Solar Heat

shortbusgeek · 10-23-2009, 08:53 AM

I ran across this idea the other day on a DIY site, which had a link to a guy that actually makes a complete set up. After looking through various ideas, it doesn't look all that hard to make, so I'm currently putting one together. I'll let everyone know how it turns out, but here's a link to the guy that makes them:

http://www.cansolair.com

The basic premise is cutting holes in the tops and bottoms of soda cans, stacking and gluing them together, painting them black (to better heat up) and enclosing the stacks in a frame - somewhere around 4x8 or so with a hole in the top right and bottom left of the frame and a small fan to push the air through it. You then connect those holes through an opening to your house, barn, etc. The enclosure will pull air from your structure, heat it up and push it back inside. The specs on the one the guy sells said it pushes 100 CFM with a 50 to 100 degree increase in temperature. If you have a lounge in your barn that's maybe 20 x 20, with 9 foot ceilings, that's 3600 cubic feet, which means that this thing could turn over the air once every 36 minutes. Not too shabby.

muttduck · 10-23-2009, 12:14 PM

I'd love the link to the DIY site you found te idea on, and I definitely want to hear how well it works!

Can I be so bold as to ask you take pics of your process of building it, please?

NoniMe · 10-23-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muttduck

I'd love the link to the DIY site you found te idea on, and I definitely want to hear how well it works!

Can I be so bold as to ask you take pics of your process of building it, please?

Ditto.

Sounds like a good idea in theory...I'd love to see how it goes in reality!

Best-
Noni

shortbusgeek · 10-23-2009, 12:44 PM

There's a variety of sites out there with information on this concept. A quick Google search turned up these, one of which the guy actually hung inside instead of outside (first link). The last one appears to be the one built the best and is pretty close to the design I'm aiming for. Note the input temperature of 38F, output of 135F. That's a 97 degree temperature rise from soda cans, caulking, wood, glass/lexan and paint. Not too shabby.

http://www.squidoo.com/beercansolarheater

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007...an_solar_p.php

http://www.blackenergy.com/amandla/l...ter-soda-cans/

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/20...313/535/667636

There's a few more

enigma · 10-23-2009, 06:49 PM

Waves hand in air -- me, too! (I'm seriously campaigning for a dual-fuel stove for the basement.)

BBT2T5 · 10-23-2009, 07:02 PM

This looks very interesting, can't wait to hear the results.

NoniMe · 10-25-2009, 09:11 AM

Checked out some of the links, and I really like the idea...it looks like it would work, while the sun is out.

But how to heat when it's dark or cloudy? That, to me, is the biggest hole in the project. I think, if it were me, and I wanted to heat something overnight, I'd go with solar panels to generate energy, so I could "turn on" the heat at night as well as during the day. Does that make sense?

I know there are small solar panel systems that can be made/purchased inexpensively which generate and store energy...does anyone have any link to that?

Just wondering/thinking out loud...

Best-
Noni

shortbusgeek · 10-26-2009, 09:53 AM

Not sure about inexpensive solar panels, but I know I can get some at Fry's for several hundred a piece that are 65 watt panels. I would think I'd need at least a 2kW system at a bare minimum, which means I'd need around 30 panels. That's around $12k in panels, probably another couple thousand in batteries to store the electricity to make it available overnight... more if I want to plan for extended cloudy or rainy days... and then the cost can go up from there depending on whether it's an off the grid system or grid tied.

While the can system certainly doesn't provide for cloudy days or night time, it's certainly a fraction of the price of a normal solar setup. We are hoping to install a solar array at some point, but that's probably another 2 to 3 years down the road. For now, we're just using solar for the fence charger.

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10-23-2009, 08:53 AM
shortbusgeek Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Georgia Posts: 8	Solar Heat I ran across this idea the other day on a DIY site, which had a link to a guy that actually makes a complete set up. After looking through various ideas, it doesn't look all that hard to make, so I'm currently putting one together. I'll let everyone know how it turns out, but here's a link to the guy that makes them: http://www.cansolair.com The basic premise is cutting holes in the tops and bottoms of soda cans, stacking and gluing them together, painting them black (to better heat up) and enclosing the stacks in a frame - somewhere around 4x8 or so with a hole in the top right and bottom left of the frame and a small fan to push the air through it. You then connect those holes through an opening to your house, barn, etc. The enclosure will pull air from your structure, heat it up and push it back inside. The specs on the one the guy sells said it pushes 100 CFM with a 50 to 100 degree increase in temperature. If you have a lounge in your barn that's maybe 20 x 20, with 9 foot ceilings, that's 3600 cubic feet, which means that this thing could turn over the air once every 36 minutes. Not too shabby.

10-23-2009, 12:14 PM
muttduck Kid Safe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 6,959	I'd love the link to the DIY site you found te idea on, and I definitely want to hear how well it works! Can I be so bold as to ask you take pics of your process of building it, please? __________________ Custom stall signs and pet portraits, Wood Burned by hand with your equine's (or pet's) image: www.WoodburnedPetPortraits.com Self Defense Supplies, Stun Guns, Pepper Sprays: https://selfprotectionsupplies.com/

10-23-2009, 12:44 PM
shortbusgeek Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Georgia Posts: 8	There's a variety of sites out there with information on this concept. A quick Google search turned up these, one of which the guy actually hung inside instead of outside (first link). The last one appears to be the one built the best and is pretty close to the design I'm aiming for. Note the input temperature of 38F, output of 135F. That's a 97 degree temperature rise from soda cans, caulking, wood, glass/lexan and paint. Not too shabby. http://www.squidoo.com/beercansolarheater http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007...an_solar_p.php http://www.blackenergy.com/amandla/l...ter-soda-cans/ http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/20...313/535/667636 There's a few more

10-23-2009, 06:49 PM
enigma Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,271	Waves hand in air -- me, too! (I'm seriously campaigning for a dual-fuel stove for the basement.) __________________ There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. ~ Winston Churchill

10-23-2009, 07:02 PM
BBT2T5 Started Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Naperville, Illinois Posts: 2,686	This looks very interesting, can't wait to hear the results.

10-25-2009, 09:11 AM
NoniMe Seasoned Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,755	Checked out some of the links, and I really like the idea...it looks like it would work, while the sun is out. But how to heat when it's dark or cloudy? That, to me, is the biggest hole in the project. I think, if it were me, and I wanted to heat something overnight, I'd go with solar panels to generate energy, so I could "turn on" the heat at night as well as during the day. Does that make sense? I know there are small solar panel systems that can be made/purchased inexpensively which generate and store energy...does anyone have any link to that? Just wondering/thinking out loud... Best- Noni __________________ Apparently, I have a warped sense of humor. "Who knew?"

10-26-2009, 09:53 AM
shortbusgeek Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Georgia Posts: 8	Not sure about inexpensive solar panels, but I know I can get some at Fry's for several hundred a piece that are 65 watt panels. I would think I'd need at least a 2kW system at a bare minimum, which means I'd need around 30 panels. That's around $12k in panels, probably another couple thousand in batteries to store the electricity to make it available overnight... more if I want to plan for extended cloudy or rainy days... and then the cost can go up from there depending on whether it's an off the grid system or grid tied. While the can system certainly doesn't provide for cloudy days or night time, it's certainly a fraction of the price of a normal solar setup. We are hoping to install a solar array at some point, but that's probably another 2 to 3 years down the road. For now, we're just using solar for the fence charger.