The Forestry Forum
General Forestry => Alternative methods and solutions => Topic started by: Dale Hatfield on October 22, 2011, 09:14:48 PM
Anyone ever try to build one of these deals ?
They look like it could at some heat, just wonder if its worth it or not.
http://greenterrafirma.com/solar-air-heating.html
We use to make that solar grabber when I worked for the state on low income homes. Kinda the same idea.I guessed they worked OK. We just put them in and left.
I've played around with some similar designs. I could get some decent heat on the inside on days where the outside air wasn't real cold. When it got real cold, my results got worse. Along with the fact that you couldn't get much heat since the sun is so low in the sky. I also put on a solar operated fan. Without the fan, you didn't get too much heat moving in.
For the price of what your plans are showing, you don't have much to lose. Here's some other plans.
Here's one from Mother Earth News:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/1977-09-01/Mothers-Heat-Grabber.aspx
If you want to go bigger and put something on a wall:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/SolarChimney/SolarChimney.htm
Here's quite a few plans for both water and air collectors:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/Space_Heating.htm#Passive
You get the same amount of heat that goes through a regular window. You're just making a bigger collection area.