@WasHighPingDuck
The heat was piped to a room that did not get the benefit of natural sun light.
As well the room in question had all the windows covered for security.
This is fine but I believe that black floor covering inside in front of the window gives the same heat and you can see out the window.
If you need more heat than a window I suggest a beer-horse (beer can 1 hp passive collector) outside between the windows.
Black ceramic tile flooring (even better over concrete) will store a small heat even after the sun goes down and should make a excellent match for a beer-horse with it’s quick heat.
Every small bit helps.
I’ve made system like this and it worked ok but the largest problem was there was no heat at night so I’ve scrapped it. But yes it works excellent in day time.
I want to share mine but it is still a work in progress. My approach is this: My employer provides a lunch room and recycle bin for soda can. I take the recycle bin home and use a sideways battery operated can opener and pop the tops off some 130 cans (soon) currently I have some 110 cans finished. After popping the tops I tap holes to form a pi wheel type affect. This will slow thew air down and circulate it around the outside of the inner wall of all cans.
How is it more effective running a fan than just backing the board a few inches back and letting convection work? Same about of heat/solar energy absorbed and releasted.
wood has it’s place & we use it to heat our house which is off grid. Go to:”hawkhillfarmoffthegrid” to see it. Yea, it gets dusty, but that is what spring cleaning is all about
Probably not legal to block off a window like that though UNLESS you can gain access to the outside through the window. Don’t reckon the city want to see this type of blocked window…
How simple, but effective. The larger the window, the more heat. What I do not know is what type of glass is best for this type of set-up? Simple, uninsulated glass or? What if you have insulated, double pane windows? Would this still work?
This augmentation is nearly 100% more effective in this situation, as for the lighting yes I agree with you there, but this is a heating topic. Without thermal mass to store the heat then there is no way to absorb and keep it warm.
donepearce, i build these and other similar active solar pieces, i also build cob homes and other earthen solar mass homes, this is not ridiculous at all, the typical commercial building or home does not have the thermal mass needed to absorb the direct sun light and store it as heat to release into the building.
Fantastic video! I’m doing something like that but a litle bit smaller and portable for one or two windows here at home. It´s just an experience.
Wat’s that black material in the absorber??
Keep up the Excellent Work!
Hugo – Portugal.
I made a solar heater during the summer and finally hooked it up yesterday. I also choose to use “heavy material” but that is not the issue I am having.
The temp outside was 54 and sunny.
The temp coming out of the upper port was at 82.
I have no fans
I was really satisfied with my results until, the sun went down. I then had to stuff a rag in the lower port to prevent the cold air from rolling in as the “convection” had reversed. how do you keep the unit from cooling the inside at night?
You must have missed what I said in the video and in the comments. I’ve addressed this several times. I wasn’t using the room with the windows in it. I was using the room next to it, a room with no windows. Otherwise you’re absolutely right.
To shut off a window for solar heating is just ridiculous. Far better to let the sun shine through the window and heat the room directly. That saves on lighting bills too. No; a solar heater must logically be sited where the solar power would otherwise be going to waste.
August 5th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
@WasHighPingDuck
The heat was piped to a room that did not get the benefit of natural sun light.
As well the room in question had all the windows covered for security.
August 5th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
In regard to being illegal there is a By-Law for covering windows in the area and we did not exceeded the percentage set out by the township.
August 5th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
I want to see what you have connected 1.12 please thank you
August 5th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
This is fine but I believe that black floor covering inside in front of the window gives the same heat and you can see out the window.
If you need more heat than a window I suggest a beer-horse (beer can 1 hp passive collector) outside between the windows.
Black ceramic tile flooring (even better over concrete) will store a small heat even after the sun goes down and should make a excellent match for a beer-horse with it’s quick heat.
Every small bit helps.
August 5th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
I’ve made system like this and it worked ok but the largest problem was there was no heat at night so I’ve scrapped it. But yes it works excellent in day time.
August 5th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
I want to share mine but it is still a work in progress. My approach is this: My employer provides a lunch room and recycle bin for soda can. I take the recycle bin home and use a sideways battery operated can opener and pop the tops off some 130 cans (soon) currently I have some 110 cans finished. After popping the tops I tap holes to form a pi wheel type affect. This will slow thew air down and circulate it around the outside of the inner wall of all cans.
August 5th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Fantastic point. There may be some regulations on blocking windows. There were already bars on the window though. Perhaps they were a “no-no” too.
August 5th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
I don’t know if it is more efficient to have a fan than just let convection work. That’s a excellent question.
August 5th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
How is it more effective running a fan than just backing the board a few inches back and letting convection work? Same about of heat/solar energy absorbed and releasted.
August 5th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
wood has it’s place & we use it to heat our house which is off grid. Go to:”hawkhillfarmoffthegrid” to see it. Yea, it gets dusty, but that is what spring cleaning is all about
August 5th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Probably not legal to block off a window like that though UNLESS you can gain access to the outside through the window. Don’t reckon the city want to see this type of blocked window…
August 5th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
How simple, but effective. The larger the window, the more heat. What I do not know is what type of glass is best for this type of set-up? Simple, uninsulated glass or? What if you have insulated, double pane windows? Would this still work?
August 5th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
have you tried the soda pop can way, it sounds like its more efficient??
August 5th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
It’s foam insulation painted with black high heat barbeque paint. Share your project with us on video Hugo!
August 5th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
This augmentation is nearly 100% more effective in this situation, as for the lighting yes I agree with you there, but this is a heating topic. Without thermal mass to store the heat then there is no way to absorb and keep it warm.
August 6th, 2010 at 12:20 am
donepearce, i build these and other similar active solar pieces, i also build cob homes and other earthen solar mass homes, this is not ridiculous at all, the typical commercial building or home does not have the thermal mass needed to absorb the direct sun light and store it as heat to release into the building.
August 6th, 2010 at 12:47 am
Fantastic video! I’m doing something like that but a litle bit smaller and portable for one or two windows here at home. It´s just an experience.
Wat’s that black material in the absorber??
Keep up the Excellent Work!
Hugo – Portugal.
August 6th, 2010 at 1:19 am
We place flaps on the inlets that would only allow air to enter. Did I clarify that well? If not let me know and I’ll try to clarify.
August 6th, 2010 at 1:43 am
I made a solar heater during the summer and finally hooked it up yesterday. I also choose to use “heavy material” but that is not the issue I am having.
The temp outside was 54 and sunny.
The temp coming out of the upper port was at 82.
I have no fans
I was really satisfied with my results until, the sun went down. I then had to stuff a rag in the lower port to prevent the cold air from rolling in as the “convection” had reversed. how do you keep the unit from cooling the inside at night?
August 6th, 2010 at 2:08 am
I see that our conversation is going nowhere quick. Thanks for watching.
August 6th, 2010 at 3:04 am
So leave the door open. Or switch rooms, of course.
August 6th, 2010 at 3:13 am
You must have missed what I said in the video and in the comments. I’ve addressed this several times. I wasn’t using the room with the windows in it. I was using the room next to it, a room with no windows. Otherwise you’re absolutely right.
August 6th, 2010 at 3:43 am
To shut off a window for solar heating is just ridiculous. Far better to let the sun shine through the window and heat the room directly. That saves on lighting bills too. No; a solar heater must logically be sited where the solar power would otherwise be going to waste.
August 6th, 2010 at 4:08 am
That is so cool!
August 6th, 2010 at 4:33 am
Its not about the window. Its about the themal mass of the walls.