I posted about a week ago about my attempt to harness the sun for free heat. Well, today is the first sunny day we've had since then and I can report that it works. The sun as been on the panel for a few hours and I have 120 degree air (and still rising) coming out of the panel.
I'm excited!! Maybe I'll go ahead and build a full-sized one for the garage next (7'X25').
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Jan. 21, 2012 10:59 a.m. DrBoost SuperDork
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Jan. 21, 2012 11:00 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork
you tempt me sir....
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Jan. 21, 2012 1:01 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork
In reply to DrBoost:
nice!
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Jan. 21, 2012 1:06 p.m. Taiden SuperDork
Awesome! When I land my own digs there will be many a DIY solar heater installed.
Did you check to see how much air came out via convection only? I bet you'd be surprised!
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Jan. 21, 2012 1:44 p.m. DrBoost SuperDork
Taiden wrote:
Awesome! When I land my own digs there will be many a DIY solar heater installed.
Did you check to see how much air came out via convection only? I bet you'd be surprised!
Right now it's only convection. I have the fan installed, but not solar (electric) panel yet. So the heat is coming out of the top and collecting in the coved area. I want to power the fan to blow the heat into the kitchen area.
This is what's happening now. -
Jan. 21, 2012 4:15 p.m. Graefin10 HalfDork
In reply to DrBoost:
Late last night I stumbled onto some of the most reasonably priced solar electric panels I've seen.
Here: http://www.saferwholesale.com/category-s/554.htm
A 200W "do it yourself kit for $218.
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Jan. 21, 2012 4:37 p.m. JoeyM SuperDork
Congrads. I love when DIY, cost savings and green intersect.
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Jan. 21, 2012 4:46 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork
I wonder if a HF solar battery charger would have enough umph to drive a small fan?
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Jan. 21, 2012 5:07 p.m. DrBoost SuperDork
mad_machine wrote:
I wonder if a HF solar battery charger would have enough umph to drive a small fan?
Yeah, I think it would. It's only a 10 watt fan. But those chargers are like $80 or so. I'd hate to spend that kinda coin only to take it apart and destroy it. But it is looking like my best bet.
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Jan. 21, 2012 5:08 p.m. Twin_Cam SuperDork
Holy hell, 120*. That's awesome. Clearly when I get a house I need to do this to some doors.
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Jan. 21, 2012 5:11 p.m. DrBoost SuperDork
Twin_Cam wrote:
Holy hell, 120*. That's awesome. Clearly when I get a house I need to do this to some doors.
And that was with an outside temp of 18*.
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Jan. 21, 2012 5:13 p.m. Curmudgeon SuperDork
That's pretty cool! The front door of one of my houses faced south, and we had a full view storm door. On a cool winter day the dark gray front door would get so hot you couldn't touch it.
$60.00 10 watt solar panel: http://www.amazon.com/HQRP-Mono-crystalline-Anodized-Aluminum-Radiation/dp/B002HSUT40
Another for $40.00: http://www.amazon.com/Instapark%C2%AE-High-Efficiency-Mono-Crystalline-Solar-Panel...
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Jan. 21, 2012 7:03 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork
really making me wish that my covered patio didn;t face due north
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Jan. 22, 2012 7:33 a.m. DrBoost SuperDork
mad_machine wrote:
you tempt me sir....
Haha!
That was kinda the point of the post. I'd love to see others doing this. I dig free or near free energy. that's the whole reason I do the Greasecar thing. I'm not a Mercedes kinda guy, it's a terribly uninspiring car to drive (nice, but not inspiring) but free fuel (or energy) get's my wiggly bits all tingly. -
Jan. 22, 2012 10:13 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork
if I owned this place and didn't rent it.. I would probably rig up something. It's funny, while my front porch faces north, I get great southern view out the back of the house. Even in winter, the heat does not come on much till it start to get dark
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Jan. 22, 2012 1:04 p.m. CarKid1989 Dork
i kinda wanna try this at home. We have two windows in the garage that i could do this on and it would make a HUGE difference
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Jan. 22, 2012 1:23 p.m. DrBoost SuperDork
Yeah, I think that's my next step now that I see it works. I'm thinking about basically doing a 6' by 20-24' panel on the garage. Oh yeah, some insulation too!
