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Forum Index : Solar : Indoor Solar Space Heater
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Todax Newbie  Joined: 06/11/2010 Location: United StatesPosts: 10 |
I know everyone here is a lightyear or two ahead of me, but I always start at the bottom. After looking for days online trying to find the above topic, I never did find anything like what I've built. After seeing that my second larger scale one put out a 50° gain from ambiant temps, I decided to throw it out there and put it on YouTube. I would love to hear any thoughts any of you have on it. And I would also like it if someone could tell me the best way to go about figuring out the BTU for my designs. I guess I should mention that I live in a rental house, so that's why I can't go full tilt on an outdoor rig. The video is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvsEiqnQuZg For some reason the sound track won't upload, but I put most of the details on the clip anyway. Thanx. |
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| Todax Newbie Joined: 06/11/2010 Location: United StatesPosts: 10 |
I forgot to mention that because of no insulation on the back, there is also a pass-thru effect that turns the entire backside of the unit into a radiator. So, loss of the natural light/heat factor is minimal. |
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MacGyver Guru  Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
Todax That's terrific; good job. Here's a Hot Link to make it easier for others to find. If you want to build your own hot links, just click on "Forum Codes" below and choose the one that says "My Link" replacing the code with your own URL and message. Another way for you to have both heat and light would be to take a set of horizontal blinds that fit the window and make one side with a mirror finish and the other side flat black. Tilting it so the flat black side sees the sunlight would heat them up and the natural convection up each slat would translate into a heat flow up the back side and into the room (slats' edges low next to the glass and high on the room side). Flipping the vanes the other way would reflect the light and keep it cool in the summer. Either way, the vanes could be tilted such that you can both see a little out the window as well as capture or reflect heat, whichever your desire. Just a thought. . . . . . Mac Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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GWatPE Senior Member  Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
We use horizontal wooden blinds to control the passive solar heating of our home in winter. During the day, the blinds are angled to allow the suns rays an uninterrupted path to fall on the floor. This allows nearly all the energy coming through the windows to be absorbed to heat the room passively. We can still see out the windows as well. At night the blinds are closed normally, to reduce the transmitted losses back through the glass. It works so well, that on any sunny days in winter we don't need to heat the room. I see the soda cans working well for a home theatre room, as the black would cut the light, yet still provide a heating function. Gordon. become more energy aware |
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KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178 |
yep nice one indeed Luck favours the well prepared |
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