

If you built your own flat pannel collectors you could keep the cost down.

*You would need a small expansion tank, and of course you would need to run a glycol solution to keep the collectors from freezing at night.

 

[ixlr8]

Been to hot this summer to think about heat but Northern Maine had a frost so the coast will get one soon. I'm playing with a Differential controller right now, its not working http://sites.google.com/site/mydtcstore/...... just need a controller that works.

If you can't get that one to work, here is a link to a controller that is made by Art-Tec LLC in Woolwich, Maine.

http://www.arttecsolar.com/

HTH

 

[z28toz06]

http://www.tekmarcontrols.com/prod/256.shtml This unit monitors outside temps and adjusts inside demands accordingly.

I had a home energy audit done 2 weeks ago and i showed him my garage radiant system. He said I could get 80% of my needs from the sun, and the other 20% from the hot water heater.

 

[RPH]

One of the best sources of information on solar systems is Mother Earth News. They have great DIY articles on sytems. In fact my new building was designed with the long wall for southern expousure. Got to get free heat before buying it. Check it out.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2006-02-01/Do-It-Yourself-Solar-Heat-Collectors.aspx