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Solar Air Heater

24K views 23 replies 8 participants last post by  DIYtestdummy 
#1 ·
Just finished this a week ago. It kicks out 95 deg air when the sun is shining! A 34"x48" solar air heater made from a salvaged window sash.
 
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#5 ·
Scuba_Dave: Most of the black surface is 3/4" polyiso insulation that separates the cool side from the hot side. The fins are just drywall corner bead. I've seen the ones with aluminum cans and I wondered if all of the work was worth it. Maybe I'll try it on my next one. My heater sits in the window so it can be removed in the spring.

I've got plans for a larger one, but I needed to warm my wife up to the idea. I'm llokin gforward to updates on yours.

I just posted an article on my blog about how I made mine.

Yoyizit: I'll have to do a test on the CFM to verify, but I think 3,000 BTU/hr is close.
 
#11 · (Edited)
I have six windows facing winter sun all day. I have ribbed commercial grade metal roofing I can use to build several. Is there a clearer design I can use or is this just a common sense build. Looks like air is circulating from house over face and back in. carpenter by trade so have some working knowledge. I'm guessing you need to be able to shut the window sash at nite or you have a reverse value thanks timothy
 
#12 ·
Yoyizit: I thought the toxins from treated wood were only a problem if they leach into the ground or if you have prolonged contact with your skin. I've never heard of a concern that they coudl become airborn. Just to be safe, I'll prime the rest of the exposed wood.

tpolk: how's this? There are more photos in my photo gallery. The ribbed metal roofing should work just fine. No the window closes on the top of the air heater. You should put foam insulation (air conditioner weatherstripping) between the glass of the bottom sash and the bottom rail for the top sach. I took the extra measure of installing insulating window film to help stop any air infiltration.
 
#16 ·
thanks justgreen much easier to see and thanks dave. it appears to me the one in daves is equipped to close at nite to stop warm air from leaving house and unless you have thermal mass in the heater I'm thinking thats needed thats why I was asking about being able to close house window sash which I did'nt see in your design. thanks timothy
 
#18 · (Edited)
Anybody make one of these disguised to look like dark window shutters, for a retrofit?

One on each side of each southern-facing window would have the necessary sq. footage, and with the slats at a 30° angle, depending on your latitude, they might do quite well. You'd then need interior vents.
 
#20 ·
I wonder if you can do that(solar heating) to a brick house. Cut through the interior wall to the 1" space between the sheathing and the brick and use the upward convection in the space to draw heat from the brick. Maybe add a fan to pull the heat out of the space.
The brick is like a heat sponge in the summer so it might work. I need to drill a few small holes and insert a thermometer to see how warm it is.
Ron
 
#24 ·
I've been kicking this idea around for 2 years now (our home anniversary was 12/17). The only obstacles are:

1. I have side-opening windows

2. Wife would rather crank up the heater than have anything "ugly" in the windows.

:whistling2:

The trombe wall or a water wall would be great for my south wall made entirely of brick and no windows, but the summers here are blistering hot! I would have planted a green wall or built an "adjustible" pergola, but still have to match the sun's patterns and wait for the neighbor to decide on our party wall.
 
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